A MAKESHIFT Blackpool Scorpions side had to play second row forward Danny Padgett on the wing and stand-off Simon Pritchard in the centre when they met Ashton for their latest Rugby League match.

Scorpions took the lead after four minutes with a penalty by Dave Moss.

They then had to withstand a lot of pressure from Ashton but the defence held firm.

Gradually they eased their way back into the game and Pritchard finished off a lovely crossfield move to dive over.

Moss converted the try to give the Scorpions an 8-0 lead.

The Scorpions were penalised three times in succession and with that amount of possession the opposition just had to score, which they did, to make it 8-4 at the break.

The second half was fairly even with props Paul Gamble and Dave Ratcliffe working hard.

Ashton took the lead with a soft try when their winger dived over from a play the ball to score in the corner.

The try was converted from the touchline giving them a lead of 10-8.

With a quarter of an hour to go Ashton increased their lead to 12-8 with a penalty.

From this point the Scorpions seemed to increase the tempo of the game.

Neil Gavaghan's raking kicks to touch kept pinning Ashton back in their own half.

The Scorpions went close a few times with Pritchard slipping with just the full back to beat.

Three minutes from time the Scorpions went down the short side and Daron Green crashed over to level the scores at 12-12.

Moss's conversion would have won the match but it drifted just wide.

It was an all-round team effort from the Scorpions who had been further disrupted when Paul Gray had to leave the field after 10 minutes with an ankle injury.

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