Monday July 11th 2011   BARLA GREAT BRITAIN OVER 35'S VICTORS OVER THE ARMY BARLA GREAT BRITAIN OVER 35’S 56 THE ARMY 4 The BARLA Great Britain Over 35’s defeated the Army 56-4 after leading 18-0 at the break in a curtain raiser to the Whitehaven South Wales Scorpions clash at the Recreation Ground. The highlight of the game was a second half hat-trick from Over 35’s man of the match Nigel Halshaw (West Bowling). There were some powerful displays in the Over 35’s forwards from Mick Whiteside (Leigh Miners Rangers) and Paul Dean (Barrow Island), whilst their backs Jimmy Walker (West Hull) and Lee Charlesworth (Saddleworth Rangers) also had good games. Played in blistering heat the contest as a very physical and tough game for both sides with the Army putting the Over 35s defence under pressure before the Army defence had withstand pressure from the Over 35s. The stalemate was eventually broken on 15 minutes when Craig Chambers (Kells) crossed the whitewash for the Over 35’s before Steve Perry (Roose Pioneers) kicked the first of seven conversions. The Over 35’s continued to take the game to the Army and doubled their lead five minutes when Walker crossed the whitewash and eight minutes from the break it became 18-0 as Charlesworth scored. The second forty began in similar fashion to the first half with both sides giving their all and it took until the 55th minute for the next score which came from Halshaw who scored his second nine minutes later. In between those Chambers went over for his second on 59 minutes. The Army battled gamely on and the biggest cheer of the day came when they scored in the corner on 70 minutes to make it 34-4. The Over 35’s hit back with four tries in five minutes as the Army wilted under the heat. Walker scored his second before going on to complete his hat-trick and in between those scores Halmshaw completed his treble. Mark Hewitt (West Hull) kicked a conversion before Dean had the last word with a try on 78 minutes. BARLA Great Britain Over 35’s Sean High (Kells), Andy Eatcock (Leigh East), Paul McGee (Seaton Rangers), Stephen Holgate (Frizington), Lee Charlsworth (Saddelworth Rangers), Jimmy Walker (West Hull), Mark Hewitt (West Hull), Paul Dean (Barrow Island), Dave Wynne (Barrow Island), Thomas McKinnon (Barrow Island), Steve Perry (Roose Pioneers), Terry Ried (Crossfields), Lee Frank (YorkAcorn), Richard Pearson (Siddal), Nigel Halmshaw (West Bowling), Craig Chambers (Kells), Stephen Long (Egremont Rangers), Mike Whiteside (Leigh Miners Rangers), Stephen Morton (Queens), Stephen Reed (Cockermouth Titans), Paul Crarey (Head Coach, Dalton), Sean High (Manager), Benny Richardson (Ass Manager Shaw Cross Sharks). Steve Manning BARLA Media Manager