Hoppers 4ths 8-22 Thornton Cleveleys 2nds
With a full complement of senior players available Captain Mortimer was having a nightmare with selection as the 4ths welcomed 2nd in the league Thornton Cleveleys to pitch 3.
The game kicked off under the guidance of stand in Captain Shadwell.
The 4ths receiving from kick off and were soon charging downhill towards the oppositions try line.
2 minutes in and Hoppers penalty right in front of the posts for Thornton holding on in the tackle quickly kicked through by the returning Jake Elwood 3-0.
Hoppers attacking from the restart with strong runs from the Senior Springbok Claude.
Ian Byrne hitting anything in a Thornton shirt (must have some history).
It was hoppers turn to gift the visitors a penalty 3-3.
Heath George bossing the pack as he does best ,Then out of no ware Will Douglas broke through to calls from the side line of RUN FATBOY RUN off loaded to Johnny Davis to be brought down short after off-loading to Jake Elwood at pace only to be bundled into touch.
Sub Danny Farrell for Nathan top knot.
Thornton were soon on the back foot and down to 14 with a yellow card and the ref warning there supporters.
Hoppers made the most of this with a driving scrum being steered by George to score.
Conversion missed 8-3.
Half time subs Jackson for Davis, Tinny for Foster and Daz for Claude.
The rugby Gods must have thought it was time to have fun with the Hoppers Boys with driving rain making the upward battle even harder.
Will Douglas being removed from play due to a knock, Watson on and Jackson up to front row.
Martin Tinny Taylors big come back lasting 2 minutes before he decided to have an afternoon nap on the pitch after picking the wrong opposition to tackle.
While hoppers were re organising Thornton made the most of it Try with conversion missed 8-8
More injury’s to hoppers causing unsettled back line and errors in handling and offside gifting the visitors another 3 penalty’s 8-11,8-14,8—17
Hoppers’ fighting to the bitter end with Thornton’s claiming the game with another try.
Final score 8-22
MOM Ian Byrne for hitting anything in a Thornton shirt, DOD Johnny Davis for passing to himself.
