Widnes Albion 6 Blackbrook 48

BROOK belatedly kicked off their season with this emphatic victory at Widnes.

Player-coach Jason Mitchell led the way with a try in the opening minutes. He was the first player to Mark Gibson's astute grubber kick to score by the posts. Gibson added the goal.

And five minutes later with Brook increased their advantage when good handling saw the ball go through several pairs of hands before Scott Lyon scored in the corner.

Albion hit back briefly midway through the first period with a converted try.

But Brook quickly regained control when Ian Buckley and Jimmy Forshaw combined to send centre Mark Shaw in for their third try, goaled by Gibson.

Prop Gary Burgess was next on the scoresheet, plunging over from close range on the half-hour. Gibson's conversion and a penalty made it 24-6 to Brook at half-time.

After the break the visitors turned the screw. Lyon started the ball rolling with his second try after good work by Gibson. And Gibson was again the provider when he sent 'new boy' Danny Flynn crashing over. Gibson again goaled.

Mark Shaw broke clear from halfway to score a fine individual try midway through the half, Gibson's goaled bringing up the 40-point mark.

Two late touchdowns completed the rout. Firstly Jimmy Forshaw created a try for full-back Paul Fass. Then Scott Lyon completed his hat-trick, courtesy of a great pass by Mark Leonard.

Debutants Mark Shaw, Burgess and Flynn all had excellent games for Brook but scrum-half Gibson deservedly won the Nexus man-of-the-match with Forshaw running him close.

Bank Quay Bulls 50 Haresfinch 12

A NEW-look Finch side held their own against the powerful Bulls for the first 20 minutes.

But then the Warrington side, who have only lost one league match in the last two seasons, scored four converted tries to take control.

Finch hit back just before the break when skipper Stuart Simmons sent substitute Lee Burke powering under the sticks for a try converted by scrum half Chris Ratcliffe to make it 24-6.

Bank Quay added five more tries in the second period, but Finch finished strongly when Simmons sent loose-forward Anthony Seabrook in for their second try, converted by Ratcliffe.

Encouraging performances for Finch came from newcomers John Derbyshire and Chris Ratcliffe in the backs and Andy Liptrot, Graham Sams, Paul Hitchen and Sean Fogarty in the forwards.

Man of the match for the losers was Simmons followed by full-back Andy Burrows and. Simmons was also top tackler just ahead of stand-off Richard Twist and second-row Dave Stanley.

Eccleston Lions 26 Widnes Tigers 24

THE Lions got their season off to a good start with a narrow win over their old rivals.

Eccleston raced into a 12-0 lead with tries by Martin Liptrot and Jimmy Dyson, both goaled by David Ball.

Tigers hit back twith two converted tries of their own.

A fine solo try by full-back Ball, which he also converted, saw the home side edge 18-12 ahead at the break.

Tigers came out roaring after the interval and two more converted touchdowns saw them lead for the first time in the match at 24-18.

Lions clawed their way back with a penalty goal by Martin Griffiths then with five minutes to go captain Ian Penketh crossed from close in and Ball converted to snatch the spoils.