Littleborough RUFC 26 - 21 Trafford MV

Chris Hough playing for territory
Littleborough RUFC v Trafford MV

Littleborough did just enough to overcome table toppers Trafford MV in the first of two crucial encounters between the two sides in the race for the league title.

For most of the match, the visitors to Rakewood led proceedings but a much more clinical display from the home side in the second half, including two tries from Chris Hough, gave Littleborough the vital victory and pile the pressure on Trafford for the return leg.

Trafford had the best of early exchanges and took an early advantage as pacey running and good hands led to full back Gaz Bevan carving a path through a crowded defence to cross the line left of the posts. Ben Wheeler converted.

The try sparked Littleborough into life and they responded with a try from Matthew Goldthorpe. Continual pick and goes from the base of the ruck brought Boro inches from the try line and enabled winger Goldthorpe to squeeze under a despairing close up tackle. Walton's conversion spiralled wide in the blustery conditions.

Chris Park knocked over a penalty after Trafford were guilty of pulling the maul down - lock forward Andrew Clegg was sin binned - to reduce the Boro deficit to one point.

Littleborough could not make their one man advantage count and were duly punished in the final minutes of the first half. Gaz Bevan's pace once again split the Boro defence and neat passing sent centre Andrew Moore crashing over. Wheeler successfully converted to give Trafford the lead at half time.

Littleborough scored early in the second half with a crafty try in the right hand corner. Boro forwards Stuart Bairstow and Murphy Holt were repelled by the Trafford defence before the ball was quickly recycled for Hough to score his first of the afternoon from close range. Walton failed to add the two.

Boro took the lead with a penalty from half way courtesy of Walton with the help of the wind.

Approaching the final 10 minutes, both sides were fighting tooth and nail to get the next vital score to secure the all-important four points.

The Boro forwards got a good push in the scrum, pinning Trafford yards from their own try line, before shipping the ball out to fly half Hough, who cut back on his inside and broke off the tackle to touch down a metre from the right hand upright. Walton slotted the conversion.

Trafford stormed right back up the field with a series of good interplays and recycled ball and prop Joe Cooper fended off the last ditch challenge of Park to score under the posts. Wheeler's conversion put Trafford back in with a shout at 23-21.

The game was in the balance with just minutes to play and as Brook honed in for the turnover he was impeded by a Trafford attacker not releasing. The referee's hand went up for the infringement and Andy Walton sealed the victory for Littleborough with a penalty from 30 metres out.