Cowling Harlequins 6 Silsden 22

IN HEAVY conditions, and in a derby atmosphere, the match began with some strong defence from both sides.

Silsden went into the game as favourites but found the going tough against a Harlequins team with a point to prove, some of their players having joined the Cobbydalers in the summer.

Silsden broke the deadlock after 15 minutes when a superb cut-out pass from Tim Wilkinson found former Quins player Jack Ninnis Stoddart unmarked on the wing for him to touch down in the corner. It was too far out for the conversion to be successful.

Good forward work from Cowling's Sam Booker and Daniel Spencer got them going in the right direction, while defence from Craig Nicholson and Dave Gooding helped them stay in the contest.

However, having found some rhythm, Silsden went further ahead with another try, this time from James Bowdin, coming at a great angle to cross untouched under the posts. Ben Ross converted to give the Cobbydalers a ten-point lead after half an hour.

Ross powered over the line for Silsden’s third try under the posts and then added the extras as the visitors went in 16-0 up at the break.

The second half began again with a lengthy stalemate and defences on top until a number of penalties allowed Cowling to maintain a period of sustained pressure on the Silsden line.

Cowling thought they had scored when Daz Greenwood kicked the ball to the sticks and Ash Wood dived on the ball beneath the posts but the try was disallowed.

However, Booker latched on to a ball from Danny Windle and, holding off four would-be tacklers, got across the whitewash for a converted try to put Quins on the scoreboard, Greenwood adding the extras.

With 21 minutes to go, the game was still in the balance but another score from Silsden sealed the points.

It came from the alert Jack Adams, who kicked forward a ball when Cowling spilled it at a scrum and won the chase to touch down. Again, Ross converted.

In a game dominated by defence, Lee Shaw won the man of the match for Silsden for completing 22 tackles and taking some powerful runs from his own half.

This week sees a return to knockout action for Silsden as they host Allerton Bywater in the Pennine Supplementary Cup, kick-off 2pm.

Cowling can take great pride from this fixture and now need to back it up at home to Boothtown A in the league at Burgess Park (2pm).