Chorley 16, North Manchester 14

9:52am Tuesday 8th April 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Chorley built on their positive showing last week and delivered a much needed and much deserved win against a strong North Manchester side.

The opening exchanges saw Chorley look to utilise their back line with centres Stewart Harris and Simon Frost making ground from quick well distributed ball from the half back pairing of Chris Highton and Martin Whitfield.

An early penalty kicked by Whitfield opened the scoring. Chorley while not dominating the forwards did enough to give the backs a platform to work from.

On 25 minutes a clean break from Stewart Harris on the half way line saw him evade several tackle attempts to score with Whitfield adding the conversion.

Towards the end of the half the home side took their foot off the gas to allow a soft try that resulted from a catch and drive at the back of the lineout.

After a dressing down at the break from coach Andrew Kavanagh, the forwards fronted up to the visitors and matched them in open play, allowing the backs to test the North Manchester defence. Another penalty from Whitfield extended the lead.

With five minutes remaining a fracas resulted in flanker Martin Riley being sent from the field, leaving the Chorley defence vulnerable.

As feared the visitors used their numerical advantage and scored in the corner taking the lead 14-12.

In the dying seconds the Chorley took on the North Manchester defence running several phases with backs and forwards, as the clock ticked close to 80 minutes a penalty was awarded 30 metres out which Whitfield converted as the whistle blew.

A great win will serve as a boost to the side who travel to fellow league strugglers Clitheroe next week