Hanley shines, but Higgy slip-up

ON PARADE: players and officials from Higginshaw ARLFC line-up before their game against Langworthy Reds in the North-West Counties League.

RUGBY:

HIGGINSHAW came out second-best against a workmanlike Langworthy Reds team, who dominated the opening and closing periods of the game to record a 54-18 win.

Fielding a weakened side in this North-West Counties League Division Two fixture, Higgy showed glimpses of what they could do as they hit back from 16-0 down.

Man-of-the-match Jordan Hanley, on his debut, scored two great individual tries.

The first was a length-of-the-field effort when he beat six players with a weaving run to the line. Jonny Fullalove added the conversion.

Hanley’s second effort was a superb run from inside his own half, again beating the cover defence to reduce the deficit 16-10 at the break.

The young Higgy side maintained their momentum and scored a third try through Gareth Brindley just after the restart.

With the gap down to a couple of points, Higgy sensed a second victory of the season.

However, Langworthy stepped up a gear and,

capitalising on several missed tackles, took control of the game.

Paul Turner managed to go over for Higgy, but by that stage the contest was over.

The highlight for Higgy was non-stop work-rate of Hanley, while Turner and Steve Perry also impressed.