Yorkshire Division Two: Old Rishworthians 47 Old Grovians 14

OLD Grovians were unlucky to be on the wrong end of one of the best halves promotion-seeking Old Rishworthians have put together this season.

The hosts scored six tries, notching a four-try bonus point in only 21 minutes, and led 42-0 at the interval to scotch any doubts over the destination of the league points.

Flanker Nick Faulkner got the try spree underway early, after scrum half Ed Cockroft had gone close.

A great break by right winger Liam Phillips from his own half then took play deep into the visitors’ half before the ball went out, with No 8 James Clarke supplying the perfect pass to put centre Sam Nunn in at the corner.

Clarke was on hand soon after with a strong break before linking with Nunn, who this time put left wing Anthony Shoesmith in at the corner, and the winger was there again soon after to take a pass from Faulkner to score his second try and give Rishworthians a bonus point.

Straightaway the Copley men were back to put pressure on the visitors, and Cockroft broke from the scrum to touch down, Nunn then bagging his second try from the restart after replacement lock Callum Heseltine had gone close.

With Josh Kelly landing all six conversions, the scoring spree was expected to continue in the second half, but Old Grovians had other ideas, starting the stanza strongly as Rish, not for the first time this season, went completely off the boil.

Strong defence was needed, although Rishworthians broke out a couple of times with strong runs by full back Jacob Ford and replacement wing Luke Flanagan, but they could not hold a catch and drive move that brought the visitors a converted try via Lewis Brook, with Ben Brown adding the extras.

Grovians continued to press until Cockroft picked up a ball that went loose from a scrum on his own 22 and ran more than 70 yards to touch down in the corner, Kelly’s conversion attempt hitting a post.

The visitors were keen to finish on a high, and their pick and drive game finally paid dividends as they forced their way over in determined fashion to score a converted try to end the game.