Brook ease into quarters

BROOK ran in 34 unanswered points in the final 30 minutes of this Lancashire Cup tie to ease them into the quarter final stage.

Five minutes into the game centre Mark Shaw forced a line drop out and quick handling found Chris Springford in space his pass sent winger Craig Lyon over despite the attention of his opposite number, Paul Toole added a touchline conversion.

Folly hit back and Craig Lyon showed his defensive qualities with a superb try saving tackle as the home side looked likely to score.

On the half hour mark Folly lost possession 20 metres from the Brook line and Craig Lyon swooped on the ball and raced up field only to tackled just short of the line, a quick play the ball and Scott Lyon was on hand to score beneath the post, Toole added the extras.

The home side hit back with a well taken unconverted try however on the stroke of half time a break down the middle from Jimmy Forshaw allowed Chris Springford the space to sore Brooks third try.

Folly stunned Brook with two converted tries in the opening seven minutes of the second half to level the scores at 16 points each however that was as good as it got for the home side as Brook finally took control.

Mark Shaw broke from inside his own half he found Mike Ledger in support who sent fullback Paul Fass over to restore Brook's lead with Paul Toole again converting Brook's next score finally broke the home sides resistance Barry McGilvray collected a loose ball to send Ledger away and again Paul Fass was on hand to score with Toole adding the conversion.

Within two minutes Fass completed his hat trick following a break from Mark Shaw he was on hand to take Jason Mitchell's pass to score with Toole again converting.

Brook ran in three tries in the last eight minutes Craig Lyon went over for his second before a Paul Toole break produced a converted try for Mark Shaw and on the final whistle Craig Lyon went over for his well deserved hat trick and Toole's touchline goal brought up Brook's half century.

Paul Toole was selected as the Nexus man of the match with Jimmy Forshaw, Paul Fass, Craig Lyon and Andy Rawsthorne all in contention. Brook's reward is a home tie with cup holders and this years favourites Simms Cross, however they travel to Cumbria this weekend for a Premier League encounter with Barrow Island.

Leigh East 26 Blackbrook A 36

BROOK notched up seven tries in a well deserved win against a well drilled Leigh side. Brook got off to a bad start when after only five minutes Leigh swept up field with ease to score an unconverted try.

On the half hour mark Brook went ahead as Andy Shaw crossed for fine try to which he added the goal. Leigh hit back with another unconverted try, but against the run of play a break by loose forward Andy Dobson saw wingman Chico Wright on hand to finish off under the posts, with Shaw tagging on the two points. With half time approaching centre Dave Gwilliam broke the line from a scrum deep in the Brook half and handed to full back Roger Steele to score wide out, half time 8-16.

In the second half the Leigh side came out with guns glazing to take a 20 - 16 lead with two tries and a conversion. Brook seemed to be on the back foot, but then hooker Ian Williams chose to run the ball on the last tackle to put Gwilliam in for his second and level the scores. Brook went further ahead when Andy Bates followed a kick to score, Shaw goaled.

Next on the score sheet was young Ant Halsall who had an outstanding game as he took an overhead pass from Neil Briers to dive in at the corner.

With Brook now on top they hit the 36 point mark when big Jon Hale bulldozed his way over from a tap penalty and Andy Shaw goaled. But the Leigh side had the last say with a converted try.

Brook were superbly led by captain Ian Williams who took the Santime Quarries man of the match award and was well supported by Ant Halsall, Paul Devaney and Chico Wright.