Thatto Heath 28

Golborne Parkside 40

GOLBORNE Parkside beat Thatto Heath on their own patch to pip them to the North West Counties Amateur Rugby League Division Six title on Saturday.

Golborne saved their best performance of the season for the title decider. All of their players rose to the occasion and they thoroughly deserved to come out on top and gain promotion.

The visitors took an early lead when David Hindley popped over a penalty goal after Thatto Heath had been penalised for holding down.

The game then developed into an end-to-end affair with Golborne looking the most likely to score.

Breaks from centres Rob Dooley and David Long almost created tries before scrum half Andy Simms produced an inch-perfect pass for Leon Davy to race over. Hindley converted.

Thatto Heath hit back on 32 minutes with a quality try and touchline conversion.

Golborne responded in a positive manner and they opened up a 20-6 half-time lead thanks to tries by Andy Simms and Craig Timmings.

Simms and Kevin Coward were the architects to both tries and Hindley maintained his 100 per cent record with the boot.

Golborne continued to have the upper hand at the start of the second half and they extended their lead when Coward raced 60 metres to the try line.

Thatto Heath then scored a highly controversial try to reduce their arrears to 24-10. Their winger knocked the corner flag down as he went over the whitewash but the score was allowed to stand.

The try inspired Thatto Heath to step up a few gears and Golborne's forwards were forced to put their bodies on the line.

Stuart Naylor, Gary Dooney, Kevin Marsden, Gareth Sherman, Gareth Dickinson and Chris Woods were all outstanding as both sides battled for victory in the last quarter of the game.

Hooker James Byrne forced his way over the try line. Hindley converted to give Golborne some respite and a 30-10 lead.

Thatto Heath responded with two converted tries but Golborne kept their nerve and regained control of proceedings with a Hindley penalty goal and a well worked Carl Kelly touch down.

The visitors refused to give up the chase and they moved back into striking distance with two tries in the final 10 minutes.

The second try should have been disallowed for a blatant knock on in the build up but Golborne will not be complaining too much because they went on to win the game.

They tackled like demons in the final six minutes and they secured victory when Michael Prince produced a blockbusting 40m run to the line.

Golborne's man of the match was Simms and their top tacklers were Dooley and Byrne.