May 4, 2008

Lancashire opened their County Championship Bill Beaumont Cup challenge with a five-try win over Warwickshire at Preston Grasshoppers, where the Red Rose back division provided the crucial edge in a 35-25 victory.

The Midlands side made life difficult throughout with their robust work up front, collecting tries from driving mauls and enjoying the greater share of possession, but Lancashire were always threatening in a lively display by the backs and took their chances well to establish a 35-13 lead at one stage that put the result beyond doubt.

The game was a personal triumph for two of the debutants in the line-up, Fylde wingman Oliver Brennand, who scored a brace of tries, and Manchester No 8 Sebastian Moss, who collected the try of the match with a 55-yard gallop.

Fylde wingman Nick Royle was also on the try trail, as was his club-mate, full-back Steve Nutt, who frequently posed problems for the Warwickshire defence with his excursions in the three-quarter line. Nutt also landed two penalties and two conversions.

"We came up against a very determined set of forwards who were bigger than us and posed us some problems, but when we did get possession, we converted our chances out wide very effectively with some great back play," said Team Manager Steve Rigby: "It was a game where we had a lot of positives to take into our next match, but also with a few things to work on.

"I thought Seb Moss played really well, as did Oliver Brennand, while Alex Davies (Waterloo), who came in at fly-half, had a very positive game."

Coventry's Barbados international winger Kurt Johnson, Rotherham's former Nuneaton prop Phil Boulton and Nuneaton back-row Glenn Southwell scored Warwickshire's tries with Kenilworth fly-half Chris Brown converting two of the tries and kicking two penalties.

Yorkshire's 20-13 win over Cheshire at Macclesfield also impressed their coach Bob Hood.

"This was the best starting performance in the championship that we’ve had for four of five years," he said. "I was really pleased with the way we prepared and the way we played. Considering it was our first time together, we played some really good rugby. The scoreline should have been greater in our favour.

"We were too strong up front for Cheshire, although they defended really well. We had all the territory and possession in the first-half, but only led 10-3 at half-time.

"Cheshire ran everything for anywhere and picked up an interception try at the posts.

"From our point of view, Leeds Carnegie No 8 Max Lewis had an outstanding game, scoring two tries and doing an enormous amount of ball carrying, Otley’s Paul Turner at loose-head prop managed admirably against an experienced operator in Matt Holt and Manchester fly-half Richard Wainright also had a fine game and scored a try.

"It was also encouraging that 15 of the 22 players involved have come through from the Under 20 and Under 21 sides, which is something we’ve been aiming for. We also had England Counties Manager Danny Hodgson watching us and he must have been impressed."

Lewis (2) and Wainwright scored Yorkshire’s tries, with Otley wingman Robin Kitching adding a conversion and penalty.

Caldy wingman Craig Ross scored for Cheshire, with fly-half Gareth Wynne (Manchester) landing a conversion and penalty.

Northumberland were favourites in their County Shield game against Cumbria at Mint Bridge on the strength of the superior level from which their players were drawn and they justified that assessment with a 38-0 victory.

The match was a triumph for the Smailes family, with wingman Hamish justifying his trip North from Launceston with four tries and brother Jack, the Tynedale full-back, scoring the other two. Tynedale fly-half Gavin Beasley landed four conversions.

"The extra intensity we displayed and the extra pace we had wide out were the difference," said coach Tom Borthwick: "Hopefully the performances by the Smailes boys will have helped put them back in the mix for an England Counties XV place.

"The forwards laid the foundations and we scored early on, which was important at Mint Bridge. We scored three tries playing into a breeze in the first-half and led 19-0 at half-time.

"Cumbria made some changes and came more into the game after the interval, but we came back and scored three tries in the last 20 minutes.

"I thought our props Rupert Harden and Johnny Williams both carried the ball well, while flanker Andrew Murray had a very effective game and was responsible for three of the tries with his distribution and decision making.

Like Cumbria, Durham were also involved in a tussle against players from a higher level of the league pecking order and they went down 41-16 to North Midlands at Stourbridge.

The day was especially successful for host club wingman Greg Summers, who ran in four tries, as the Midlands side, relegated last season, made a solid start to their bid to get promotion from the Shield back into the Bill Beaumont Cup.

The winners collected seven tries, with Luctonians wingman Ryan Henshaw, Stourbridge prop James Tideswell and Pertemps Bees lock Alex Davidson also crossing, Bees centre Cameron Mitchell adding three conversions.

Durham University wingman Matthew Horrocks caught the eye with a smart try for Durham, Middlesbrough full-back Simon Moore kicking a conversion and two penalties.

"We were a bit outgunned by players from a higher level," said Durham Secretary Chris McLoughlin.

Durham look to get their challenge back on track when they take on derby rivals Northumberland at Alnwick next Saturday, while Cumbria face another stern test when they visit Stourbridge to tackle North Midlands.

In the Bill Beaumont Cup, Cheshire and Lancashire meet at New Brighton, while Nuneaton host the game between Warwickshire and Yorkshire.