Trafford MV 42 - Littleborough RUFC 20

Adam Wayne, Littleborough Rugby Union Club

A poor second half from Littleborough Rugby Union Club could cost them the league title as Trafford gained a bonus point win to take the title race to the final week.

Boro needed a win to guarantee top spot and were looking very good for their lead when a much improved second half display from Trafford leaves the door wide open.

Despite missing some key players, Littleborough controlled the majority of the first half possession and territory and early on in the second scoring a converted try and a penalty.

Boro did trail right at the start of the first half as Trafford scored a converted try out of nothing, capitalising on some poor tackling to gain an advantage.

Shocked into life by the early setback, Boro set about righting the wrongs and did just that with a try from the prolific Matthew Goldthorpe. The winger taking the crash ball to great effect from scrum half Chris Kolbuck five metres out, saw him increase his lead as top try scorer in the Boro team this season. Dominic Kershaw slotted over the added extras to level the score.

Kershaw put Boro in the lead with a penalty from around 35 metres out after Trafford were penalised for not releasing the tackler at the breakdown. The lead did not last long as Trafford hit back with another converted try, this time from some intelligent interplay in the Trafford backs resulting in the left winger going over.

Ill disciple by Boro resulted in the Trafford number 10 finding his range with a long distance penalty.

Half time: Trafford MV 17 - Littleborough RUFC 10

Whatever was said at half time in the Boro huddle worked as they came out all guns blazing and put Trafford under serious pressure, which after four minutes on the clock told.

Goldthorpe the happy beneficiary of good attacking rugby. Edward Chadwick took the ball from midfield and fed Goldthorpe out wide 20 metres out and the winger did the rest. Kershaw found the centre of the posts with kicking precision.

That precision would continue once again, Kershaw successfully converting another penalty to maintain a perfect kicking record for the afternoon.

Then it all fell apart for Littleborough as Trafford went up the gears and found the favour of the referee.

A silly penalty brought the teams level at 20 all before Trafford scored their third try of the afternoon controversially. Trafford's try scorer was given a helping hand from a dummy runner taking the tackler out of grasp for him to slide through the gap. Trafford's number 10 was in sensational form with the boot continuing his own perfect record.

Trafford used the momentum and the change in tide to put the game to bed once and for all with another two converted tries from Boro mistakes.

In the end it was quite comfortable for Trafford and bitterly disappointing for Littleborough.

Next weeks' game against North Manchester away becomes a must win game if they are to take the title.