WITH both open-age games cancelled, the attention was switched to Golborne Parkside's under 18's Lancashire Cup semi-final clash with local rivals Leigh Miners.

The Miners brought players in from their open-age first team and started favourites after their 30-12 league win over Golborne a few weeks ago.

But Golborne had their own plans of gaining victory and they were also in a confident mood after their victory over Leigh East the previous week.

The game started at a tremendous pace with both sides playing fast flowing rugby but both defences were up to the mark and neither side could break each others line.

Midway through the first half Golborne missed a kickable penalty chance at goal and the Miners made them pay when the took a 2-0 lead through Ridyard.

Just before the break the Miners brought the tryless first half to an end when Ridyard kicked his second penalty to make the half time score 4-0 to the Miners.

Golborne began to hold the territorial advantage and midway through the second half they levelled the score with a well taken try from impressive centre Stuart Goulding. With 15 minutes remaining Miners regained the lead 5 -4 with a Ridyard drop goal.

For the next 13 minutes Golborne were under pressure as two disputed penalties both converted by Ridyard plus playing the game out with a man short as a Golborne player was sin-binned for talking back to the referee.

Golborne faced the last two minutes with 12 men and a 9-4 deficit but when they gained possession inside the Miners half the ball was worked to the right. Stand off Stuart Arkwright switched the ball inside to loose forward Ashall who held off three desperate defenders to put Goulding over just wide of the post. Ashall kicked the conversion and Golborne had booked their place in the final by the narrow margin of 10-9.

Golborne under 14,s made it eight league wins out of nine with a 32-0 win over Rochdale Mayfield.

In a keenly fought first half Golborne built a 14-0 half time lead with good team work and sustained their advantage in the second half to rattle up man other 18 unanswered points. Try scorers were Craig keating 2, Geof Kent, Jimmy Thomlinson, Simon Williams, Lewis Hughes, and Craig Watkinson. With one goal each for Scott Cash and Aron Parkinson.

The U10's lost their final league game before the winter break, losing 18-4 at home to Portico.

Player of the match - Ben Currie; 2nd player of the match - Greg Wilde; 3rd player of the match - Adam Hughes; Top Tackler - Josh Bennett; Most Improved - Sam Baker; Trainer of the week - Dean Pennington.

All junior teams now have a three month winter break, but train as normal throughout.

This weekend the open-age first team are away to Pilkington Recs while the second team are at home to Weaverham KO 2pm. Players meet at 12.20pm. The under 14's are away at Ashton, meet 9.30 at Golborne Library.

The club needs a coach for a girls. Anyone interested should ring Carol Doran on 01942-601904.