With Tom Mapp converting 8 out of his 9 kicks at goal and the team scoring 7 unanswered tries Broughton Park advanced to the final of the Lancashire Trophy at the expense of Rossendale.

'Park kicked off and within a minute were camped in the Rossendale 22 where they seemed to spend the rest of the game. Even with the underfoot conditions not being ideal and the air temperature chilling the hands, 'Park were still able to produce some exhilarating passages of play. This was particularly exemplified with 'Park's second try 35mins into the 1st half. Winning a ruck, Park quickly transferred the ball to winger Adam Middlehurst. The young winger handed off his opposite number and linked with Verbickas who fed his centre partner, Mapp. Mapp advanced and found Dave Rodgers, who kicked forward for Ronan O'Brien to race onto the ball and score under the posts.

Middlehurst very nearly scored a try 2 minutes later but was stopped inches short of the line. However the referee deemed the tackle dangerous and awarded Park a penalty try and at half time the score was 27 - 0 in 'Park's favour.

With the forwards, being led by Andy O'Grady, who gratefully scored the 1st try, becoming more and more dominant, 'Park had complete control of the game and scored a further 4 tries in the second half. All the tries were close range tries as 'Park penned the Rossendale team back into their own 22 and proceeded to out scrummage, out ruck and out maul their opposition.

First Mark Poole collected the ball and scored his customary try and he was followed by Richard Gould, making his first 1st XV appearance of the season, collecting the ball from the base of the scrum and scuttling down the blind side to score. Two further tries were scored in the last 10mins as first Jon Knight gleefully accepted his opportunity to score and finally Ronan O'Brien dived on the ball after Verbickas deftly chipped the ball forward.

A great victory and this has given Park an opportunity to collect some silverware at the end of the season. However the priority for this season is promotion. and next weekend Park return to league action against Leigh.

With a number of players returning after injury, Park find themselves in the envious position of having competition for each and every position on the field. This of course brings its own problems and players who have got Park this far in the season might find themselves having to stand aside for returning players.

Whatever team is selected for next weekend it should be remembered that the season is geared towards promotion and individual needs, although important, are of secondary consideration when the team is selected to defeat Leigh in next weekend's game at home.

Dave Walsh 1st team manager.