Local Amateur RL.

: Thu May 15, 2008 3:16 pm

Methley Royals, already crowned champions, brought the curtain down on their inaugural season in style with a 36-8 victory over Swillington in the CMS Yorkshire League’s Unison Division Four Top Four Final at hospitable Normanton.

The Royals, without stand off Matty Handforth, who has joined Featherstone Rovers, had too much firepower up front for the Storm.

Prop Adam Biscomb, a colossal presence, had strong support from the likes of Eddie North, Lee Denton, Thomas Wheatley, Paul Farrar and Ian Palfreyman.

Faultless full back JP Briers came close to recording a superb long range try in the closing minutes, while stand off Tommy Skerrett was named man of the match after scoring a try and six goals from as many attempts.

Wingers Sam Payne and Michael Jacques, together with substitutes Carl Garman and Richard Scott, responded well in the backs.

Captain Simon Dickinson, operating at scrum half, opened Methley’s account with a classy 50-metre solo try in the fifth minute, and that effort was followed by a long-range touchdown for pacey centre Danny Agar off the sweetest of back-passes by Biscomb.

Swillington hit back when stand off Paul Hirst powered over but Methley eased to an 18-4 interval lead when Agar grabbed an opportunist score.

The Storm threatened to force their way back into the contest when, shortly after Skerrett had been wide with a drop goal attempt, full back Matthew Baker squeezed in at the corner following a 70-metre raid.

Skerrett, though, got Methley back into gear with a bustling touchdown and livewire second row Lee Starbuck, switched to the centre following a shoulder injury to centre John Hughes, put paid to Swillington’s hopes with an interception try on the hour.

Starbuck closed the scoring with a late try off hustling hooker Reece Willshaw’s smart pass.

Article Courtesy of Phil Hodgson

Steve Manning
BARLA Media Manager & PRO