Saturday 29th September 18: Didsbury Toc H RUFC 41pts v Littleborough RUFC 12pts

The first time these two Clubs have met for quite some time!

Due to the Lancashire RFU changing the Fixture structure over the past Seasons this was the first time these two Clubs have met for quite some time and they are the oldest fixture and unfortunately for Boro the result stayed the same. Early pressure from Boro to Host 22metres, followed with further positive attack by Boro, then a miss-pass allowed Host to mount an attack which they continued to maintain and eventually they broke away on the left wing to score the first Try of the day but no conversion. Then Boro hit back but poor passing in the threequarters let them down and eventually further pressure from Host team brought them their second Try and this time plus conversion to make the score 12pts to Nil in the first quarter of the game. It was all the Host club now and after further pressure from their scrum they got their third Try. Renewed energy from Boro team got them up to opponents try line but unfortunately, they just couldn’t take advantage and cross the line which was the difference between the teams as shortly after the host team came back on the attack again up to Boro’s five metres line and crossed over for yet another converted try. Once again Boro got the ball and made a great effort to get into the game but couldn’t just make it and the first half ended with the score 24pts to Nil.

The second half started just as the first half with host team with all the ball and on the attack once more and within ten minutes a long pass to their right winger, who was unmarked, brought them their fifth Try and conversion to stretch their lead. Now well into the second half several player changes by Boro saw one of them, Richard Taylor make a great break when in host half, he got tackled but only moments later he regained possession and crossed the line for Boro’s opening Try, what a relief. There now seemed a mood change in the match and this was confirmed only five minutes later when Boro’s George Roberts crossed the line for Boro’s second Try, this time converted by Nigel Coop to give Boro now 12pts. Then back came the host team and within tenminutes they crossed Boro’s line again, this time on the left wing, no conversion. Unfortunately, the host team again kept up their ball possession and pressure and right on full time they crossed the line again for their seventh Try, followed by the full-time whistle.

This match confirmed Boro’s thinking that this new league will be hard but in the latter part of the match, after adjusting player positions and bringing on their reserves they did perform very well, especially Paul Fino, Mark Murgatroyd, Stuart Bairstow, Sam Dickinson and Richard Taylor.