Folly Lane 6 Portico Panthers 44

THE Panthers retained the leadership of the North West Counties League Premier Division with this comfortable victory over struggling Folly Lane.

It didn't take the visitors long to get on the scoresheet with Mike Hobin breaking the home defensive line to race in at the corner for an unconverted try. And when Ste Ball repeated the dose shortly afterwards it was clear this was going to be Portico's day.

The impressive Mark Rigby was next to score, going under the posts for the first of his three tries, with Hobin converting. Then player/coach Mark Lee combined with Rigby to send the supporting Dave Leyland in. Hobin again added the goal.

And Portico rounded off a good first-half display when Rigby collected a kick on his own line and raced the length of the field for a superb solo effort, Hobin's goal making it 26-0 at the interval.

Portico started the second half the way they had ended the first with Rigby completing his hat-trick when he backed up a break by Neil Kearns to score at the side of the posts.

Then Kearns himself powered over after good work by the Portico pack, with Hobin adding both conversions.

Folly Lane finally managed to breach Portico's defence for a consolation try which was converted.

But the visitors had the last say when Giasone Delfarro picked up a loose ball and raced 80 yards down field to score under the posts and then tag on the conversion to complete the scoring.