Ruskin Park16 Runcorn 22

THE game opened in predictable fashion with Runcorn playing eight-man rugby and Ruskin attempting to keep the ball out wide.

Ruskin eventiually opened the scoring with a penalty by Stu Fisher but the visitors hit back almost immediately with a converted try to complete the scoring in a dour first half.

The home side fell further behind early in the second period with Runcorn scoring another try from a rolling maul and a penalty goal.

Belatedly, Ruskin started to get the ball to the wings and this resulted in tries by D. Donovan and Mike Farrelly. Unfortunately, though, another defensive error allowed Runcorn to score a converted try under the posts.

However, this seemed to rouse Ruskin and after a penalty had hauled them to within striking distance they staged a grandstand finish only to be denied what seemed a perfectly legitimate try as the referee was unsighted.