It took less than half an hour for the hosts to take the game out of the reach of the Grasshoppers through a Thomas Mills hat trick and a further score from Tom McAree. All but Mills second try was converted by Nyall Hensby to hold a 26 nil lead.

The hat-trick for Thomas Mills adds to a burgeoning tally that has seen him score 6 tries in his last 5 games since the turn of the year.

Second half tries for Jack Bennetta, Nyall Hensby and a Matty Gibson try inflicted further damage on the Hoppers. The visitors failed to cope with the speed and quality of the ball in attacking areas from Littleborough as they were taught a harsh rugby lesson.

Matty Gibson's try while bringing the points total to 45, was also continuing a red hot streak of form for the youngster; continuing on from the 4 tries he scored against Ashton in the previous outing of this talented side.

Littleborough full of confidence at this point could and would have been forgiven for taking their foot of the gas with the game and a place in the semi final of the Lancashire Plate already guaranteed but a final score and conversion from the bulldozing Efan Morgan took the home side beyond the half century mark.

A reward for their performance is another home tie as they host Heaton Moor in the plate semi-final on the 7th April 2019.