Rugby Union: Littleborough U11s 15 - 5 Manchester U11s

Littleborough Under 11s cut through Manchester Under 11s by 15 tries to five on Sunday (27 January).

Anybody who knows Rakewood will know just how cold, frosty and windy it can get and Sunday was no exception for the hearty Under 11s.

Notwithstanding visiting Manchester's first try to open proceedings, the boys and girls of Rakewood showed them what to expect from the U11s team of the great Green Army.

Within 15 minutes, Littleborough cut through them, going 4-2 up. Cracking tries from Timon Warburton (who scored two of the four), Daniel Taylor and Callum Sharrocks reversed proceedings and certainly left Manchester wondering what on earth was going on.

As soon as the away side got the ball, Littleborough had it straight back off them, with great tackles and developing rucking and attacking.

The second 15 minutes saw Harrison Dickinson score a fabulous try after taking three Manchester players head on with great support from Warburton and Sharrocks.

After the restart, Taylor took possession of the ball and dotted down the wing to seal his second try of the game. Manchester responded to the shock of being 6-2 down with the single score just before the whistle.

However, they were not quite ready for what Littleborough had brewing in the final 15 minutes.

The storm started pretty flat as on the restart; Manchester soon took possession of the ball, broke through after a missed tackle and got through Littleborough’s strong line of defence.

However, after having a tactical shuffle and reinvigorating each other with a few choice words, this is where the home team’s attacking skills rewarded them with numerous tries.

The seven-try bonanza began with Dickinson, who powered his way through their defence and left them spinning for his second of the morning with fantastic support from Littleborough’s future pink warrior, Lexi Hartley.

This was then mirrored by Sharrocks finding space left unsupervised by the visiting Manchester defence to capture his second try.

Manchester once more responded to the set back with a quick-fire riposte of their own.

Littleborough's Daniel Taylor was soon off down the middle and chose a last-minute decision to selflessly flick the ball to supporting Sharrocks to grab his third and last try of the game.

No sooner had the game restarted, Warburton got the ball and yet again pulled Manchester’s defence apart with the support of Ellis Johnson and Dickinson, to secure a well-deserved hat-trick.

Yet again after only a few minutes of Manchester having the ball, Josh Leach ripped the ball out of the attacker’s hand and made a good few yards to give Littleborough the advantage. The ball was then superbly brought closer to the try line by Charlie Slade. Recycling the ball with speed, Littleborough gave Billie Eastwood the space to get through and give the home side a well-deserved team try.

Young Ellis Johnson was determined not to miss out on the chance of adding another try to his team tally as he found spaces and yet again ripped Manchester’s defence apart to dart over the try line.

In the final few minutes of the game, Taylor Ward was not for letting that ball go, and he pushed the visitors further and further back with great support from Charlie Slade and Josh Leach, before scoring the try that had his name written all over it.

In a last defiant act to restore pride in the red of Manchester, the away side achieved a consolation try to leave the score at 14-5.

However, Littleborough were not finished yet either: the final seal of approval came from Timon Warburton to score his fourth try of the match and top off a victorious day for all in black, green and yellow.