Trojans warm up for cup final with impressive win

Luke Haigh returned from injury and inspired Thornhill to an impressive victory over Stanningley.

Luke Haigh made a long awaited return from injury and produced a man-of-the-match display coming off the substitites bench.

Thornhill also had a shining star as 17-year-old winger George Woodcock registered a hat-trick of tries.

Woodcock’s first came after little more than a minute when he followed a well-placed kick from Liam Morley to touch down in the corner.

Thornhill quickly let this good work unravel when a kick to the corner from Stanningley wasn’t dealt with and Jack Brown scored, with Callum Smithson adding a fantastic toughcline goal.

Thornhill were forced to reshuffle when Scott Dyson pulled his hamstring after breaking clear.

Stand-off Smithson stepped away from his marker and with a sudden turn of pace, raced away to score but hit a post with his conversion attempt.

Haigh began to stamp his authority on the play and sent George Stott racing over for a try, which Andrew Bates converted.

James Craven broke through and Woodcock took the final pass to grab his second try and put the Trojans 14-10 ahead at half-time.

Craven sprinted clear to score an early second half touchdown that Sam Ratcliffe converted.

Swift handling saw the ball end with Woodcock and he dived over in the corner for this third try.

Liam Green ran onto a perfectly timed pass and sprinted clear to score. Sam Ratcliffe converted.

Craven continued to torment the Stanningley defence with his pace and sent Sam Ratcliffe over for an unconverted try in the corner.

Jake Wilson played an impressive role in Thornhill’s second half dominance and put Danny Ratcliffe over for a try between the posts, Sam Ratcliffe adding the goal.

Wilson grabbed an unconverted try following another neat Thornhill passing move.

But credit to the visitors. They never once appeared to have given in.

This commitment eventually paid off when the ball was worked out to the wing and Will Hickson went over for an unconverted try.

It was good outing for Thonhill Trojans and they will be looking to carry their second half performance into this Saturday’s BARLA National Cup final against Myton Warriors at Featherstone Rovers’ Big Fellas Stadium (kick off 2pm).