Clayton march on

Siddal 8

Rangy centre Andy Seager posted two first-half tries to inspire Clayton to a first-round success in the Pennine Presidents Cup at Lidget Green.

The Villagers were under the cosh in the early stages against a Siddal side controlled by former Conference loose forward Martin Scrimshaw.

They were denied when full back Danny Caston bundled wingman john Elliot into touch at the corner flag.

Seager then had a glorious chance to grab the opener but he cut inside with his wingman Dominic Brook screaming for the ball on the overlap.

However, he made no mistake with his second opportunity shortly afterwards when he finished off a John Parkinson break with a classy step followed by a shimmy to the whitewash.

Like all good scrum halves, Scott Holt bravely positioned himself under the uprights to collect a dangerous kick and set the play which enabled forward Craig Pickthall to scatter the Siddal defence.

The barrel-chested second row, back to his rampaging best, off-loaded to the supporting Caston whose blistering pace proved too much to handle from 40 metres out.

The killer blow came when Siddal attempted to force the action in the home red zone. A dropped pass was seized upon by Seager who unusually hacked the ball all the way to the visitors try line in a display of footwork worthy of any Premier League footballer. The ball sat up perfectly for him to dive over swanlike at the posts leaving stand off Danny Belcher to add his third successful conversion to put Clayton safely into the sheds 18-0.

Both teams had to contend with deteriorating conditions on the restart which they over came with remarkable aptitude underlined by a cracking Clayton try from substitute Gareth Judson.

He collected a clever pass from forward Ben Beavers to scamper behind the uprights and leave Belcher a simple kick.

Siddal packman Greg Robinson took advantage of tired legs to reach the chalk and after a bout of fisticuffs as the fatigue took hold Judson was marched to the sin bin following an inoffensive high tackle.

Wingman Terry Thacker gave the visitors a consolation try out wide before prop forward John Parkinson steamed on to a Pickthall pass to touch down and add the goal himself to put the icing on the cake and doubly ensure Claytons name went in the hat for the round two draw.