Late try hands Boro the spoils
LITTLEBOROUGH kicked off the newlook Lancashire County ADM Premier Division with a win on the road at Tyldesley.
A closely fought contest appeared destined for a draw until Liam Lloyd produced a late try, converted by Chris Coop, to clinch it for the visitors.
The home side kicked off with the wind and rain at their backs and the ball was well taken by Stuart Bairstow. He drove up field and was well supported by Jack Wilson and Chris Roberts, but at the break down Boro gave away a penalty for holding on.
Kicking for touch, the home team won the line out on the Boro 22 and the ball was quickly passed out down the line but the home winger was taken in to touch.
From the line out, Boro drove up field and for the first time looked to go out wide with Adam Wayne making a break, only to be held up just short of the line. He lost the ball, setting the home team to counter attack down the left flank.
Following some good tackling by the Boro backs, the ball rolled into touch and from the line out Boro won the ball and drove up field.
Boro soon came under pressure again and gave away a penalty for an high tackle – the kick was missed.
After half an hour the home side opened the scoring with a try out wide, though the kick was missed.
From the restart, Boro drove the ball up field and, following a ruck, Chris Roberts had to leave the field to be taken to hospital with what looked like a dislocated knee.
Young colt Joss Jones came on as a replacement and Boro came back again.
Following good work by the whole pack, Boro won a penalty but this was missed and as the close of the half loomed, Boro were starting to get on top. Their pressure resulted in a try for young prop Matthew McCormick who crashed over for his first senior try. Again the kick was missed and at half time it was 5-5.
The second half was much like the first, with neither team able to get on top. Play moved from end to end and Boro were again strong in defence.
The home side gave away a penalty that again was missed, and as the game moved into the last quarter Boro brought on substitute Coop for Matthew Goldthorpe and centre Ben Park moved up into the back row.
With the clock ticking down, the home side gave away a silly penalty and up stepped Coop to slot it over. As the contest entered the final minutes, Boro gave away a penalty for not releasing after a tackle and the resulting kick made it 8-8.
This would have been a fair reflection of the contest, but following a strong drive by Ian Murgatroyd and Stu Bairstow, the ball was shipped out to winger Lolyd who rounded the fullback to score near the corner.
Coop added two points to give Boro the first win in the new Lancashire league set upwith the final score 8-15.