Burnley welcomed a North Manchester team struggling to find their feet in North Lancs 1 but who have traditionally caused the locals problems when they have previously met.

On a bright autumn afternoon with a perfect playing surface, both sides opted to run the ball in a frenzied opening quarter.

Burnley’s eagerness meant they gave away a number of penalties which meant the match appeared more even than it should have been. Burn’s first foray near the line netted a score for try machine Billy Ingham who crashed over with a short range effort.

Gus Ferguson added the conversion and Burnley quickly established dominance in the scrum which led to the scrums becoming uncontested – whether this was tactical or due to genuine injury was hard to gauge but with no-one apparently leaving the field it looked like the former.

With both sides guaranteed parity of possession in the scrum both sets of half backs had room and opportunity to display their repertoire of skills.

Ingham crashed over after some good work by the Burnley pack. Shortly after as the visitors winger went over at a ruck a quick tap led to the ball going through several pairs of hands in the back line and Ferguson was on hand to squeeze over in the corner.

Burnley were in the ascendency and were looking to move the ball whenever they could.

Chris Stothard particularly catching the eye with his runs which asked all kinds of questions of the visitors defence.

After another good drive Ingham added to his tally.

North Manchester then capitalised well after Burnley skipper Paul Mullaband left the field with an injury with their best spell.

The tricky inside centre kicked and chased and was unlucky not to score and Burnley led 17-0 at the break.

Burnley opened the second half in determined mood running well, a good Simon Finnan break offloading to the excellent Luca Angelone fed returning captain Mullaband. Ashley Robinson was taken out before he received the ball and when he retaliated was sent to the bin along with the offending Mancunian.

This seemed to motivate Burnley more and after some good Stothard runs stretched Norths defence the forwards took it on.

Sean Ward being particularly prominent after a series of drives Ward fed Mullaband who did well to wriggle over.

North responded well again with their combative eight trying to get his team going forward with some some surging drives.

A great interchange between Adam Lee and Mullaband eventually led to Ward being driven over the line but who was held up by a never say die defence – but the inevitable followed shortly after as good work freed Mullaband to bag his second, Ferguson adding the extras.

North Manchester aagain but it merely stung Burnley into reacting as a good Robinson break after his enforced rest led to him passing to the supporting Finnan who in turn passed to the lurking Ingham to bag his third try.

Ferguson again added the kick.

Their was still time for the North Manchester wing forward to be binned forslowing the ball down.

Burnley will be reasonably happy with a morale boosting win before a tough clash at Oldham this week.

The continuing development of youngsters Dom Murphy and Jack Donovan is a big plus as they find their feet at this level and the unsung work of Tom Ives in the back row are all positives.