Ruskin Park 22 Congleton 0

WATCHED by a large crowd of past players, Ruskin gained a comprehensive victory over fellow strugglers, Congleton, to move clear of the relegation zone.

Ahead from the third minute when full-back Birch raced under the posts, Ruskin looked to have the edge in the three-quarters, and it came as no surprise, when a deft pass from Mousley sent Fisher under the bar. Two Fisher conversions gave Ruskin a healthy, half-time lead.

The two sets of forwards had slugged it out pretty evenly in the first half, but the substitution of Gary Pennington at the interval, plus an injury to Handley, the visiting number eight, tilted the balance well and truly Ruskin's way.

Howden, Hale and Swift, drove hard and often, into the heart of the Congleton defence, to set up numerous attacking positions.

A Fisher penalty stretched the lead, and on the hour, David Hale sealed the win, thundering over from a scrum 30 yards out.