Saunders bags 30 points as ruthless Ulverston bury the Broncos

CONNOR Saunders was the star of the show as the Broncos were burried at Dragley Beck in North West Mens Division Two.

Saunders collected 30 of the 42 points, with four tries, converting all seven touchdowns.

The Broncos, coached by former Leeds player Graham Holroyd, were, to coin a phrase, still on the bus as Phil Atkinson’s boys shot into a 12-0 lead after only four minutes.

However, this was the wake-up call for the Bury players as they came more into the frame and restricted the home side’s 12-0 lead until the 31st minute, when the scoreline read 18-0.

From the kick-off Matt Storey took play downfield from where Saunders sent out a neat ball for Dan Akrigg to score.

Saunders converted for 6-0. Three minutes later Saunders was over the whitewash after Storey headed for the line, taking his short ball to score. He also tagged on the goal.

The Broncos finally got ball in hand moving swifty into Ulverston territory through stand-off Harry Coleman and Mick Carter before the attack came to an end.

And when Coleman put in a high ball to the corner winger Gary Kabambia just failed to gather cleanly with the line open.

The pressure continued with Matt Speak being held up over the line, but again they failed to cross the whitewash as Coleman knocked-on ten yards out.

Ulverston survived to counter-attack through Saunders who put Akrigg into space but he was pulled back for a forward pass..

Minutes later Che Smith burst through the cover on halfway. Akrigg continued the attack but his inside ball to Saunders went forward.

On 31 minutes the lead increased. Steve O’Connor was held short of the line, and from the play the ball Saunders shot through a gap to score. He also tagged on the goal for 18-0.

The Broncos came back strongly, but when lively scrum half Sean Kelly stabbed the ball to the home line O’Connor snapped it up to go 50 yards before being hauled down.

Two minutes into the second half Glenn Athersmith broke clear to gallop in from 40 yards out.

Saunders added a further two points to make it 24-0.

Four minutes on and it was 30-0. Matt Storey covered fifty yards handing on to brother Marc and he found Saunders who raced clear to score and convert.

It soon became 36-0 when Saunders chipped over the cover hacking on to the touchline from where Howard Rowley kicked on and touched down. Saunders obliged with the goal.

Bury then came to life with some good attacking play and were rewarded when Abdon Radwaw scored out wide.

Another swift attack saw Jonno Taylor over the line, but Saunders had the final say when he skipped through the cover to score and convert.

l Walney Central are at home to Hindpool tomorrow in a top-of-the-table clash in Division One of the North West Men’s League (6.30pm kick-off).

Then on Wednesday at Craven Park holders Askam meet Millom in the semi-final of the Barton Townley Cup (7pm kick-off).

Walney await the winners for a Craven Park date on Wednesday May 23.

Furness Tile and Flooring League

Results: Dalton 18 Barrow Island 22; Hindpool 34 Askam 36; Millom 25 Ulverston 0.

Frank Reid Cup Final: Roose Pioneers 30 Walney Central 10.

Fixtures – Friday: Askam v Hindpool Tigers; Barrow Island v Dalton; Ulverston v Millom; Walney Central v Roose Pioneers.

l Millom beat Clock Face 36-22 in their National Conference clash on Saturday. See report and pictures in tomorrow’s Mail.