Millom Rugby League Football Club

Ovenden 24 - Millom 40

Ovenden	Millom

Tries:	Tries:
B Steele, L Sutcliffe, K Sutcliffe, L Midgley	S Dawson, B Crellin, P Evans, N Mossop, G Lupton, T Sibley

Goals:	Goals:
C Hartley 4	P Evans 8

Match Reports:

Halifax Courier:

Ovenden lost at home for the first time this season to a well drilled, more skilful Millom side who were making it five wins out of five in Division two of the National Conference.

The Four Fields men had several forwards missing and put in a brave performance, despite losing Tom McAdam to a serious injury and having to play thier top players, Wes McGibbon and Chris Hartley, out of position.

The opening stages were even with both sides missing penalty attempts.

A long break by Chris Barton ended when the ball was lost on the Millom line and Lee Midgley went close but lacked support.

Both sides were spilling the ball in scoring positions.

It took almost 30 minutes for the first score - a Millom penalty for a high tackle which Paul Evans landed. This was soon cancelled out by a penalty from Hartley.

The first try came when a long cross-field kick by Millom's Evans was seized on by Steve Dawson, who touched down for Evans to add the conversion.

The visitors' second came after a 40-20 by Evans had put his side on the attack. Graham Lupton was awarded the touch down depite appearing to be short of the line.

The home side hit back when Hartley set up Brett
Steele to score but the Cumbrians struck a crucial blow right on half time when their outstanding player, Tony Sibley, came onto a short pass from Mossop to open up a 12 point lead.

Millom extended their advantage when a break by Paul Lupton sent Brad Cullen over in the corner. Evans added a penalty before Mossop went in under the posts.

However, Ovenden showed plenty of spirit with tries from the Sutcliffe brothers.

The introduction of Luke added punch and he soon went on a speedy break to score. Kurt then followed him over the line from a pass by Steve Gracey.

Ovenden then broke again but a chance was missed with the line open.

Evans settled things for Millom with a score under the posts, to which he added the goal.

Ovenden completed the scoring from the restart. A short kick by Hartley was taken by Des Morris who broke the defence for Midgley to score under the posts.

League Express:

Millom continued with their best start in the NCL for several seasons with this fifth straight win, this time at Ovenden.

After an early exchange of penalties from Millom’s Paul Evans and the home side’s Chris Hartley, Millom took the initiative with tries from fullback Steve Dawson and hooker Graham Lupton, plus two more Evans goals.

Ovenden responded with a Brett Steele try and Hartley conversion but a Tom Sibley try and Evans’ fourth goal had Millom 20-8 ahead at half time.
In the second half, Millom opened in devastating fashion and Bradd Crellin and Nathan Mossop added more tries as Evans banged over conversions and penalties on his way to an eight-goal haul.

Luke and Kurt Sutcliffe pulled back tries for Ovenden, before Evans claimed a try of his own and although Lee Midgely crossed for Ovenden in the last minute and Hartley kicked a fourth goal, Millom were home and dry.

League Weekly:

The Maroons, only six points ahead as the interval approached, eased clear in the second period to stay level with leaders Normanton.

Second row Tom Sibley sparked the assault with a try on the stroke of half time and touchdowns followed in the last 40 minutes for centre Bradd Crellin, Nathan Mossop and stand off Paul Evans who kicked eight goals for a 20-point haul.

Ovenden registered tries in the last ten minutes by substitute Luke Sutcliffe, winger Kurt Sutcliffe and prop Lee Midgely, two of which scrum half Chris Hartley improved.

But it was too little, too late for the Halifax outfit, for whom second row Brett Steele had crossed in the first half, Hartley adding the conversion to his early penalty.

Full back Steve Dawson and hooker Graham Lupton grabbed Millom’s opening tries, Dawson’s 33rd minute score being the first touchdown of a game dominated by defences in the early stages.



			S Dawson



R Brooks		B Crellin		W Lloyd		M Palmer



		P Evans		N Mossop



			P Lupton



		S Errington		T Sibley



	C Wilson		G Lupton		P Carter



C Spiers		P Middleton		D Kelly		P Jackson