4 Try Llewellyn Gains valuable share of spoils for Panthers

Rochdale Hornets 38 - Blackpool Panthers 38

Centre Dave Llewellyn rewrote Blackpool Panthers record books in this thrilling draw at Rochdale to earn the Panthers two valuable league points. Llewellyn who a month ago was playing for amateur side Black brook has now scored seven tries in five games for the Fylde based Panthers to become the hottest try scoring sensation in National League Two,
Llewellyn scored all his four tries wide out on the left, all four finishing off slick handling moves from the impressive Panthers, who look a class act with the ball in their hands. Llewellyn scored in the 2nd, 34th,57th and 80th minute to become the first ever Blackpool Panthers player to score four tries in a match.

Matt Ashe converted both the early tries and struck the upright with the third and saw his potential match winning kick drift narrowly wide with the final kick of the game, however few of the admiring crowd begrudged both sides a draw in this pulsating game. Ashe also converted his own try to give the Panthers a 12 point lead after 5 minutes..

The early Panthers lead stung the Hornets into action and quick fire tries by Craig Farrimond and Ainscough both converted by Carl Sneyd levelled the scores after 13 minutes. Further tries by Andrews and O’ Brien one converted saw the Hornets race into a 22-12 lead, but Llewellyn scored his second try converted by Ashe to leave the interval score 22-18.

The Panthers started the second half as the had the first with two early tries, Darryl Kaye burrowed over on the far left and Semisi Cocka forced his way over with brute force, both tries were converted by Ashe to leave the Panthers leading 30-22.

A sustained period of Rochdale pressure saw Alex Brown score an unconverted try far out on the right before Llewellyn completed his hat trick to leave the Panthers leading 34-26. Severe Hornets pressure then saw converted tries by O’ Brien and Andrews to leave the hosts leading 38-34 with only a minute remaining.

Justice was done however as the ever impressive Panthers back line combined yet again to send Llewellyn over in the corner for his fourth try to set a new scoring record to level the scores.

As the final hooter sounded the crowd stood to its feet to applaud both sides from the field. There was a lovely final touch when both sides formed a guard of honour to applaud Panther’s Captain Paul Anderson from the field after completing his final game of a 15 year professional career. He will now take up a coaching post at Rochdale on a two year contract. He leaves knowing the Panthers this side is now a force to be reckoned with in the division.
New signing Lee Birdseye was impressive at scrum half and the Panthers now head north to Workington having only lost one of their last four games.

Team
Leather, Gillam, Munro, Llewellyn, Weed, Ashe, Birdseye, Warriner, Clough, Fairhurst, Kaye, Ratcliffe, Anderson, Subs, (All used Wallace (A) Duell, Boland, Cocka.