Super Higgy tame Cobras
Reporter: Matthew Chambers
Date published: 25 November 2010
Photo: Chris Sunderland
ON THE CHARGE... Higginshaw’s Gareth Brindley runs into Rick Signer of Rochdale Cobras, during the Standard Cup first-round tie.
RUGBY: AN OUTSTANDING team effort sent Higginshaw through to the last four of the Standard Cup.
In a cracking local derby, the home side overcame North-West Counties League rivals Rochdale Cobras 16-6.
David Sweeney, Michael Smith, Kris Richards and Gary Walsh all made an superb contributions for Higgy, and were ably supported by Scott Foote, Sean Stubbs and the impressive Paul Turner.
Higgy dominated the game from start to finish.
Sweeney scored the first try after a 40-yard break from Gareth Franklin.
They interchanged passes twice, before Sweeney touched down wide out. Jonathan Fullalove converted from the touchline for a 6-0 lead.
Cobras applied some pressure on the Higgy line, but great defensive work by Mark Ward and Steven Perry made sure they did not pass.
Cobras got on the scoresheet with a penalty but, with both defences on top, scoring chances were few and far between.
Quick-thinking Garth Brindley — he chipped the ball over the defence — tried to pick out Kris Richards, who just failed to collect with the line beckoning.
However, Higgy did extend their lead to 8-2 at half-time thanks to a Fullalove penalty.
Cobras stepped up a gear after the break, but with Brindley, Guy Harvey, Michael Jewitt, Darryl Renshaw and Gareth Franklin standing firm in defence, they were unable to find a way through.
Higgy’s next score was a stunner, covering 70 yards.
A set move involving Sean Stubbs and Gary Walsh saw Turner slice through the Cobras defence from 25 yards out for his 6th try of the season. Fullalove added the goal.
A stunning tackle from Richards settled the tie when Cobras looked certain to score.
Determined Higgy lifted their game, and when Fullalove converted a penalty, they were almost in the semi-final.
Cobras hit back for a consolation try, but it was too little too late.
HIGGINSHAW forfeited their North-West Counties League Challenge Cup, preliminary tie at Roose Pioneers 24 hours earlier.
