Rugby
Widnes Moorfield 14 Blackpool Scorpions (U13) 22
Scorpions won their opening fixture but needed an impressive second half display to shake off a determined Widnes side.
Jordan Curtis dived in for their first try of the season, converted by Joe Phelps, but two home touchdowns gave them an 8-6 half-time lead.
Scorpions tightened their defence after the break, with Frankie Campbell, Oliver Winter and George Higgins all performing well on debut.
James Revell got on the end of a fine handling move as Scorpions used the slope to their advantage, with man of the match Callum Prue scoring twice.
Curtis, Revell and Ben Brown were also outstanding for Scorpions, while Jordan Tierney also kicked a goal.
Blackpool Scorpions (U15) 72 Bank Quay Bulls 6
Scorpions kicked off the new term in spectacular style and were quickly on the scoreboard as Omar Frederick burst through the defence.
He added his second from an interception before Zach Ward and Joe Bullock added tries. Bullock’s second and a Liam Wilkinson touchdown made it 32-6 at the break. The scoring continued through Christian Cornell, Matty Egan, capping a fine display at dummy-half, and debutant Anthony Livingstone.
Joe Williams, Dimitri Solomi and Tom Wainwright also impressed in their debuts and Adam Butcher scored twice.
Man of the m0atch Wilkinson led the defensive effort and finished with a hat-trick, completed when he chased his own kick.
Eccles 12 Blackpool Junior Colts 26
Blackpool made it two wins out of two but their defence had to be at its most determined.
The visitors made the stronger start, with second rowers Tomas Sanderson and Gary Chapman to the fore.
Eccles defended strongly until winger Marlon Pace raced almost 80 metres for the opening try, converted by Grant Blackshaw.
Sanderson and Ben Holland dominated the lineouts and Pete Armstrong took the ball at pace to score the second try.
Eccles’ hard work was rewarded with a converted try but Blackpool stretched their lead to 19-7 at half-time when Ross Mellor Clark capitalised on a break by man of the match Will Richardson and Blackshaw kicked the goal.
Blackshaw’s outstanding tackle forced Eccles to knock on over the Blackpool line as the home side began to pile on the pressure.
This paid off as a converted try reduced the deficit to seven before a drive by captain Holland enabled Mellor Clark to clinch victory with his second try, Blackshaw adding his third goal.
Rugby round-up
KIRKHAM Grammar first XV fought out a tremendous 8-8 draw at Bristol against Colston’s Collegiate, one of the best rugby schools in the country.
Joe Brown’s penalty gave Kirkham a 3-0 half-time lead but Colston’s used the slope to equalise and then added a try out wide.
Tom Bowden sprinted 70 metres for a superb try and had chances to kick a winning goal as Kirkham controlled the latter stages.
The second team lost to Colston’s 54-0.
Kirkham under-16s beat Ripley St Thomas 17-0 as Toby Townsend scored the only try of the first half.
Benedict Fulford-Brown added two more tries, with Jamie Roper adding a conversion.
Kirkham under-15s beat St Thomas 24-7 as centre Jake Hodgkinson’s two tries were separated by an excellent one from no.8 George Naylor. Stanley Graham kicked all his goals.
The under-14 A team defeated St Thomas 19-12 as Sam Hall’s breakaway try sealed an exciting match after Precious Nwaokomah had also scored twice. Will Roper kicked two conversions.
The under-14B lost 22-7 to St Thomas as Will Fleuriot scored the lone try.
The under-13 A team hammered Ripley St Thomas 50-5 as Ben Rhodes Powers (3) Ryan Wilkinson (2), Ben Swift, Isaac Yuen and Callum Wilkinson scored the tries. Sam Gayle (2) and Callum Wilkinson (3) kicked the conversions.
The under-13 B won 29-10 with a fine display by Alexs Kiziltas at no.8.
