York Lokomotive started the game like an express train going 100 miles an hour, they ran fast,hard and used beautiful angles going forward and defended vigorously with two and three men in the tackle.

However it was the Marauders who earned the right to go onto the score board first when after 5 minutes Shane Southgate sent his half-back partner Craig Hookway crashing onto a short ball leaving the visitors defence static before touching down, Jason Blanchard converted, 6 - 0

With both teams being very physical and giving not quarter it was not to surprising that the next score came via a penalty kick for a high tackle after 12 minutes, 6 - 2.

The Marauders responded with a try three minutes later after the Lokomotives piggybacked the home side up the field and towards the goal posts with a couple of cheap penalties, Gaz Everton displayed powerful leg driving to force himself over straight from the first play of the second penalty, Jason Blanchard converted, 12 - 2.

Quick and cheeky thinking from the kick-off saw York re-gather the ball, a series of quick play the balls and swift handling had the Marauders going backwards as the visitors steam forward for a converted try to stay in contention, 12 - 8.

The Lokos blasted into the lead for the first time on 22 minutes with a well worked converted try, 12 - 14, this score signalled the start of a mad half hour, with the lead to change hands on a further five occasions.

The Marauders hit back four minutes later when Craig Hookway found Grieg Mills with a long cut out ball for the blonde haired centre to dive over between the posts, Jason Blanchards conversion attempt hit the post and failed to go over after a squeaky voice (His Mum) put him off during his run up, 16 - 14.

York hit back on the half-hour mark with a lovely chip chase and re-gather by John Waldron, quick hands sent the ball through four pairs of hands before Gaz Evans dived in at the corner for a converted try, 16 - 20.

Excellent defending by Moorends kept the Lokos well away from their try line, but with the way the game was panning out, it was looking more and more like the first team to gain a two score advantage would be the one that would be taking the spoils home, however the Marauders didn’t count on the Lokos knocking over a long range drop goal to extend their lead to 16 - 21.

With half-time looming the Marauders introduced Shaun Carver and from a well worked set piece in which the dummy runners drew the defence perfectly the big man strolled over unopposed for a try converted by Shane Southgate, 22 - 21.

Half-Time Moorends-Thorne Marauders 22 - 21 York Lokomotive

The Marauders started the second-half applying pressure onto the Lokos forcing them into a goal line drop out, from the back to back set, the Moorends forwards sucked in the visitors defenders and a inside pass to Steve Allen saw the big forward stopped just short of the try line, a quick play the ball saw Grieg Mills dart from half-back going over for his second try, Jason Blanchard converting 28 - 21.

Moorends had opened up a 7 point lead but decided to fall a sleep for 5 minutes as York Lokomotive hit a dominant purple patch which saw their influential scrum-half John Waldron rip open the home defence to go over for a converted 40 metre try and was unlucky when he was stopped just short by a solid Konrad Hanson tackle minutes later, 28 - 27.

Quick hands saw the Lokos take the lead again as they went in at the left hand corner on 50 minutes, a towering touch line conversion gained the visitors the extra two points, 28 - 33.

Shane Southgate kicked off and re-gathered his short kick before finding Craig Hookway with a neat ball, Hookway carried the ball 20 metres before retuning the ball to Southgate who again drew the last of the Lokos defence before sending Hookway to the try line for a unconverted try, 32 - 33.

Entering the final quarter the home team seemed to step up a few gears as they took advantage of the Lokos running out of steam mainly because of their squad being reduced to 15 fit players after sustaining three game ending injuries during the first hour.

Jason Blanchard crashed over in the corner after a forward dominated set to give the South Yorkshire side the lead back on 61 minutes, 36 - 33.

3 minutes later a probably the slickest try of the game went to the Marauders, Craig Hookway broke from well inside his own half attracting defenders galore before bringing Mathew Bingley inside with a fantastic ball, Bingley went a further 10 metres attracting the last of the Lokos scrambling defence before sending Grieg Mills for his third try of the game, 40 - 33.

Steve Allen showed why he is so highly regarded by the Marauders and opposition as he effortlessly shrugged off three defenders before touching down at the side of the posts, Konrad Hanson converting, 46 - 33.

Coaches call from the touch line on 72 minutes brought a well worked move from the scrum, Shane Southgate and Grieg Mills linked before Mills sent Mathew Bingley over in the corner to bring up the half century, 50 - 33.

Craig Hookway relieving running punched through the Lokos defence on the half-way line before he sent second-row Wayne Rafferty on a 40 metre run for a try converted by Konrad Hanson, 56 - 33.

Moorends-Thorne Marauders 56 - 33 York Lokomotive

Man of the Match 1, Greig Mills
…………………..2, Craig Hookway
…………………..3, Wayne Rafferty

Game Breaker :- Grieg Mills third try in the 64th minute took the steam out of the Lokos and lifted the Marauders spirits.


Tries
Craig Hookway 2
Jason Blanchard 1
Wayne Rafferty 1
Steve Allen 1
Mathew Bingley 1
Gareth Everton 1
Grieg Mills 3
Shaun Carver 1

Goal
Jason Blanchard3
Shane Southgate 1
Konrad Hanson 2

Next week the Marauders are away at Leeds Akkies, transport leaves the Moorends Social at 12.15 hrs. Training on Tuesday and Thursday evenings 7pm.