Thatto Heath Crusaders 18 Wigan Rose Bridge 12 HEATH moved up to joint top of the North West Counties Premier Division with this hard-fought win.

Both teams were forced to battle in appalling conditions at Red Rocks.

Heath found themselves behind after only 10 minutes when Rose Bridge centre Stuart Cassidy opened the visitors account with a penalty goal for off-side.

With a lot of dropped ball due to conditions it was a further 15 minutes before the game saw its next points. Rose Bridge second rower Gary Bumphry used his soccer skills to dribble the ball over the Heath line before diving on it to score out wide.

In the last minute of the half Heath registered their first points, when replacement prop Dave Serringham ran onto a super pass from Joey Harvey to break the Wigan line close to the sticks.

The second half saw both teams fighting hard against worsening conditions, but Heathcoped the best. And centre Anthony Marsh pounced on a Darren Harris chip over the advancing Wigan line and nipped across for a try under the sticks.

Woods did well to convert despite being right under the sticks and for the first time in the game Thatto took the lead. On 25 minutes the game was sealed for Heath with a piece of individual brilliance from wingman Neil Prescott. Collecting a grubber on his own line he rounded two defenders and outpaced the retreating Rose Bridge defence to go the full length and score under the sticks. Woods again tagged on the conversion and Heath had a 10 point lead.

The Wigan outfit reduced the gap and made for a tense last 10 minutes when centre Stuart Cassidy scored under the sticks and converted his own try. But the scoring was completed when Mike Woods landed a final penalty for Heath and notched up a well deserved win.

Canter, Levin and Berg men of the match were: forwards; David Lloyd, backs; Darren Harris.

Thatto Heath Crusaders under 15s 52

Leigh East 10

This was an excellent performance considering 11 of the Crusaders players had played for their town against Warrington the previous day.

Try scorers for Crusaders were Gaz Bowes (5), Kays Welding Supplies man of the match Mike Saunders (1), Matty (1), Carl Forber (1), David Anders (1), and Carl Forber also kicked three conversions.

Chris Harris, Ben Prescott and Tim Critchley also had big games.

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