Blackpool Sea Eagles turned in another performance full of courage and determination as they went down 52 – 10 against Hope Valleys Hawks in a hard fought contest.

Injury and unavailability forced Blackpool into a number of changes with the home side handing débuts to no less than 7 players. The match began at a furious tempo with defences on top for both teams as great tackling from Tom Sanderson, Russell Woodward and Leon Mason amongst others kept the visitors at bay. At the other end of field, the Sea Eagles were almost on the scoreboard first as good work from Ryan Robinson and Jack Emery laid the ground work for a flowing back line move with new boy Dale Homer dragged down agonisingly sort of the tryline.

The deadlock was finally broken just past the quarter hour stage as the Hawks powered over for a try from close range. After gaining the lead the visitors looked to push their advantage, utilising their larger pack to full effect with only fantastic cover defence from Andy Smith, Martin Walls and Dean Bailey preventing further scores. Despite this valiant effort, the pressure eventually told as Hope Valley forced their way over for two further short range tries to go 14 – 0 ahead.

Moments later the Hawks found themselves temporally reduced to 12 men as an off the ball challenge on winger Chance Bonham, saw the youngster forced from the field of play. The hosts made the most of the their numerical superiority as powerful drives from replacements Graham Hamlyn and Michael Harrison created the platform for Antony Clark to take on the defence before slipping out a great offload to Kurt Gledhill to dive over, with hooker Luke Crosbie slotting the conversion to pull the score back to 6 – 14. Unfortunately a further converted score from Hope Valley just before the break left the game finally poised at half time.

The second stanza began poorly for the hosts as a try within minutes of the restart extended the visitors lead further although Blackpool fashioned an immediate reply from the kick off as Crosbie twice kicked on a loose ball and won the resultant foot race to touch down in the corner for a great solo try. Buoyed by this score the Sea Eagles came close to cutting the deficit further with good work from Peter Ward and Mike McDaid creating opportunities that were only denied by the final pass going astray or robust Hawks defence.

The game swung back in the favour of the away side as strong running from their forwards created another converted try and Blackpool found themselves on the back foot with only last ditch tackling from Larry Cotress and Darren Hardy-Dearness alongside others holding the Hawks at bay. In spite of the terrific defensive effort the pressure eventually told as Hope Valley scythed through for touchdown, with the hosts suffering a double blow as they were reduced to 12 men for questioning the officials decision. Making the most of their numerical advantage the Hawks scored three tries within a 8 minute period to give the scoreline a rather lop-sided feel with another converted try in the dying seconds bringing up the half century for the visitors and leaving the game to end at 52 – 10.

The final result did not reflect the bravery and effort on show from the entire Sea Eagles team against a strong Hope Valley outfit and they can draw a number of positives from this performance to take forward into their next game. A number of players had strong games for the hosts, but in the end the man of match award fittingly went to hooker Luke Crosbie, whose try and goal were just rewards for a hard days work in attack and defence.

Team: 1. Tom Sanderson 2. Martin Walls 3. Dale Homer 4. Andy Smith 5. Chance Bonham 6. Antony Clark 7. Kurt Gledhill 8. Russell Woodward 9. Luke Crosbie 16. Jack Emery 11. Ryan Robinson 12. Jason King 13. Leon Mason

Substitutes: 10. Graham Hamlyn 14. Darren Hardy-Dearness 15. Mike McDaid 17. Peter Ward 18. Larry Cotress 19. Michael Harrison 20. Dean Bailey

Tries: Crosbie, Gledhill

Goals: Crosbie (1)

Blackpool Sea Eagles

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