Trojans secure derby triumph against Moor

Six first half tries put Thornhill firmly in control of the eagerly awaited derby.

Adam Bird took a pass on the half way line and outpaced the defence to score a first minute try between the posts. Joel Gibson converted.

Good drives by forwards Anthony Harris and Jake Hickling put Thornhill in a strong position and the ball was worked to Sam Ratcliffe for him to dive over in the corner for an unconverted try.

As Thornhill mounted their next attack Moor winger George Croisdale intercepted a long pass and raced 60 metres to pull a try back, with Jacob Flathers converting.

Thornhill then took control, amassing a further 22 points in just 15 minutes.

Josh Clough scored at the corner, Mindaugas Bendikas gathered a Scott Green pass to storm between the posts and Gibson followed Luke Haigh’s break from halfway to score.

Green then collected a well judged Danny Ratcliffe kick to go in at the left corner, with three of these four tries converted by Gibson.

Undeterred, Moor hit back on the stoke of half-time with a James Samme try which Flathers improved but Thornhill led 32-12 at the break.

The home side came out much more determined in the second half and the game developed into an arm wrestle.

Haigh made a break from his own 22 and put Gibson clear, with time to celebrate before touching down between the posts for a 65th minute try which he goaled.

Adie Moore replied with a well-worked try for Moor, crossing from close range despite the attentions of several defenders.

Toby Richardson grabbed a fourth Moor try just before the final whistle, with Flathers landing both conversions, but it was Thornhill who celebrated the derby win as they maintained the pressure on Division Three leaders Hunslet Parkside.

n Thornhill Trojans A ran out convincing 66-16 victors over Heworth in the Yorkshire Men’s League Entry Division,

Thornhill only led 20-16 in the lead up to half-time following a Joss Ratcliffe brace of tries, an opening score by James Folan and one by Jake Ratcliffe, along with two Mark Hodgson conversions.

Craig Holmes scored an unconverted try just before half-time and the Trojans ran away with the game after the break, running in a further 42 unanswered points.

Holmes added two more tries and landed four goals to end with a personal haul of 20 points, while Joss Ratcliffe completed his hat-trick.

Joss Taylor grabbed a brace and Dale Brook also crossed before Vinnie Johnson added the final try two minutes from full-time, with Hodgson ending with five goals.