Morley 5 Kestrels 65

Kestrels made the short trip to Morley for a hastily arranged friendly after Moortown 2s cried off for the scheduled League fixture. Kestrels had a number of regular players missing this week, but were able to call on 4 'guests' as Cleckheaton 1st XV were without a game once again ahead of the National Plate Competition which starts next week. Up front the team was Chris Piper, Olly Clark and Ben Thrower, Elliot Hallas and Steve Noble at Lock, back row of Wade Laycock, George Speight and Brad Marsden. Half Back pairing of Lewis Beasty and Eliot Whetham, while the backs were Richard Noble and Tom Hainsworth at centre , Veron Dhesi and Logan Senior on the wings and Dom Howarth at full back, Niall Jackson and Harry Preston were keeping the bench warm. Yours truly was acting as Tee Boy and making a total Horlicks of it too!
Kestrels quickly into action, first attack saw a break down the right, Dom Howarth stretching over the the line for the opening try, 0-5. On 10 minutes Wade Laycock supported a break by Hainsworth to score a great try, Howarth converted 0-12.
Straight from the kick off , another attack down the right wing, this time Richard Noble crossed for the try, Howarth missed the goal 0-17.
Morley were under constant pressure and couldn't make any headway. Next to score was winger Veron Dhesi who supported a break down the middle of the field and he crossed for the 4th try, Howarth added the goal 0-24. Tom Hainsworth blasted his way through the Morley defensive line for try number 5, 0-29. I'm sure the Mark 1 eyeballs were deceiving me but the sight of Elliot Hallas putting a grubber in ( with an overlap I'm sure) and almost getting the touchdown, did that really happen? Anyway , back from Fantasy Island with a bump, Logan Senior made a powerful run and off loaded to Hainsworth to score as Mr Downing blew his whistle to end the first half with Kestrels 0-34 to the good .
Second half got underway and it took the Kestrels just 5 minutes to add to their tally, that man Hainsworth scattering Maroon shirts in all directions for his 3rd try of the afternoon, his day was done, he was replaced after that effort 0-41.
Morley decided they didn't want to be nilled and the sorted that out with a try out wide on the left 5-41 after 48 minutes.
Steve Noble was next to score after excellent close quarter handling in the right corner, Tee Boy had nodded off by now , so Howarth decided to drop kick the conversion from the touchline, best kick of the game, it sailed over the bar 5-48 after 54 minutes. On the very next possession, Howarth sliced through the defence to score on the right 5-53. Kestrels still had a few party tricks to put on the highlight reel, Whetham gave a charging Richard Noble a short pass inside his own half and he romped clear for a try under the posts, Howarth had gone AWOL so Ben Thrower took the conversion with a sweetly struck drop kick 5-60. The final act saw Richard Noble complete his hat trick and complete the scoring, final score Morley 5 Kestrels 65. Good all round team performance, well done everyone , I've had a whole heap of fun with the Kestrels this season, I'm off for a lie down in a darkened room , catch you all soon!