Hoppers up and running with win

By JOHN LE PAGE

Preston G’s ….48

Scunthorpe ….24

NEWLY-PROMOTED Scunthorpe came to Lightfoot Green on the back of two losses from two games but they put in a brave peformance as they went down to Preston Grasshoppers.

Grasshoppers had shown their dominance with the draw at Fylde the previous week and started the game kicking into a stiff breeze.

In a high-paced encounter, Scunthorpe broke from their first lineout to score after just two minutes and the conversion was good.

Grasshoppers replied ten minutes later to level only for their visitors to move in front again when Will Robinson converted his own try.

The play throughout the game was fast with Scunthorpe showing good handling skills and the two defences were made to work hard. But Hoppers began to dominate and scored again after a series of flowing moves put Jordan Dorrington over to make the score 20-14 at half-time.

The second half saw Hoppers take the game by the scruff of the neck, their forwards continually gaining good ground and their backs making long breaks towards the visitors’ line at will.

The Preston replacements made a significant impact and although Scunthorpe managed two late, unconverted scores, Hoppers finished the match with the full five points for their first win of the campaign.

TEAMS

PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS: Dorrington J, Spence, Stott, Gregson, Crow, Prior, Squirrell, Blanchard, Millea, Miller, Proctor, Murray, Carlson, Harrison, Lamprey

Replacements: Taylor, Sloane, Wallbank, Dorrington B, Hurst

SCUNTHORPE: Scammell, McStay, Robinson, Cook, Chapman, Morgan, Bird, Leaning, Mist, Cole, Syddall, Dyson, Elliott, Rendall-Tyrrell, Harrison

Replacements: Fagan, Probert, Walker, Sarsfield, Caunt

REFEREE: Ben Rayner

ATTENDANCE: 271

Star man

Tyler Spence – Grasshoppers