Saddleworth A 38, Parr Hare & Hounds 14

A SECOND-half collapse saw Hounds slump to defeat in a game they could and should have won.

With a full complement of 17 players for the first time in months, the visitors were the better side throughout the first half and looked well on course to record a rare victory.

After the break though they simply fell apart and Saddleworth ran in 32 points without reply to record an unlikely success.

A late arrival didn't help the Hounds' cause and they were 6-nil down after six minutes. But they gradually found their feet and began to take control. A penalty by full-back Neil Briers opened the visitors' scoring and they went ahead when veteran loose-forward Frank Martin went over from close range, with Briers adding the conversion. Just before half-time Hounds increased their lead when skipper Karl Grounds powered down the left touchline before selling a dummy and going in under the posts, leaving Briers an easy conversion.

Eight points to the good at the interval, Hounds seemed set to claim a welcome two points. After the break though the game was transformed, with the home side stepping up a gear and Hounds seemingly unable to match them.

Saddleworth raced into a 26-14 lead with three converted tries and a penalty and just when it looked like Hounds might stage a comeback, the homesters made sure of the spoils with two long-range tries after the visitors had spilled the ball with the line beckoning.

Best for the losers were hard-working centre Mike Corrigan, winger Wayne Ashcroft, scrum-half Kevin Parylo, prop Mark Houghton, Grounds and substitute Stu Weir.

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