Rugby Union: Littleborough Ladies U18s 29 - 29 Leigh and Burnley Ladies U18s

Littleborough Ladies Under 18s and a mixture of Leigh and Burnley Under 18s served up a rarity in rugby with an entertaining 29 all draw.

In front of a packed Rakewood in the brisk Autumn sunshine, a resolute and tenacious fight back from the Littleborough saw them deny the visitors a big upset.

Leigh and Burnley set the early pace with a run down the right-hand side from Annabelle Aspin.

Littleborough responded with Darcy Bowker carrying two defenders over the whitewash as they struggled to handle the prop's physicality. Niamh Mullins conversion gave Littleborough a two-point advantage.

A lead did not last more than five minutes as the visitor's Cailey Miller outpaced everyone to go under the posts. Rachel Downs added the extras.

Maisie Webb, in her first game afte missing most of last year through illness, brought her side back level with a score in the right corner.

Leigh/Burnley stepped up the gears and pressed home their advantage with another two tries.

Ella Brierley broke through down the right before Willow Bell, a former Littleborough player, came back to haunt her former teammates. Rachel Downs converted the second try.

The home crowd soon had something to cheer, as a pass from Erin Stott put Devon Hensby in for her first try at this age group. The difficult conversion attempt missed.

In a frantic first half, there was even time for more action as the visitors struck the counter punch that looked to have knocked Littleborough down. Megan Geeson the individual on this occasion to cross the line.

At the break, with the scores at 17-29 for the visitors, Littleborough had it all to do.

An invigorated and rejuvenated Littleborough side dominated the second half with Georgia Turner, Chloe Boardman and Lily Young all making significant contributions.

After a good phase of possession, Littleborough had the try they deserved when centre Erin Stott found a gap to score. The missed conversion attempt set up nail-biting closing stages.

With Leigh/Burnley's defence sucked in trying to keep Littleborough out down the right, the home side shifted the ball through hands in the midfield to give Nayab Mehak an opportunity to score; a chance she took to draw the teams level.

Mullins had the opportunity to give her side victory with the conversion attempt but the difficult chance drifted wide to leave the teams sharing the spoils of a thrilling encounter.