MOORENDS-Thorne Marauders won the Rugby League Merit League Minor Championship after taking control in a very tricky away game at the home of the previously unbeaten South Humber Rabbitohs (Grimsby).

Early in the first half, 16-year-old Rhys Bailey punched through the Rabbitohs defence before passing to the supporting Martin Rowlands, who in turn sent Cliffton Richardson on a 40-metre run to go in under the posts after 10 minutes, 16-year-old Konrad Hanson converted.

The game turned into a territorial tug-of-war before the Marauders opened up the home side again on 20 minutes; Martin Rowland's long ball found his centre Brendan Neil, Neil cut through the Rabbitohs defence before sending Cliffton Richardson into the corner with a lovely inside pass.

The introduction of two props from the bench proved a decisive factor in the first half; from the kick-off Gav Millward took the ball back nearly to the half-way line, acting half back Shane Southgate jumped and propped a short ball up to Wayne Rafferty, who scattered the Rabbitohs defenders before winning the 60-metre race to the try line,
Konrad Hanson adding the extras.

The Rabbitohs had a strong set of six that ended deep inside the Marauders half with a dangerous looking chip kick; the situation was defused by Cliffton Richardson who collected the tricky ball to show a clean pair of heels to win the 80-metres race going in under the posts, Konrad Hanson converted.

The last 10 minutes of the first half saw the young Marauders tighten and turn the screw; big hits in defence by Dean Wright, Gav Millward and Bomber Neil, paved the way for the experienced trio of Shane Southgate, Martin Rowlands and Paul Hopkinson who's probing paved the way for a further 16 point haul.

Seventeen-year-old full back Martin Dennis returned the ball after the Rabbitohs had been forced to kick from inside their own half of the field, making 20 metres before being half tackled, allowing him to slip the ball to Rhys Bailey; Bailey's clever ball allowed Dean Wright to
out-pace the Rabbitohs to the try line, Konrad Hanson converted.

Owen Abbott, Karl Taylor and Greg Neil built the platform for the next Marauders attack, excellent passing through several pairs of hands saw Brendan Neil sending Martin Dennis over in the corner.

Just before the break, excellent centre play by Brendan Neil, opened up the home defence down the left channel, drawing in the cover defence before launching Martin Rowlands to the try line, Konrad Hanson landing the conversion, 0-38 at half-time.

Moorends eased further ahead on 49 minutes after a grubber kick into the goal area resulted in the Rabbitohs defenders fumbling, Jamie Moore pounced on the loose ball to add to the scoresheet, Konrad Hanson converted.

Danny Hornsby, Cliffton Richardson and Paul (Spooner) Hopkinson, took the ball to the right before Martin Rowlands switched play finding Owen Abbott with a long ball before he crashed over taking two defenders with him, Konrad Hanson converted.

The Rabbitohs finally got rewarded for being very competitive all afternoon, sucking the Marauders defence in, they moved the ball quickly to the left, the scrambling defence seemed to make a great tackle, but the ball was unloaded out of the back door and moved to the left quickly for Mat Khan to crash over, Jamie Clough failed with the conversion to take the score to 4-50.

The Marauders went straight back at the home side and a big hit by Bomber Neil dislodged the ball; from the scrum Shane Southgate guided the Marauders into the middle of the park before he popped up a short ball for Gav Millward to crash over, Konrad Hanson adding the conversion.

The Marauders looked dangerous every time they had the ball in their hands and defended stoutly to a man against a game and determined Rabbitohs outfit.