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Match report: Methley Royals v Brotherton
Methley Royals extended their winning league run to seven matches after a 18-8 home win over Brotherton.
The victory hoists the Royals into third spot in the CMS Yorkshire League's Unison Division Two, above Middleton, and with games in hand on leading duo Bentley Good Companions and Oulton Raiders.
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The victory hoists the Royals into third spot in the CMS Yorkshire League's Unison Division Two, above Middleton, and with games in hand on leading duo Bentley Good Companions and Oulton Raiders.
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The Royals, however, were pushed all the way by a Brotherton outfit that belied its status in the bottom half of the section, and it took a try of high quality 10 minutes from time by centre Sam Payne – making his first appearance since early December because of a hand injury – to settle the issue.
Payne's score, in which he popped up on the far side of the pitch to beat defenders – and tireless teammate Richard Scott – to an astute kick by stand-off Tommy Skerrett (whose conversion took him to 98 points for the season, beating the previous record held by JP Briers) was a fitting finale to an impressive display.
Scott, outstanding in the second row, was a major influence, pulling off an ankle tap in the early stages which denied the visitors a certain try.
The Royals had a stroke of luck when, from the subsequent play-the-ball, a Brotherton pass went loose. But there was nothing fortunate about the way winger Thomas Kaye scooped the ball out of the air and left would-be tacklers trailing in an 80-metre chase.
Skerrett added the extras but Brotherton hit back when Jason Lazenby squeezed in at the corner.
The visitors would have gone in front but for a magnificent shoulder charge at the flag by home hooker Reece Willshaw, and Methley made the most of that episode by stretching the lead after neat work by scrum-half Dave Craven and Skerrett set up the position for Skerrett to notch an outstanding solo score, converting his own effort from in front of the posts to establish a 12-4 interval lead.
With props Gareth Grant-Mills and Paul Farrar setting a strong platform, and back-row men Thomas Wheatley, John Saville and Simon Dickinson offering plenty of graft, the Royals were good value for their advantage. Danny Agar had been solid at fullback, and James Baxter, Stuart Biscomb and Matty Baker effective in the threequarters.
Substitutes Matty Carriss-Wright also played vital roles – and the input was needed after Brotherton opened the second period with a well-taken touchdown by Craig Horton. But Methley kept the visitors at bay for the remainder of the contest, sealing victory with Payne's super score.
The Royals, who are without a game on Saturday because of Sherburn's involvement in the Selby Cup, were grateful to Brotherton for offering use of their physio in the event of any injuries.
* Anyone interested in the first-aiders' role at Methley should contact Simon Adamson (077 3608 6238) or Phil Hodgson (077 8698 0909).
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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