Positives aplenty despites first-day loss

RUGBY: Fitton Hill kicked off their North-West Men’s League Division Three season with a 30-22 defeat at Wigan Bulldogs.

The visitors thought they had made the perfect start when Kiel Lancashire split the defence and put in Michael Hall for a try. But the referee chalked it off for a double movement.

The hosts were fluid in attack and twice breached the Fitton Hill line for a 10-point lead. Josh Hulme put his side on the board following a Lancashire pass. Martin Swaine converted.

Swaine then released Anthony Hill, who crashed over wide out, before Hulme notched his second of the afternoon as Fitton Hill took a 14-10 lead.

Fitton Hill were also first on the board in the second half, Hulme breaking the line to put Lancashire over. Swaine kicked the conversion. Lancashire also had a try disallowed for a forward pass.

Wigan responded by mounting attack after attack, and with a second-half penalty count of 14-2 in their favour, it was inevitable the home side would come back into the game.

The scores were locked at 20-20 when a Swaine penalty put Fitton Hill in front.

Fitton Hill conceded another clutch of penalties from which Wigan put the game to bed.

It was a decent performance from the local side, who gave debuts to 16-year-olds Reece Ashworth and Kain Fitton.


HOLLINWOOD’S hopes of securing a first double of the season in Pennine League Division Three West were crushed by half-time as hosts Queensbury ‘A’ ran-in 20 points. The visitors response was a try from John Wood.

Queensbury, with the advantage of the slope in the opening 40 minutes, were much the stronger team in the 26-10 victory.