Higginshaw 20 Golborne Parkside 18: GOLBORNE Parkside suffered only their second defeat of the season when they went down to a last minute penalty goal at third placed Higgenshaw.

With five players from last week's epic victory over Bank Quay Bulls not available through injuries, holiday and work commitments, Golborne were forced to make nine positional changes.

Robert Dooley, Andrew Makinson, Ryan Kelly and Carl Kelly all made their first team debuts and didn't look out of place as Golborne applied the early pressure and took the lead with a try from winger Craig Timmins.

They should have increased their lead but two dropped passes with the line open and a missed easy penalty chance meant Golborne turned round at half time with only a 4-0 lead.

Higgenshaw began to threaten and took a 6 -4 lead with a converted try only for Golborne to hit back immediately with a superb try from Stuart Naylor, goaled by Andy Simms for a 10 - 6 lead.

With twenty minutes remaining Higgenshaw again took the lead with another converted try but Golborne made it 12-12 with a penalty goal from Simms.

With 12 minutes remaining Golborne again took the lead with a second try from Timmins, goaled by Simms and they should have scored again minutes later as they once again applied the pressure .

A drop goal attempt from Simms went just wide and from the resultant restart disaster struck. On the last tackle Higgenshaw kicked the ball high to the left corner where a wild inside pass found a Higginshaw player and it was 18-18.

With time running out, and Golborne defending on the fifth tackle, Golborne where penalised for not standing square at the play the ball the Higginshaw full back stepped up and kicked a great goal off the touchline to snatch victory from Golborne's grasp the defeat keeping the title race wide open.

With three games to play, Golborne must win all three to win the championship.

On Saturday Golborne entertain Millom from the National League Division Two in the second round of the GMB BARLA National Cup, ko 2pm.

Golborne 'A' team only had 12 players for the fixture against Adlington 'A' who had the benefit of been able to field a strong line-up as there first team had no game.

The 12 Golborne men played like heroes, holding Adlington to 10-10 at half time with a fantastic performance. Tries from Anthony Trow and Kirk Wallace and a Wallace conversion kept Golborne in the game.

However the toil of playing a man short told in the second half as Adlington scored four tries against a tired defence to record a 36-10 victory. Man of the match was Neil Muir with Anthony Trow second and David Parry third. Chris Miller, Alan Marsden and Carl Fletcher were outstanding on defence. This Saturday the 'A' team are at home to Latchford Albion, ko 2.30pm.

Golborne Parkside Under 10's gained a 24-6 victory over Hindley. Try scorers were Ben Currie 2 and Mike Copple 2. Copple was the man of the match with Ben Currie second and John Dutton third. Top Tackler was Greg Wild and most improved Ryan Woolley.