Halton Farnworth Hornets 40 Kippax 14.

IN a final with the best two sides on either side of the Pennines Kippax gave a good account of themselves throughout the game given that they were without eight of the players who were away on school trips to New Zealand and Australia.

Having said that, Hornets played some sparkling attacking rugby league on the way to their Xamax BARLA National Cup win, including scoring the quickest try of the three games.

They took control within the converted tries in the opening eight minutes beginning on 43 seconds when centre Jack Taylor crossed over and they doubled their lead on four minutes when winger Lewis Talbot flew over and four minutes later sub Eathan Caine went over for the first of his treble, with Lewis Dodd adding all the extras before going on to kick 5 from 6.

Kippax stuck to the task but were undone with a brace of tries in four minutes with Caine going over for his second converted by Joe Barnes and fullback Daniel Hill on 23 minutes made it 30-0 at the break

Kippax opened the scoring in the first minute of the second half when Nathan Carter scored but any hopes of a comeback were squashed when Caine completed his hat-trick on the half hour.

Kippax though roared back quick-fire tries from centre Tom Barton and scrum half Ellis Longstaff with Barton converting the last try to make it 36-14.

Hornets fullback Hill had the last word with his second and the side’s final try seven minutes from time to make it 40-14 and take the cup home to Widnes.

Hornets stand-off Joe Barnes was named man of the match.

Halton Farnworth Hornets: 1. Daniel Hill, 2. Harvey McDaid, 3. Jack Taylor, 4. Will Smith, 5. Lewis Talbot, 6. Joe Barnes, 7. Lewis Dodd, 8. Ben Catton, 9. Bradley O’Niel, 18. Flinn Thorburn, 11. Keenan McDaid, 12 Connor Burgess, 13. Elliott Smith. Subs: 15. Eathan Caine, 19. Rhys Mannion, 17. Alex Pearte, 21. Tom Hopwood.

Kippax: 1. Harrison Spence Horton, 2. Ben Freeman, 3. Josh Thornton, 4. Tom Barton, 5. Adam Milner, 6. Harry Anderson, 7. Ellis Longstaff, 8. Olly Adamson, 9. Iwan Orr, 10. Dan Brice, 11. Tyler Tennant, 12. Danny Attley, 13. Nathan Carter. Sub: 14. Harry Smith, 15. Jake Robinson, 16. Jack Prince, 17. James Reader.