OT Marauders march into the Semi-Final : Sun Mar 15, 2009 6:50 pm
Moorends powered into the semi-final of the Yorkshire Senior Cup with a excellent display of flowing rugby league, Batley Boys never gave up the ghost and throughout the full 80 minutes displayed their own brand of football that is always pleasant on the eye.
Moorends opened the scoring after the early arm wrestle on 10 minutes, Jason Blanchard and Kevin Lake set up field position for Chris Allen to send Gareth Everton crashing over, Ryan Rafferty converting, 0 - 6.
Both teams where trading attack for attack with both coming close to scoring! Wayne Green nudged the South Yorkshiremen further into the lead with a 30 metre drop goal, 0 - 7.
From the kick-off the introduction of Shaun Carver proved a great interchange as the big replacement scattered the Boys defence on his charge to within 10 metres of the Boys try line, a quick play the ball saw Ryan Rafferty and Wayne Rafferty link to send Chris Allen over in the corner, Ryan Rafferty converting, 0 - 13.
Batley Boys got themselves on the score sheet after a long kick into the corner saw the Moorends winger collect the ball and start to run it clear, the Boys put numbers into the tackle! the ball shot out and into the in goal area allowing the home side to touch down for a converted try, 6 - 13.
Moorends stepped up a gear and hit back just before half-time, from a 20 metre scrum Chris Allen broke drawing the defence before popping up a perfect ball for Gaz Carey to out pace the defence to the try line, Ryan Rafferty converted, 6 - 19.
Half-Time Batley Boys 6 - 19 Moorends-Thorne Marauders
Moorends opened the second-half attacking down the slope, Alex Palmer plucked a 45 minute high ball from out of the sky and kept the ball alive with a quick pass to Gaz Carey who won the race to the corner, 6 - 23.
The Marauders inched further into the lead on 59 minutes after Ben Hofmann and Gaz Everton made telling runs, Mark Roach found Chris Allen with a long ball before the loose-forward ghosted over, Ryan Rafferty converted, 6 - 29.
Awarded a penalty on 64 minutes Wayne Rafferty found touch with a long kick, Shaun Carver made another telling run drawing in four defenders before being put to the ground, Ryan Rafferty and Mark Roach moved the ball quickly to the right finding Dave Knott who was unlucky not to cross the whitewash, Ryan Rafferty darted from acting half and danced over for a try converted by himself, 6 - 35.
Moorends gifted the home side a simple try on 70 minutes when a harmless looking bomb was patted backwards and into the hands of a Boys player who had only to run 5 metres for a converted try, 12 - 35.
Moorends pounded the home try line which resulted in Jason Blanchard powering over using tremendous leg power on 75 minutes.
Full-Time Batley Boys 12 - 39 Moorends-Thorne Marauders
Batley Boys Tries 2
……………Goals 2
Moorends Tries
Gareth Everton 1
Chris Allen 2
Gaz Carey 2
Ryan Rafferty 1
Jason Blanchard 1
Goals
Ryan Rafferty 5/7
Drop Goal
Wayne Green
Man of the Match
1, Gaz Carey
2, Chris Allen
3, Ben Hofmann