Pendle 23 Eagle 20

Pendle Phoenix made it two wins from two in North Lancs Two after fighting back to beat Eagle.

With both teams beginning the season with impressive victories, each went into the game with confidence.

Pendle opened the scoring when Rob Lawless dived over to score a try which he converted himself.

Eagle hit back with a try of their own but failed to adde the extras and Pendle held a narrow 7-5 lead.

But that was extended when debutant Mathew Crowley rounded off a fine move to sprint clear to score.

Again Lawless added the extras and Pendle stretched their lead to 14-5.

But with half time approaching Pendle's concentration wavered, allowing the Eagle centre to break through a weak defence and score under the post and Pendle’s lead was cut to 14-12.

Some ill-discipline just before the break gave Eagle the chance to take the lead which they did, a penalty making it 15-14 to the visitors.

Eagle started the second half strongly and finally made a way through the Pendle defence to score their second try to make it 20-14.

Pendle piled on the pressure and it paid off when player/coach Getty Schinkel picked up from the base of the scrum and drove into the Eagle defence and the supporting Liam Canning collected the ball and scored to the right of the posts.

Lawless continued his 100 per cent kicking percentage and slotted the conversion as Pendle regained the lead 21-20.

With time ticking away and both sides pushing for the victory, it was going to be close finish. And Pendle scored the decisive try when Shaye McCullough was put in to space, chipped the full-back and collected his own kick to score a final try.

Lawless made it an eight point game when he kicked the resulting conversion.