Rugby Union: Trafford MV RUFC 26 - 28 Littleborough RUFC

Littleborough RUFC

Littleborough RUFC won a tight contest against Trafford MV having had to switch the game to Trafford after overnight heavy rain made the Rakewood pitch unplayable.

Littleborough opened the scoring with a well converted penalty by Nathan Coop.

Trafford equalised, also with a penalty.

A lineout throw by John Doherty was well gathered by Ben Irving, followed by Andy Walton making ground with a kick to touch. A kick to the left wing which was well gathered by winger David Kearns who ran in the first of the day. Converted by Coop to give Littleborough a seven point lead.

Trafford missed an opprtunity to peg back the Boro lead when a penalty hit the upright.

However, a mix up playing the ball by Ripley and Coop put the Trafford team on front foot and this time the penalty was converted.

Good ball was sent to Littleborough’s threequarters and Walton run forward before passing onto winger Kearns to score his second try of the day. The conversion attempt missed.

A third successful penalty to Trafford followed.

The second half started with some nice kicking out of hand by Littleborough’s Captain Andy Bairstow towards the left wing for Kearns, followed with another excellent kick forward to touch by Walton, followed with team pressure from Littleborough to get Stuart Bairstow over the line for their third try. Converted by Coop.

It wasn’t all Littleborough’s game though, gradually the Trafford team started to take over converting their fourth penalty.

Trafford crossed the line in the right corner for their first try and a great conversion cut Littleborough's lead further.

The Trafford team had got their hopes up and a good ball sent down their threequarters resulted in another converted try to put them in the lead.

With only 12 minutes of the game left, Littleborough were awarded a penalty which, continuing his good performance, Coop converted.

Further pressure in Trafford’s 22 metres by the Littleborough forwards brought another penalty award to Littleborough, which again Coop converted to put Littleborough back in front.

Trafford came straight back but to Littleborough’s credit their defence held solid, as it has done all season, and they went on to win the match.

Man-of-the-match went to Andy Walton for his astute positive kicking out of hand to constantly keep Littleborough going forward.