Saturday 15^th December 2001
NATIONAL CONFERENCE LEAGUE DIV 2
KEIGHLEY ALBION 10 SHEFFIELD HILLSBOROUGH HAWKS 36

Jim Coldwell knocks down a tackler
Picture by Trevor Smith

Albion’s visitors to Cougar Park were Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks who are themselves embroiled in the relegation battle, Albion were once again forced into playing with a much changed side and to make matters worse they lost Mark Adams in the first 2 minutes of the game and he never returned to the field of play. Not to be down hearted by this Albion went on to the attack and a Steve Wrench kick on the last tackle saw the ball hit a post and bounce back in to play away from the Hawks full back, and into the path of Kris Kirk who surged over for the opening try of the game, he also tagged on the goal to give Albion a 6points to nil lead in the 5^th minute.

Steve Wrench is mobbed
Picture by Trevor Smith

Albion’s bigger pack was causing problems for the Hawks defenders with Adam Lilley, Jim Coldwell and Martin Fryers, but this was to no avail. Albion were then penalized for holding down in the tackle and Hawks Ben Thornton made no mistake in adding the penalty goal to make 6 points to 2 on 10 minutes. It was now Albion’s turn to defend as the Hawks put pressure on the Albion line but Steve Wrench and Kris Kirk were tackling their socks off, and only a good short ball from the Hawks Phil Hough sent Prop Nathan Worton in for a short range try the goal attempt was wide of the posts but it was even stevens at 6 points all in the 13^th minute.

The Keighley side came back again through Ed Billings and Rob Bailey but play broke down when he was injured in the tackle which saw him loose the ball, his injury saw leave the game never to take part again. This seemed to frustrate Albion and they gave away a couple of penalties, and from one of these Ben Thornton added another penalty goal to put the Hawks in front at 9 points to 8 on 21 minutes.

Kris Kirk scores
Picture by Trevor Smith

This did not seem to affect Albion as they took the game back to the Hawks with some good open play, and a super 40/20 kick by Craig Livock saw Albion take head and ball at the resulting scrum, from this Andy Bowness and Craig Livock combined to send Kris Kirk storming in for his 2^nd try of the game, his goal attempt was off the mark but Albion were in front again by 10 points to the Hawks 8 points on the 27 minute mark.

Danny Bowness breaks?
Picture by Trevor Smith

The Hawks came back again and when Steve Wrench and Kris Kirk clashed heads in the tackle the Hawks Billy Glossop scored a try, the goal kick was of the target but the Hawks were in front again by 10 points to 12 on the 35^th minute.

Albion were at sixes and sevens as both Steve Wrench was blood binned and Kris Kirk received treatment the Hawks struck again when the Ref gave head and ball to the Hawks much to every one’s amazement and from the scrum they got the ball wide of Albion’s defenders for Dave Beevers to score a try, Ben Thornton added the goal to give the Hawks an 10points to 18 lead as the half time whistle went. The last 2 tries of the half were a little unjust and did not do justice to the hard work Albion had put into the first 40 minutes but the Half Time score was Albion 10 points- Hawks 18.

Oh no he doesn't.
Picture by Trevor Smith

The Hawks started the 2^nd half as they had finished the 1^st by taking the game to Albion putting the defence under pressure and this led to Albion giving away another penalty that Ben Thornton kicked to increase the Hawk score to show it was Albion 10 points – Hawks 20 on 46 minutes. Steve Wrench returned to action from the blood bin and combined well with Adam Lilley who took the ball down field but Albion were caught with the ball on the last tackle, and from the quick play the ball the Hawks Jon Nicholls diagonal run took him past Albion’s scrambling defence to score a try, no goal to add but the Hawks were now in control with the score line off Albion 10 the Hawks24 on the 51^st minute mark.

At this stage Steve Wrench was involved in a heavy tackle and had to leave the field with a touch of concussion and did not return. This left Albion in a dilemma as they had used up all their subs and it left them with 7 props on the field with the also injured Ian Spencer on the wing it was now going to be a struggle. The Hawks took advantage of this and with their hooker in outstanding form saw him break from mid field and go all the way to score a good individual try, Ben Thornton added the goal to give the score line of Albion 10 points –Hawks 30 points on 53 minutes.

Albion’s Martin Fryers, Adam Lilley and Jim Coldwell were still making good yards into the Hawks defence, with Kris Kirk joining the attacking line whenever possible, and Albion’s dogged resistance paid off as the Hawks did not score again until the 70^th minute when some good open play saw Barry McCuffog score a try, Ben Thornton added the goal to make it Albion 10 points to the Hawks 36.

It had not been a classic game but the disruptions to Albion’s team had played its part in a gutsy performance. But strong games from Albion’s Man of the Match Martin Fryers, supported well by Adam Lilley, Gary Boocock and Kris Kirk was all that Albion had to offer. For the Hawks hooker Brian Moore was there Man of the Match ably assisted by Phil Hough, Jon Nicholls and goal kicker Ben Thornton. With a Final Score of Albion 10 points to the Hawks 36, Albion must be looking forward to the break over Xmas and the New Year.

Albion’s next game is away to Hunslet Warriors on the 5^th of January 2002 with a 2-00pm kick off.
Terry Caddy. 

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