LIGHTFOOT Green Lane, Fulwood, Preston, reverberated to the sound of the West Country on Sunday (Nov 2) as the Mini rugby players and travelling supports of Melksham, near Bath, took on the home team in a series of matches also featuring Littleborough and Orrell.

Sam Butler and Ben Murphy scored in both U9s matches, two each against Littleborough in a comprehensive 45-0 win, and one each in the 10-0 defeat of the West Country club.

Tom Dicken grounded four tries in the first match and Tom Harris completed the scoring with one.

Melksham, playing some well organised rugby, beat Littleborough 30-0.

Hoppers U7s enjoyed the best of both training matches, scoring highly against both Littleborough and Melksham, while in the U8s fixture, Daniel Lewis, Zac Giles and Alex Spratt ran in seven tries between them to defeat Melksham 35-15.

After a dour 0-0 battle with Littleborough, U10s Sam Chard and George Mercer made the most of their few opportunities against Melksham, both scoring in the 10-5 win over Littleborough.

U11s player, Charles Cuddy scored Hoppers' only try in their encounter against Littleborough, but it was not enough to secure victory, the visitors hitting back with three scored to record a final score of 21-14.

The U12s took on both Orrell and Melksham, who had earlier fought out a thrilling 15-15 match.

Melksham equalising in injury time.

The Wigan team betrayed their novice status by displaying a sound basic knowledge of league play.

Against Orrell, Chris Gorman and Chris Cox scored before half-time, but Hoppers had a scare within a minute of the restart, Orrell drawing level with two rapid tries.

With a minute left, and many chances slipping out of hand, Gorman crashed over for the winner.

Against Melksham, Douglas Fitzgerald dominated the forward play and with James Cooper involved at every break-down, they and Stephen Johnson constantly recycled the ball to the back line, allowing Jack Ward, Chris Rush, Matthew Walmsley, Chris Cox and John Peterson to add to Cooper's opening try and to post a 30-0 win.

Junior action at Lightfoot Green Lane was dominated by the Lancashire RFU U13s final trials, from which four Hoppers players, Simon Cottam, Tim Deakin, Kirk Stokes and Gavin Weigh, gained selection for the country squad.

The U14s travelled away to Littleborough where the older age group's Lancashire squad members all hit the try line on a 47-5 win. Edward Keany (three), George Strachen and Paul Milla were joined on the score sheet by George Leeming and Des Blackburn. Daniel West had his best kicking boots on, converting six of his seven attempts.

Warming up for next weekend's U17 Lancashire Cup second round match against Sedgley Park, Sam Kidd grounded a hat-trick of tries and Alastair Whitmee two more in their 50-5 victory over Old Brodlians. Chris Bowman, Sam Luxton and Russell Flynn also went over to allow Sam Houston the chance to kick five conversions.

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