Superb Trojans stun Hawks

Thornhill Trojans 58

The Trojans were in devastating form as they stayed top of Pennine League Division Three by brushing aside a team which led the table for much of the season.

This was a performance the leaders could be proud of and at the end there was a real buzz of expectation surrounding the players as they line themselves up for a tricky midweek trip to Dudley Hill.

Star of the show was again man of the match Scott Woodcock. Sheffield couldn’t contain his powerful surges and how he used his strength to hold off tacklers to send passes out. Woodcock’s impact was immense and he is proving a real inspiration to the other players.

Thornhill expected a tough, close encounter but at one point in the first half they were racking up a point a minute. The avalanche began as Liam Morley took play forward.

Woodcock ran hard towards the line before his pass sent Anthony Broadhead over for a try. Mark Hodgson converted.

Thornhill took advantage of some penalty decisions in their favour to take play towards the line.

A run around in the corner ended with Anthony Harris crashing over for a try which Hodgson converted.

A bone-crunching tackle forced a Sheffield player to spill the ball on a rare assault on the Trojans line before Dale Brook picked up the loose ball and no Sheffield player could catch him as he sprinted virtually the length on the field for a sensational long-range try. Hodgson converted.

Sheffield were looking shell-shocked as they struggled to cope with the intensity of Thornhill’s play and Broadhead went close as he took play to the posts.

Woodcock then ran in for a try as the defence opened up. Hodgson converted.

A further Woodcock run opened Sheffield up again and his pass put Morley over, Hodgson added the goal.

On the stroke of half-time Thornhill were penalised for offside close to their line.

A quick play-the-ball caught them out and Richard Allen went over for a try which Dan Gray converted.

Thornhill’s grip tightened in the second half when Morley and Scott Woodcock performed a run around and the latter slipped out a pass which put his brother Chris over for a try. Hodgson converted.

Jake Ratcliffe and Morley were sin-binned but despite being down to 11 men Thornhill continued to score tries.

Woodcock took Thornhill close before Broadhead dummied over. Hodgson added the goal while soon after straight from a scrum Simon Walker sprinted over for an unconverted try.

Jack Stead picked up from acting half to sprint over for another touchdown. Hodgson converted and was on target again after Thornhill’s final try, which saw Woodcock put Harris between the posts.

A late consolation try from Harry Whales failed to take the shine off what had been a sparkling display from the Trojans.