Higgy refuse to flinch in defeat

RUGBY:

HIGGINSHAW, with only 13 players, gave their all against a competitive Haresfinch side in Division Two of the North-West Counties League.

The 70-10 loss did not reflect on the effort put in by the Higgy defence, for whom David Smith, Andy Newton, Keith Chadwick and Steve Perry were outstanding in the first quarter of the game.

They held the hosts to 14 points in that period, while Gareth Franklin replied with a good try after Mark Ward, Paul Turner and Darryl Renshaw had made the yards.

Franklin, filling in at stand-off, went over from 20 yards out, beating three men on his way to the line.

To their credit the young Higgy side never once let their heads drop.

One highlight of the day was the return of Lee Burke, who claimed the man-of-the-match award.

In his first game back after two seasons out of the game, he produced a non-stop performance, while the ever-reliable Turner had a tackle count of 50.

Mark Ward bagged Higgy’s other try — and it was a beauty. He chipped the ball over the defence 60 yards from the line, regathered and then beat two men with a step and go to score under the posts. Ward converted the try for good measure. Higgy are at home to Halton Farnworth on Saturday.