Bonus point positive for the first team

convincing 32-5 victors to get their campaign up and running.

Looking at Two North after just two games it is perhaps too early to make serious observation but the two sides I still expect to see in the mix come April 18 – Sale FC and Leicester Lions – both went down. Lions fell to neighbours South Leicester in the Midlands derby and Sale to another more-than-useful outfit Sedgley Park but, hey, there are still 28 games to go so who am I to comment until next April!

At the top levels our Northern Lights in the Premiership – Sale Sharks – made it two losing weeks when they lost at the A J Bell to Newcastle Falcons by the odd point in 25.

Hopefully for them things can only get better and it will not be long now before we are looking at the Autumn Internationals in the lead up to the Six Nations.

Away from the oval ball it was good to see the Burnley Express, James Anderson, get his just desserts at Lords with the veteran quickie taking 7-42 to wipe out any Windies challenge. Let’s hope that he can repeat the dose with the Kookaburra down under when the Ashes get under way this winter. It won’t be easy!!

Also for me in the thirteen-a-side version of our great game, it was good to see my home town club progress and maintain their Super League status following a hit and miss campaign after featuring at Wembley and Old Trafford last time round. How the fortunes changed this season!!

Just a note for your diaries is Thursday 28 September when MRUFC holds its Finance AGM at the club at 7.30.pm. It would be good to see numbers at this important meeting.

Well that’s about it for now and as I am away for a break this weekend over the Menai Strait there will be no column next week but I will fill you all in the following week with the games missed.

FIXTURES FOR THIS SATURDAY

1st XV v. Blaydon – Home – 3.pm. 2nd XV v. Chester - Away 3rd XV v. Preston Grasshoppers - Home 4th XV v. Bowdon 3 – Away

FIXTURES FOR SATURDAY 23 SEPTEMBER

1st v. Huddersfield – Away – 3.pm. 2nd v. Caldy – Home 3rd v. Rossendale 2 – Away 4th v. Free Week Enjoy your Rugby – I do CLUBMAN