Barlow sets right example as Phoenix fly

Bramley Phoenix 29

Holmes Chapel 18

Bramley Phoenix held off a second-half rally by the visitors to emerge comfortable winners in their quarter-final encounter.

It was an entertaining and competitive game between two evenly matched sides.

Danny Barlow, Bramley's captain who was playing at No 8, put the home side ahead after 10 minutes, and they were 19-3 up by half-time as Holmes Chapel were restricted to a penalty.

Wing forward Sam Wilson and scrum-half Aaron McHale ran in tries in either half for Bramley, with Sam Coates landing two first-half conversions.

Bramley maintained the territorial advantage after the restart, but Holmes Chapel twice got deep into home territory and scored tries on both occasions, by full-back Kristian Clows and winger Jed Wragg. Clows also converted one, and he and Andy Partington exchanged penalties.