Stockton ......13pts, New Brighton ...... 38pts

IF away results are to determine the outcome of this season's Thwaites Division One North League, then New Brighton's victory over Stockton on Saturday augers well.

It took the visitors only two minutes to open their account with a penalty kicked by Guest. New Brighton controlled the early stages and went 10-0 up with a score by Hancock converted by Guest.

Hancock, New Brighton's flying fireman, marked his return to fitness and form with another powerful score in the corner on 15 minutes. Guest missed with the conversion attempt, but succeeded on 18 minutes with a well struck penalty for 18-0.

It was all too easy for the Blues, who looked to be cruising to a big win, but the home side doggedly stuck to their driving forward game and sucked the Blues into their negative patterns. The tactic proved costly as Stockton's big men established a platform that resulted in a try for Hethrington to bring the score back to 5-18.

Guest added two more penalties to secure a 5-24 interval lead.

In the 58th minute, Stockton crossed for an unconverted try augmented by a 63rd minute penalty to make it 13-24.

In the final quarter, the Blues' fitness and strength proved decisive and they finished impressively well with tries from Kennedy and Bennett. Guest duly hit both conversions to give the Blues another valuable away win.

New Brighton: Ian Kennedy, Andy Whalley, Hefin O'Hare, Chris Sutton, Steve Hancock, Matt Bennett, Alex Guest, Steve Dorrington, Karl Davies, Mark Dorrington, Carl Turley, Geoff Jones, Kevin Brookman (Capt), Lee Hodgers, Scott Tunna, Sean Mooney, Laurie Connor, Paul Kay.

New Brighton's exciting 18-year-old 6ft 6in lock, Chris Bentley, sustained a nasty knee injury playing for Cheshire Colts on Sunday.

Bentley is receiving specialist treatment under renowned orthopaedic surgeon Dai Reece at his unit in Oswestry, but is expected to be out for eight weeks.

On Saturday, New Brighton travel again, this time in the NPI National Cup at Kersal. Shawn Gallagher's recovery continues following his broken thumb and big Wade Dooley is in the final week of his 30 day suspension.

The Blues expect to be in the hat for the third round draw and are relishing their first home game in the league against Wigton on October 11.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.