Eccles A 22 Parr Hare & Hounds 18

HOUNDS travelled to Eccles with just 12 men, following the now customary cry-offs and lame excuses from so-called players, and produced their best performance of the season.

The under-strength visitors were more than a match for a big home side and were denied what would have been a well-deserved victory when the referee was unsighted and ruled out a late touchdown by hard-working second-row Mick Burke.

After a fairly even opening quarter, Eccles took a ten-point lead with two tries and a conversion. But any thoughts that Hounds would collapse were quickly dispelled as they hit back with tries by full-back Wayne Ashcroft and Burke, both goaled by hooker Kevin Parylo, to lead 12-10 at the break.

Eccles again had the better of the early exchanges in the second half and three tries looked to put them well in command.

Incredibly though, given their numerical disadvantage, it was Hounds who finished the stronger.

Good work by scrum-half Paul Martin and skipper Karl Grounds paved the way for Ashcroft's second try, again converted by Parylo, to narrow the deficit to four points.

The visitors dominated the closing stages but were unable to grab the all-important score despite going close on a number of occasions.

In a good all-round team effort Hounds were particularly well served by Paul Martin, Mick Burke, Kevin Parylo, second-row Ian Sherwood, centre Lee Johnson and veteran stand-off Frank Martin whose performance belied his advancing years.