Haresfinch 42 Higginshaw 20 FINCH fielded their strongest-looking side of the season for this battle of the strugglers and deservedly took the spoils.

Higginshaw opened the scoring though with a converted try before the home side hit back when player/coach Billy Platt, operating at stand-off, sent loose-forward and skipper Anthony Seabrook over for a try which he goaled himself.

Finch took the lead when centre Dave Meadows went over after stealing the ball in the tackle, Seabrook converting. The visitors replied with a penalty, but Finch were beginning to take control and by the interval had moved into a 24-8 lead thanks to further touchdowns by full-back Dave Penny, second-row John Woods and winger Kel Gearing.

Higginshaw again opened the scoring after the break with an unconverted try but Finch made sure of the spoils with touchdowns by sub Karl Farrall and Meadows, the latter a 60-yard interception, both goaled by Seabrook.

The visitors responded with two more four-pointers but Finch had the final say when sub John Jackson jinked his way through for a try converted by Seabrook.

Shaun Kilgannon was the Franco's Wholesale Ltd. man-of-the-match for Finch, closely followed by Penny and Meadows, with forwards Danny Flynn and Ian Derbyshire also worthy of mention. Finch under 16s 12

Leyland 10

The Finch youngsters gained another valuable two points ater a hard-fought encounter.

They led 8-nil at the half-way stage of a defence-dominated game, thanks to tries by prop Paul Hevey and centre Carl Riley.

Substitute Roy Tickle stretched the Finch lead with another unconverted try early in the second half but Leyland took advantage of the homesters being reduced to 11 men to reduce the deficit to two points in the closing stages.

Alan Ashton was man-of-the-match for the winners who were also well served by top tackler Ant Parr, James Taylor and strong-running full-back Ian Robinson.

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