Thatto Heath Crusaders 26 Orrell St James 13

THIS was Thatto Heath Crusaders' third win on the trot.

A tight first quarter saw Orrell take a deserved 7-0 lead with a drop goal by Sean McHugh and a short-range try by prop Martin Carney, converted by McHugh.

Defences continued to be on top with the Heath pack starting to dominate, well led by Martin Horton and captain Carl Cooper.

On the half-hour Heath were finally rewarded when a spell of intense pressure saw Phil Southward go over after quick hands from a penalty close to the Orrell line. Mike Woods' conversion reduced the gap to one point.

After the break St James recovered their seven-point lead when full-back Chris Stoke burrowed over near the sticks, McHugh adding the conversion.

This prompted Heath to step up a gear and two tries in the space of five minutes for centre Anthony Marsh broke the St James' spirit, Woods converting one from the touchline.

As the Orrell defence started to tire Heath ran in two more late tries.

David Lloyd capped a fine personal performance running onto the ball in broken play after scrum-half Barry Ashall had baffled the St James defence. Woods again added the two points.

And, fittingly the last action of the game saw man-of-the-match, Anthony Marsh walk through the St James defence to grab his hat-trick.

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