SLAITHWAITE Saracens stormed into the quarter-finals of the Pennine Presidents Cup with an easy 52-6 home triumph over Illingworth.
Their reward is another home tie against fellow Division I side Birkenshaw, with hopes high leaders Slaithwaite can continue even further in the Pennine League’s premier knockout competition.
And with the way the Saracens keep pushing opponents aside, there’s no reason at all why the in-form Huddersfield club can’t go all the way.
Latest victims Illingworth did start with far more purpose than they did against Slaithwaite a month ago when they were thrashed 84-4 and kept their hosts out for the opening 15 minutes.
But from the moment second-rower Matt Lodge powered over for a try, converted by Danny Garside, the tie was effectively over as a contest.
As the forwards took control, prop Lee McAfferty crashed over for converted try No2 and Chris Lodge quickly followed up with another try which Garside goaled, and a cricket score looked on the cards.
Five minutes later, however, Illingworth finally found a response to stem the tide before normal service was resumed with Joe Fitzpatrick and Darren Hawkyard crossing for two more converted scores to make it 30-6 at the break.
Straight from the kick-off Darren Hawkyard jinked his way through the defence for his second, and tries then followed at regular intervals through David Holmes, Simon Burkenshaw and Stuart Dunbar, with Garside landing three of the goals to take the game well beyond their opponents’ reach.
But while there were no problems for Slaithwaite staging their tie, St Joseph’s home President’s Cup clash against Elland was postponed due to Kirklees Council’s decision to call off all games on their pitches.
If the men from Fartown do win the re-arranged fixture, they will again be at home to either Westgate Wolves or Sharlston Rovers in the last eight.
