Bears make history with first Challenge Cup win (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Bears make history with first Challenge Cup win

12:58pm Thursday 1st November 2012 in Sport

Stanningley 4 Widnes West Bank 40.

WEST Bank created history with their first ever win in the Rugby League Challenge Cup.

Any early nerves in Saturday’s first qualifying round tie were dispelled when Bears opened their account on their first attack.

Josh Simm broke from deep to launch the raid and captain Ryan Bates hammered his way through the tryline defence. David Jones added the first of six conversions.

Ryan Millington dummied his way over from 20 metres, Bates crossed with a carbon copy of his first and then a handling error gifted man-of-the-match Jack White the ball to race in from 40 metres and make it 24-0 at half time.

Millington who backed up a storming Jones break to keep the roll going at the start of the second half.

Stanningley eventually got the scoreboard moving when a wickedly bounding ball evaded the defenders for a fortunate score.

West Bank hit back immediately when Simm romped through for a fine individual score.

Bears’ defence was superb throughout, restricting the opposition to their own half for most of the game with forwards Wayne Courtnage, Martin Murphy, Stu Harland and Bates to the fore.

West Bank’s next match will be against the winners of the Egremont versus Kells match on November 17.