Wigan Rose Bridge 26 Thatto Heath Crusaders 33
NORTH West Counties League champions Heath came away with a rare two points from the Wigan outfit, thanks to inspirational player coach Darren Harris.
Despite the sending off of Jimmy Waterworth in the second half, the visitors came from seven points down to win.
Harris set the ball rolling after five minutes with a try converted by debutant Roy Litherland. Two minutes later Rose Bridge prop Mark Matthews dived over for a converted try.
But Heath hit back when Barry Ashall chipped through, the ball was fumbled and Litherland collected to score. He also added the extras. Further pressure from Thatto Heath resulted in a drop goal for Barry Ashall.
Rose Bridge's response came via a penalty goal.
The final action of the first half followed a long delay due to an injury to Thatto Heath winger Neil Prescott when, following a bomb by Cassidy, a mistake in the Thatto Heath defence allowed Mark Mathews to cross for a try converted by Jeff Eckersley.
The second half was barely two minutes old when Jimmy Waterworth was sent off and Eckersley kicked the resulting penalty.
Rose Bridge dominated the early exchanges of the half and Dean Roby pounced on a Heath mistake to score an unconverted try.
But Heath winger Mike Woods was in unstoppable form and he beat five men on his way to the line for a fine try, converted by Litherland.
Twenty minutes into the half Litherland broke the Rose Bridge defence and passed to Harris who held off three defenders to score. Five minutes later Phil Southward off-loaded to Prescot who fought his way over
On 30 minutes, Bridge again put pressure on the Thatto line and on the final tackle moved the ball through the backs for the full back to dive over to score a try converted by Eckersley.
A break from Welsby from inside his own half left him clear to draw the full back and off-load to the supporting Harris who held off two defenders from 25 metres to score his hat-trick. Mike Woods made the final score 33-26.
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