SLAITHWAITE Saracens have won the Andrew Bennett Memorial Trophy for a second successive season.
The Pennine League Second Division champions celebrated the ‘double’ with a hard-fought 32-16 final triumph over Division IV champions Wibsey Warriors at Dewsbury’s Ram Stadium.
But they had to battle back from a 10-0 half-time deficit to secure the victory as the Saracens were guilty of making far too many errors in the opening exchanges.
As a result, it was no great surprise when Wibsey opened the scoring with a well-worked converted try after 12 minutes and followed up with a penalty two minutes later.
For the rest of the half, the Saracens were unable to find their form and another penalty just before the break gave the Warriors a clear advantage.
Fortunately, head coach Ritchie Hawkyard’s half-time pep talk did the trick, because the Saracens looked a different team in the second half.
Within five minutes they had struck for the first time as Danny Garside went in at the corner and then added the conversion to signal the fightback had begun.
Fifteen minutes later Mick Bostock grabbed try No2 as the Saracens finally found their form, and Garside again added the extras to put his side ahead for the first time.
Two minutes later a penalty for a high tackle extended the advantage before an astonishing 10-minute period in which man-of-the-match Simon Burkinshaw crossed for a stunning hat trick of tries.
All the scores were converted by Garside, and a breathtaking fightback was complete!
