Rugby Union: Eccles Seconds 24 - 26 Littleborough Rugby Union Club Seconds

A first ever try in senior rugby for Alistair Godwin saw Littleborough snatch a deserved 24-26 victory in the final game of the season against Eccles.

Defeat for Eccles consigned them to relegation from the Division Two North on a thrilling and nervous final day.

Littleborough finish the season how they begun with a win in what has been a disjointed and mixed season.

Littleborough, who travelled to Gorton Street with a threadbare 13 that included a back line of three back row players, took the early lead through another well worked team try as they utilised good hands and offloading skill to keep the ball moving into the Eccles 22. Full back Corey Chaplain exchanged passes with captain Chris Collins before diving under the posts.

Eccles capitalised on a fortunate bounce of the ball from a long punt up-field to run in the equaliser.

The next two scores, one from either side, owed much to good fortune.

Littleborough winger Luke Carr pounced on a misplaced pass to pick up and run in from half way.

His opposite number for Eccles did the same as he intercepted Chris Collins' pass to steam in for a try that started in his own half.

Littleborough regained the lead when a powerful burst and a dummy from prop Jack Lord gave scrum half for the day Aaron Jones an easy walk in under the posts. Converting his own try, Jones gave Boro a five-point lead.

A miss kick from Luke Carr in his own in goal area gave Eccles the chance to counter, which they did securing a try close to the left-hand post. Eccles brought the scores level with a successful conversion.

Both teams would have periods of good possession and territory in their opponents 22 early in the second half but nither could land the knockout blow until the last 10 minutes.

When a well worked move from the Eccles backs put the full back in at the right corner, the home support believed they had snatched the all-important victory in their battle to stave off the drop.

However, four minutes later Littleborough snatched victory in the most dramatic of fashion. An Eccles line out in their own 22 was gobbled up by Alistair Godwin who drove his way past two desperate last-ditch tackles to just dot the ball down, sparking wild scenes as he marked 25 years of no tries to his name by getting the all-important equaliser.

Paul Fino kick sailed through the posts to give Littleborough the lead.

A controversial penalty for a high tackle that hit the attacker at chest level gave Eccles an opportunity 20 metres out. No wind and a straight angle for the kick should have meant that Eccles took the win but the substitute fly half kicked welly wide and handed Littleborough only their second victory on the road this season.