Leigh Royal Oak 10

Halton Hornets 12

THE match was very tight with both defences on top and only penalty exchanges divided the teams for the first-half. The deadlock was broken when a Royal Oak forward viciously kneed Hornets' second-row while he was playing the ball. With Royal Oak down to 10 men the Hornets found a gap in their defence which captain Alan Ditchfield forced his way over for the first try.

Royal Oak equalized later but flying winger Ian Scott broke through midfield to run in a 50 yard winning try.

Culcheth 32

Halton Hornets 34

LAST week's opening game for the Hornets was against newly promoted Culcheth who won Division Six with an unbeaten record.

It was always a tight game but excellent rugby from both sides was rewarded with a glut of tries as defences took time to settle. Two great tries by centre Maffy Crossley were added to by fellow centre Andy Attwood and then Chris Walton. Near the end a 70 yard individual effort by prop Kev Birmingham brought the crowd to its feet. But with Halton trailing in injury time a last attack brought the winner from Ian Scott which Mark Birmingham kept his nerve to convert.

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