Haresfinch 8 Dalton 14 THIS was the one that got away for Finch who failed to build on an impressive first-half display.

After deservedly turning around at 8-2 up, the homesters couldn't press home their advantage after the break and were left to rue a string of minor misdemeanours which allowed Dalton to claw their way back.

Finch opened the scoring when John Jackson finished off a good break by fellow centre Chris Mason to go over for an unconverted try. And although Dalton replied with a penalty goal, a home win looked on the cards when teenage substitute Russ Brookes touched down from a grubber kick by stand-off Dave Meadows.

Dalton though narrowed the deficit early in the second half with another penalty and then drew level with an unconverted try.

At this stage the game could have gone either way but another penalty goal tipped the scales in the visitors' favour and then sloppy defending allowed them to cross for another four-pointer.

The last quarter saw Finch applying the pressure but they lacked the guile to open up a solid defence and Dalton held on to take the points.

Loose-forward Anthony Seabrook was adjudged the Franco's Wholesale Ltd. man-of-the-match for Finch. Finch under16s 22

Lunt's Heath 7

Scrooge-like defence was the key to this victory by a depleted Finch as they maintained their unbeaten start to the season.

The home side opened up a 12-0 lead with tries by Carl Riley, Ian Knowles and Chris Sheffield. But the Lions hit back before the break with a converted touchdown.

A drop goal early in the second half narrowed the deficit to five points before Finch re-asserted their authority with a brilliant 50-yard solo try by inspirational skipper Roy Tickle. And they wrapped up the points when prop Alan Ashton stormed over for his third touchdown of the season, converted by full-back Ste Anders.

In a powerful all-round performance, Finch were also well served by top tackler Ian Robinson, centre Paul Martlew, Ant Parr and hooker James Taylor.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.