Culcheth 24 Hare & Hounds 18

HOUNDS might be going down, but nobody could accuse of them of surrendering without a fight.

This top versus bottom clash should, on paper, have been a stroll for Culcheth.

But, despite fielding a makeshift pack against a massive home six, the visitors finished the stronger and deserved at least a draw.

Hounds opened the scoring with a penalty by second-row Kevin Parylo but a spilled ball from the kick-off gave Culcheth possession and they responded with a converted try.

The home men must have been expecting the floodgates to open but Hounds replied with a well-taken try by centre Anthony Halsall from a nicely weighted kick by scrum-half Paul Martin.

There was little between the sides for the remainder of the half but Hounds' tendency to lose possession in their own half cost them dearly as Culcheth added three further tries and two goals to lead 20-6 at the interval.

Hounds' lightweight side might have been expected to run out of steam in the second period but instead they got stronger.

And they deservedly reduced the deficit when prop Karl Grounds made a strong break down the right before sending substitute winger Paul Cunningham racing 50 metres to score. Parylo converted.

Once again though a dropped ball proved costly when from the resulting scrum Culcheth moved the ball right to score at the corner on the only time they really threatened in the second half.

Hounds continued to have the better of play and Ste Jackson and Kirk Benyon (twice) might both have had tries with a little bit of luck.

They eventually added to their total five minutes from time when stand-off Lee Johnson re-gathered his own chip ahead to score under the posts for Parylo to add his third conversion.

But the referee surprisingly blew up only two tackles after the re-start to deny them the chance of an equalising score.

In a great team effort Hounds were particularly well served by second-row Parylo whose work rate was phenomenal, along with Halsall and full-back Paul Gavin.