Millom Rugby League Football Club

Millom 19 - Stanningley 10

Millom	Stanningley

Tries:	Tries:
B Crellin, N Mossop, T Sibley	B Smith, M Dougan

Goals:	Goals:
P Evans 3 + DG	S Halliday

Match Reports:

Evening Mail

MILLOM got off to an incredible start – the type of which no-one in the large crowd at Devonshire Road had seen before. Stanningley kicked off and Brad Crellin gathered and ran for 40 metres before passing to Graham Lupton. He took the ball into the 20 metre area before returning the ball to Crellin, who went over after only 33 seconds.

Then, when the Leeds team kicked off for the second time it went to Nathan Mossop, who scorched through the opposition to score between the posts. Two Paul Evans conversions meant a 12-0 lead after only two minutes. Coach and Leeds star Jamie Jones Buchanan, who had taken the kick-off cone to start, was still on the pitch when his team kicked off for the third time.

Millom then had to defend strongly until Evans and Midge Dixon combined to put Tom Sibley in on the half-hour. It took a brilliant tackle from fullback Steve Dawson to keep Stanningley at bay and a half-time score of 16-0.

The visitors’ Ben Smith went in for a try on 46 minutes and when Mark Dougan claimed a second try for the visitors, which was goaled by Halliday, the game was in the balance. On 63 minutes a drop goal by Evans eased things for the maroons, but it took another splendid Dawson tackle to keep the visitors out. A penalty on the half-hour by Evans proved to be the last score and Millom extended their unbeaten winning run to four games.

Dawson got the sponsors MoM award and live-wire scrum-half Mossop was given the opposition coach’s award.

League Express:

Millom maintained their 100 percent winning start to the season with this hard-earned success over a Stanningley side that did well to get back in the game after conceding two tries in the opening two minutes.
From the kick off, Bradd Crellin had raced down field and taken a return pass from Graham Lupton for the opening score goaled by Paul Evans. From the restart, Nathan Mossop caught the ball and went 65 metres for a second try, again goaled by Evans and Stanningley were stunned.

But sparked by Eddie Norfolk, Paul Robinson and Stewart McGill they started to get into the game and Millom had to defend vigorously to deny them. Tom Sibley then managed to claim a third Millom try and although Evans missed the goal, the home side led 16-0 at half time.

Ben Smith managed to open the Stanningley account on 46 minutes and when Mark Dougan claimed a second try for the visitors and Stuart Halliday had goaled, it was all hanging in the balance. But with the superb Steve Dawson steadying the ship, an Evans field goal and later penalty ensured it was Millom still undefeated and top of division 2.

League Weekly:

The Maroons maintained their 100 percent record this time but find themselves edged off the tip of the table on points difference by Normanton, who hammered Millom’s Barrow neighbours Askam.

Millom looked on course for a comfortable win when centre Bradd Crellin, scrum half Nathan Mossop and second row Tom Sibley crossed in the first 26 minutes; stand off Paul Evans kicking two goals.

But Stanningley, who travelled with only 16 players, clawed their way bay into contention with touchdowns by second row Ben Smith and substitute Mark Dougan, one of which centre Stuart Halliday improved.

Evans, however, edged Millom seven points clear with a drop goal. And the half back’s late penalty put paid to any realistic hopes of another away rally.



			S Dawson



R Brooks		B Crellin		A Dixon		W Lloyd



		P Evans		N Mossop



			P Lupton



		S Errington		L Lupton



	C Wilson		G Lupton		P Carter



C Spiers		M Palmer		P Middleton		D Kelly