Boro thirds hold onto perfect start

LITTLEBOROUGH’S 3rd team survived a second-half onslaught and treacherous conditions at a damp Headlands Road to gain their first away win this season.

Having turned over Dukinfield with over 60 points at home last week, Littleborough’s visit to Stockport 3’s would provide a sterner test.

Heavy rain meant that free flowing rugby would be at a premium. However it was Littleborough who would master the conditions better as they got the first try of the afternoon.

Henry Ashworth made the original strong carry and as the ball was recycled quickly Anthony Bamford barnstormed his way through two defenders to dive over. That gave Littleborough the slender lead of one point after the Stockport fly half kicked a penalty and a drop goal.

Back came the home side as they responded with a close metre try to once more regain the lead.

The swing in the scoreboard would change for the final time midway through the first half as a quick tap penalty was put through the hands of Ashworth and Hutchins, before the latter set free full back Aaron Jones to race around two defenders to dot down for his first of the season.

With the score at 14-13 at half time, Stockport came out in the second half and choked the life out of the visitor’s attack and while Boro’s discipline didn’t help their cause. Stockport spent the large majority of the half camped in the opposition half.

Despite all the possession, the home side could not break through a resolute defensive wall Littleborough imposed, going on to concede the next score.

A messy scrum five metres from their own line made the scrum half give a horrible pass to his centre within his own tryline. He then fluffed a clearing kick with an air shot meaning the loose ball fell perfectly to James Muir who had the easiest of jobs to dot it down. Tom Travis’s third successful conversion followed.

Stockport managed a second close-quarter try and had the ball held up on the try line three times in a frantic finish. But it was Boro who came away with the points and continue their 100 per cent winning record.