Halton Simms Cross 2 Portico Panthers 12

PORTICO produced a super defensive performance to topple Premier Division leaders Simms Cross.

The game was point-less for the first 30 minutes with both sides defending well before prop Chris Ashurst finally broke the deadlock for the visitors with a drop goal.

From the re-start they went straight back on to the attack and Lee Cunningham scooted from dummy half to score an unconverted try in the corner.

Simmies got on the scoreboard just before half-time with a penalty goal.

The second half started with Portico having much of the possession but once again defences were on top for the most part and all they had to show for their efforts was a drop goal by Lee Cunningham to make it 6-2 in Panthers' favour.

Strong running by the Portico forwards though eventually laid the platform for what proved to be the clinching score, with former Saints and Salford player Paul Forber paving the way for Mark Rigby to go in under the posts for a try which Lee Cunningham converted to complete the scoring.

Simmies pressed for a try in the closing stages but the Portico defence held firm.

In another great team effort, scrum-half Keith Tunstall took the man-of-the-match award, closely followed by Gasione Del Farro and Al Graham.

Portico u/15s 22 Pendle 14

Portico's second-half performance was highlighted by man-of-the-match, Mike Astbury, whose excellent try capped a good all-round game in which both sides tackled well.

The winners' other tries came from Paul Leyland, Kevin Rooney, Chris Smith and Martin Allender. Top tackler Kevin Rooney also kicked Portico's only goal, while the coaches nominated Kevin Tench for their award.

Portico u/8s 46 Pilks 30

Man-of-the-match Jamie Bradshaw and the coach's award winner, Thomas Leyland, both scored four tries each to ensure the spoils in this hard-fought local derby went Portico's way.

Top tackler Chris Webster added Portico's other try and goals came from Davis Lee, Jamie Bradshaw, Chris Webster, Thomas Leyland and Philip Kilgallon. Other players who had good games were Marc Webster and James Ratcliffe.

Thatto Crusaders u/7s 12 Portico 24

Portico's strong tackling won them the day in this hotly-contested local derby.

Adam Pye took the Ibstock top tackler award, while QED Scaffolding man-of-the-match, Thomas Rigby, scored a fine try and ran the game well from half-back. Portico's other tries came from Bradley Ashurst (3), Jack Jones and Joshua Charnock. The coach gave his awards to Luke Brown and Luke O'Keefe who both tackled well.