Higgy show spirit

RUGBY LEAGUE:

THREE tries in the opening 14 minutes gave Higginshaw a mountain to climb at Ulverston in Division Three of the Kukri North-West Counties League.

The local outfit, who had endure a three-hour drive after major incident on the M62, recovered to nose ahead with nine minutes to go, only to eventually slump to a 32-22 defeat.

There was still a lot to like about Higgy’s performance, though, in a game of fast, open rugby.

They hit back at the mid-way point of the first half when a strong run from debutante John Mitchell released Michael Smith, who fed Callum Deakin to score his first try at senior level. Jonny Fullalove added the conversion.

Steve Perry, Sean Stubs, David Sweeney and Callum Deakin combined to send in Mitchell, who converted to reduce the deficit to a couple of points.

But Ulverston responded with their fourth touch down three minutes before the break.

Higgy refused to throw in the towel and replied with a try out wide from Fullalove just after the restart.

With only four points separating the two sides, the game was in the melting pot.

And it was Higgy, with the bit between their teeth, who grabbed the lead thanks to a jinking run from Gareth Brindley, which took him under the posts, and a Mitchell goal.

On the next attack, Higginshaw decided to run the ball on the last tackle, only for it to be intercepted.

Ulverston powered up the middle, scoring by the posts to lead 26-22. Higgy’s fate was sealed at the death when they were hit by another soft try, which was converted.

The two teams meet again on Saturday.

In Division One, Oldham St Anne’s ‘A’ remain well adrift at the bottom-of-the-table after suffering a 48-4 defeat at home to Folly Lane.

But Waterhead ‘A’ recorded a fine 24-22 win over mid-table Rochdale Mayfield.

The Peach Road outfit are still second-from-bottom, but are only three points behind Bamber Bridge.

Fitton Hill Bulldogs slumped to a 44-8 defeat at Accrington Panthers in Division Six.

In a poor display from the Bulldogs, Morris and Molloy scored consolation tries.

Culcheth were awarded the points against Rochdale Cobras ‘A’, who were unable to fulfil the fixture.