NEWSOME PANTHERS progressed to the second round of the Holliday Cup after a thriller against St Joseph’s.
It took extra-time to separate the local rivals with Newsome running out 38-30 winners after the game had been tied 26-26 at full-time.
The first half had seen the Panthers in the ascendancy as they led 18-10 at the interval thanks to tries from Steve Lockwood, Luke Brewster and Tom Eidson, plus three goals from Ben Dawson.
However, St Joseph’s hit back and took the game into extra-time despite a further Eidson try and two goals from Dawson for Newsome, who had Dave Downs in great form in defence – topping the tackle count ahead of James Wallace.
In the added 20 minutes Newsome just held sway with tries from Martin Robinson and Wallace, while two more goals from Dawson ensured they went through to the second round.
In the Pennine League Emley Moor A returned to winning ways in Division VII.
They notched an emphatic 50-34 win over Greetland A.
Moor made a poor start and were 12 points down in the opening minutes, but Emley settled their nerves and started to gain a grip on the game.
Iain Service impressed at stand off and finished with a personal points haul of 18 with two fine tries and five goals.
Back row forward Jason Archer and prop Greg Atkinson also bagged two tries each, and there were also touchdowns for Sam Ball, Ben Kaye and Mark Corcoran. Taff Barron slotted over two goals in a very good team performance.
