Colne and Nelson Seconds 12 Manchester Fourths 36

COLNE and Nelson can feel proud of this performance against Manchester -- and the mud!

On a quagmire of a pitch, ravaged by the overnight downpour, Colne and Nelson gave as good as the got for most of the game in what looked to be something of a mismatch on paper.

And that was how it appeared when Manchester, who compete at five divisions higher, raced to a 19-0 lead at the break.

Colne were rock solid in the scrum -- with giant Gary Hargreaves solid at the base -- but they were undone every time the visitors spread the ball.

Winger John McPhilips ran in two tries after quick hands by the Manchester backs was complemented by poor tackling by their hosts.

Dave Seales converted both of them.

Colne improved when Aaron Denton came on as scrum half as they tried to keep the ball tight and stifle the visitors marauding backs.

But Manchester appeared to be out of sight just before the interval when centre Keith Warhurst dived in under the posts after a well worked move. Seales failed to convert. But after the break Colne kept the ball in the pack and for the opening 15 minutes were camped in the Manchester half.

Denton and Hargreaves both went close to crossing the line and centre Dominic Payne was also tackled just short.

Hargreaves knocked the ball forward with the try line at his mercy but Colne scored a deserved try when they won the ball against the head from the resulting try and Denton crashed over to score which he failed to convert.

Flanker Pete Woodhead tackled like a demon to keep Manchester pinned back and Colne moved to within a try and conversion when Dick Harris crashed over to score and more good play by the forwards.

But Colne's concerted efforts seemed to knock the stuffing out of them and Manchester regained the initiative in their first attack of the half when Warhurst's angled run was unopposed and he dived over in the right hand corner.

Victory was secured soon after when McPhilips completed a hat-trick of tries to round off another swift move through the hands. With the minutes ticking away and the home tiring, Manchester centre Marc Ward burst cleared down the centre of the pitch to score under the post which Seales converted.

It was a hard slog for Colne and Nelson but after the final whistle they retreated into the bar for a few well earned beers. COLNE AND NELSON: John Goss, Graham Tindall, Malcolm O'Connor, Gary Hargreaves, Nigel Robinson, Paul Strickland, Dominic Payne, Andrew Wringe, Pete Woodhead, David Phillips, Nick Ralph, Frank Moore, Robert Holmes, Paul Strickland, John Hartley, Jason McQuillan, Aaron Denton