Saturday 11 March 2017
Two late converted tries rescued a point for Blackbrook as they began their new campaign in Division One of The Kingstone Press Cider NCL.The Knights built up a 20-6 interval lead to leave Brook with the task of making up a 14 point deficit for the third consecutive game.
The visitors struck in the second minute when Steve Lewis gathered a kick on the last tackle to score an unconverted try in the corner. Brook soon made amends when they regained possession from the restart Scott Davidson was hauled down just short of the try line before an astute kick from Jordy Welsby found Craig Lyon who pounced to score in the corner Welbsy added a superb touch line conversion to edge his side in front.
Brook turned up the pressure and should have added to their lead a Jordy Welsby break came to nothing and both Craig Lyon and Scott Davidson were held up over the try line.
It was the visitors however who regained the lead when Connor Taylor scored and converted his try on 15 minutes.
Brook were still making chances and looked likely to score before The Knights winger Lee Hammond intercepted and raced away a superb chase and tackle from Jordan Darwin prevented a try but minutes later the visitors added to their lead when Ashley Haynes scored following a goal line drop out Taylors conversion opened a 10 lead for The Yorkshire Outfit.
Poor discipline cost Brook following a succession of penalties Stephen Marsh was sin binned following a team warning and Normanton made the advantage tell when Steve Lewis crossed for his second try. The conversion missed and superb scrabbling defence from Brook prevented a further score as half time approached.
Midway through the second half Knights Clarke Thompson was sinbinned following a late shoulder charge and this time Brook took the advantage of the extra man when Joe Bate superbly offloaded to Danny Fairhurst who scored under the posts leaving Jordan Welsby with a simple conversion however minutes later The Knights seemed to have wrapped the game up when Lee Hammond collected a long pass the score in the corner with the conversion going crucially wide.
With 10 minutes remaining Brook were reduced to 12 men again when Winger Chris Wynn was binned for holding down. The visitors missed the opportunity to add to their lead as they lost possession on Brooks try line Matty Johnston scooped on the loose ball and raced 100 metres up field to score under the posts Welsby conversion left his side in striking distance.
The comeback was completed with 4 minutes remaining when following hard yards from Jon Glover and Joe Bate it was Danny Fairhurst who wriggled out of a tackle to score in the corner leaving Welsby with a touch line conversion to level the scores. Brooks scrum half sweetly struck his kick and it sailed over the posts to wrap up the scoring.
Work Horse Mark Webster was selected as The Heatrek Man of The Match with Matty Johnston taking The Tisdalls Players Man of the Match.
