With a lot of disruption caused by a fire on the motorway preparation wasn't the best for Littleborough on Saturday and with four starting players making it to Rakewood 5 minutes before kick off, it was no wonder they got off to a bad start.

Going 8-0 down in the first 10 minutes due to some weak tackling saw the Higginshaw centre Regan in first before the winger Wheeler doubled the lead. Fortunately for a shell shocked Boro none of the conversions were successful from the boot of no 6 Swaine.

Boro finally found their mojo and started to play the way they have all season as great work from the ruck by Nathan Worm Mason gave captain Adam Browne the platform to dummy his way to the try line for his 5th of the season and put him firmly in 1st place on the try scoring roster. By finding the middle of the posts with the conversion Dominic Kershaw drew the home side to within 2.

Great build up play in the middle by Tom Morris, Christopher Lynch and Kyle Howarth paid dividends as 2nd rower Michael 'Ronnie' Robinson crashed his way over from short range, once more Kershaw found his target with another perfect conversion.

With the game nicely poised, then came the arm wrestle with both packs trading blows and both putting big hits in on their opposite numbers. Soon after however the men in blue extended their lead as great work from Murphy Holt sent the ball from the right wing to the left on the last tackle, to send Alex Green over for his home debut try.

Kershaw would continue his perfect record with a conversion and a penalty to send Littleborough 12 points ahead at half time.

An absolute peach of a dummy from Gareth Sharrocks fooled everyone in attendance and led to a nifty forty metre dash to the line unopposed. This time Kershaw couldn't quite find the target as his conversion missed.

Playing a high tempo game in the scorching bank holiday sunshine, Littleborough's standards dropped considerably. This lead to penalties here there and everywhere giving the visitors a route back and two quick tries from fullback Brunt and Hughes quickly followed. Both tries saw Higginshaw claw 12 points back from the deficit as new kicker no 7 Jones calmly slotted the conversions.

Luckily Boro regained their composure and their quality to squeeze the life out of the game as further tries from Jamie Lawlor and the courageous Murphy Holt, who was playing with a torn shoulder injury put Littleborough well clear.

A try from Ujuari again converted by Jones gave Oldham based Higginshaw a consolation score but that was all, as great defence from Lawlor and Kershaw held the visitors on the try line while try saving tackles from Morris and Cameron Kenworthy ensured the sun would shine on Boro.

With another home fixture this weekend against Aspull New Springs, Littleborough are again hoping for the same large vocal support which helped get the boys over the line.

Written by Dominic Kershaw