THE BARLA tourists got their five-match tour off to a near-perfect start by notching up a half-century of points, but they didn't always have it all their own way against an impressive South African Student side.

The visitors fell behind to a third-minute try before they had even touched the ball, and had to see off a spirited second-half fight-ack from the hosts, but ran away with the game 50-18 with four tries in the closing stages.

Three west Cumbrians started the game with a fourth coming on from the bench.

Mark Ballard, the tour captain, led from the front with an outstanding display at hooker and was ably backed up with some superb forward displays from Thomas Spencer, Kurtis Marsh and man-of-the-match Alex Walmsley, who was magnificent with and without the ball.

In the backs, Daniel Rowse and Ross Gainford supplied the bullets for the wide men and Pat Foulstone pulled off the tackle of the match by stopping a marauding Sarel Louw just a metre from the line.

Garry Schofield, the Lions coach, who had promised an expansive style of football from his players, said: "It's a good start and the lads did well considering we only got off the 'plane 36 hours ago. There were some outstanding performers, but we've still got a lot to work on."

Schofield had been in Workington ahead of the tour and told a Vice President’ evening at Derwen Park his forthright views on how the game should be played.

His side fell behind when an inch-perfect chip kick from the South African stand-off, Naas van Rooyen, was taken beautifully by a flying Collins Mashilo to leave the British stunned, but good runs from Foulstone and Spencer had them on the front foot soon after and Rowse's try, goaled by Peter Caddy, levelled the scores.

On 14 minutes, Ballard plunged over from dummy-half after Daniel Rooney, the tour vice-captain, had been grounded a yard short, and when Liam Thompson scored five minutes later after a Rowse pass, the tourists had some breathing space.

But the hosts hit back and after Ballard and Caddy had combined to prevent a breakaway try, BARLA were punished for their next mistake when Louw ran 60 metres to score and cut the deficit to two.

Adam Gant was alert enough to clean up another teasing van Rooyen kick moments before Ballard scored his second after combining with Spencer from a tap penalty. Rowse took over the goalkicking duties and knocked over his first of seven successes, which included a penalty soon after.

The halfback was involved again on the stroke of halftime when his midfield chip caught the defence flat-footed and Rooney raced through to score and open up a 16-point interval lead.

The students hit back in the first 15 minutes of the second half - a period that they dominated. Only a foot in touch prevented Wynand Bezuidenhout scoring a long-range try before Foulstone's tremendous try-saver on Louw.

The hosts eventually broke through when Herman Fouche was too strong for three defenders and with the gap now closed to ten, the tiny Barnabas Shile, who was otherwise hugely impressive, knocked on with the line at his mercy and another try was disallowed for crossing.

But Schofield's players saw out the danger and wrapped up the match with a clinical last 20 minutes. Rowse put Walmsley over before Gant finished off a 60-metre move that involved Walmsley, who made the initial break, Rowse, Rooney and Kenny Hughes, who was dynamic around the rucks after coming off the bench.

The hosts threatened again but Kurtis Marsh, who played the full 80 minutes in the second row, forced Mashilo into touch with a great tackle and there was still time for Tony Tognola to score from dummy-half after a mesmerising run from stand-off Gainford.

BARLA
4 Pat Foulstone (Shaw Cross Sharks)
6 Adam Gant (Westgate)
24 Greg Worrall (Oldham St Annes)
15 Daniel Rooney (Maryport)
3 Peter Caddy (Wath Brow Hornets)
5 Ross Gainford (Kells)
16 Daniel Rowse (Lock Lane)
10 Zach Johnson (Shaw Cross)
1 Mark Ballard (C) (Leigh East)
22 Alex Walmsley (Dewsbury Celtic)
12 Kurtis Marsh (Pilkington Recs)
19 Thomas Spencer (Wigan St Pats)
20 Liam Thompson (Queens)
Subs (all used)
8 Kenny Hughes (Thatto Heath)
21 Tony Tognola (West Hull)
17 Karl Sandford (Thatto Heath)
23 Lewis Wilson (Kells)

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