HOCKEY: NORTHOP Hall's retiring manager Steve Oultram and captain Alistair Brown were denied the pleasure of rounding off with a victory in the final of the North Wales Cup, falling 3-1 to Wrexham at Denbigh. Oultram has called time on his first-team involvement while Brown was hoping to complete his two-year stint as skipper by lifting the trophy. But it was Wrexham who took the lead and made it two-nil from the penalty spot. Ralph Nugent reduced the deficit, first to react to a rebound after a short corner from Brown and Hall almost crafted an equaliser but Nick Critchley couldn't make contact. Wrexham stepped up the tempo and a third goal sealed it but Hall Seconds collected the Second XI Cup in a tense 4-3 penalty shoot-out with Colwyn Bay after a 2-2 draw. RUGBY UNION : The North Wales Barbarians ran in nine tries at Ruthin last night as they cruised to a 57-10 victory over the Royal Welch Fusiliers. The charity match, the first of an annual fixture in memory of Denbigh Fusilier Stephen Jones, attracted a 1,000-strong crowd. Dan Keefe (2), Richie Hopkins (2), Iwan Roberts, Eifion Roberts, Grant Mann, Scott Henshaw and Richard Hughes all touched down for the Barbarians with Dylan Llyr knocking over six conversions. NANT Conwy will face Llangefni in the Scottish Power Manweb North Wales Cup final on Monday after beating Colwyn Bay 19-7 last night. | 
