Last updated at 12:16, Tuesday, 24 July 2012

Wath Brow Hornets put themselves firmly in title contention when they beat NCL Premier leaders Wigan St Patrick’s 34-26 in a classic confrontation.

Wath Brow's Karl Dixon

The two are now level at the top of the table, although St Patrick’s do have a better points’ differential.

It was the visitors who opened the scoring on five minutes when Liam Gannon powered his way through the home side’s defence for the opening try which Anthony Griffiths converted.

Within five minutes the Hornets hit back when Jamie Devine sliced through for a try and Jason Connery’s conversion put the sides level.

The home side took the lead two minutes later when Connery stepped past several defenders to touchdown in the corner for and unconverted try.

Ten minutes later St. Pats re-took the lead after a powerful run from substitute Jamie Winstanley took him over the white wash. Griffiths converted.

This seemed to give the home side a wake-up call and it wasn’t long before they were on the score-sheet again with tries from Karl Dixon and Ryan Amor, the first converted by Connery.

But the final word of the half came from the visitors as they penned the Hornets in their own 20 metre zone and some good, fast hands from the Wigan side opened the Brow’s defence for Ryan Baxter to touch down. Griffiths converted to pull them back to 20-18 at half-time.

Wath Brow started quickly on the resumption and after only two minutes centre Francis King broke away from his marker on his own 30 metre line, before slipping the ball out to Karl Dixon who sped up the touchline before wrong-footing the Pats full back Atherton to go in under the sticks.

Connery converted for a 26-18 lead.

The game by now was end to end with both teams playing some excellent rugby. Pats came back at the Brow again and it wasn’t long before they were back on the score sheet as Dec McLoughlin crossed and Griffiths converted. Again they were only two points behind.

This was to be a fight to the end. Karl Dixon went in for his hat-trick on 65 minutes.. Connery converted.

Both teams were looking tired but neither gave up. Then St. Pats were awarded a penalty witch Griffiths converted, followed two minutes later with the home side’s Connery slotting over a penalty to end the scoring and sealing a great win.

First published at 11:24, Tuesday, 24 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk