Moorends Thorne Marauders produced a Stirling show of Yorkshire grit and determination in their first ever Pennine league game against Huddersfield based Newsome Panthers.

Both teams made a real arm wrestle of the opening 20 minutes with the Marauders just edging the territorial advantage, a short period of ill-discipline by the Marauders cost them dearly as 3 back to back penalties piggyback the visitors to within 10 metres of the try line, poor line defence allowed the visitors to crash over on 7 minutes for the opening converted try, 0 – 6.

A solid defensive set saw the Panthers cough up the ball to the Marauders who quickly moved the ball with Dean Armstrong linking with Jak Parkes to send Danny Hornsby over on 14 minutes for the Marauders first try of the season, Ryan Rafferty added the extras, 6 – 6.

Moorends started to stamp their authority onto the game and two minutes later Steve Allen was held up over the line, 5 minutes later Chris Allen broke the Newsome defensive line running 30 metres before off-loading to Shaun Roberts who went over for a try converted by Ryan Rafferty, 12 – 6.

With half-time looming Craig Hookway made a break from his try line swotting off defenders before being stopped 10 metres from the visitor’s try line, Hookways quick play the ball allowed Tom Holt room to find Steve Allen with a long ball before the big centre crashed over in the corner, Ryan Rafferty landed the touch line kick, 18 – 6

Half-Time Moorends-Thorne Marauders 18 – 6 Newsome Panthers

Strong defence dislodged the ball for the Marauders to collect and move it wide quickly, Wayne Rafferty collected the loose ball and found Bobby Evans with a short pass, and Evans in turn sent Shaun Roberts over for his second try again converted by Ryan Rafferty, 24 – 6.

Moorends stretched their lead on 47 minutes when Mark Roach made a telling run before dropping the ball inside to Chris Allen who again broke the defensive line before sending Ryan Rafferty under the sticks for a try he converted himself, 30 – 6.

Moorends went over again on the hour mark when after a well-controlled set Ryan Rafferty put a neat grubber kick into the visitors in goal and Tom Rose pounced for a try, 34 – 6

Marauders next try came eight minutes later when Roach and Steve Allen combined to send Shaun Roberts over for his third try, 38 – 6

Excellent hard running by Jamie Moore & adam pickles down the middle, Ryan Rafferty looped round the make the extra man that allowed Steve Allen to put Brendan Neal over for a try after the winger had four attempts disallowed earlier, 42 – 6

Pickles, Hofmann and Bobby Evans built the platform that allowed Shaun Roberts the room to dummy and dance over for his forth try of the game converted by Ryan Rafferty, 48 - 6

Full-Time Moorends-Thorne Marauders 48 – 6 Newsome Panthers

Man of the Match 1/ Shaun Roberts, 2/ Chris Allen, 3/ Ben Hofmann

Match Overview - By Event
'7 Danny Hornsby Try
'7 Ryan Rafferty Con
'23 Ryan Rafferty Con
'23 Shaun Roberts Try
'33 Ryan Rafferty Con
'33 Steve Allen Try
'43 Ryan Rafferty Con
'43 Shaun Roberts Try
'47 Ryan Rafferty Try
'47 Ryan Rafferty Con
'58 Tom Rose Try
68 Shaun Roberts Try
72 Brendan Neal Try
76 Shaun Roberts Try
76 Ryan Rafferty Con