Bold Miners 20 Haresfinch 10

BOLD maintained their Division Two title charge with this hard-fought derby success in a re-arranged game.

With the slope in their favour, Bold dominated the first half. They opened the scoring with a try by Damian Spiers, converted by Darren Anders. Then Anders touched down himself after Finch had lost possession, his second goal making it 12-0.

Good work by Mark Saunders sent Ian Honey in for Bold's third try and centre Chris Burgess also crossed to make it 20-0 at the break.

After the turn-around it was Finch's turn to apply the pressure with strong running by second-row Gareth Brown and prop Ste Marsh, but Bold defended well with Dave Scott and Andy O'Dowd to the fore.

Eventually though Finch opened their account with a blockbusting try by big prop Gareth Haggerty, converted by fellow newcomer, loose-forward Dave Cunliffe, who was a constant threat.

And they reduced the deficit further when centre John Jackson scored after a scintillating 40-yard diagonal run.

Bold though held out to record a hard-earned victory.

For the winners, the Roydon man-of-the-match award went to Ian Honey, with Damian Spiers, Dave Scott and Andy O'Dowd also in good form, while Dave Cunliffe took the Haresfinch Franco's Wholesale Ltd. man-of-the-match, with Gareth Haggerty taking the Fran's News best player and Ste Thompson and John Jackson also impressing.