Match Report

ASHTON on Mersey moved up another place in the South Lancs/Cheshire Two after beating league leaders Dukinfield 24-21.

The visitors had an early scare when Dukinfield's number 6 caught the kick off ball and rode four tackles to set up a converted penalty.
However, Ashton settled down and gradually overcame the heavier opposition pack through determined forward play in the loose This pressured the home side into errors, one of which allowed Chris Watts at inside centre to grab an interception and score under the posts.

The Ashton front row gradually wore down their counterparts in the scrummage and this was a key feature of Ashton's win. Their lighter pack were also unstoppable in the rolling maul, which brought the visitors much of the territorial advantage.

From one such maul on the Dukinfield line winger Mike Waddington, assisting the drive, peeled off to touch down.

In the muddy conditions Ashton's lineout play, led by number 8 Dan Billinge, was superb and Dan capped a solid display with a blindside try well set up by Mike Mills at fly half.

But the opposition chased hard and brought the score back from 11-24 to 21-24 in the final 10 minutes with a couple of unstoppable tries in the swamp-like left hand corner of the pitch.



			Dukinfield 21 Ashton 24 ASHTON on Mersey moved up another place in the South Lancs/Cheshire Two after beating league leaders Dukinfield 24-21. The visitors had an early scare when Dukinfield's number 6 caught the kick off ball and rode four tackles to set up a converted penalty. However, Ashton settled down and gradually overcame the heavier opposition pack through determined forward play in the loose This pressured the home side into errors, one of which allowed Chris Watts at inside centre to grab an interception and score under the posts. The Ashton front row gradually wore down their counterparts in the scrummage and this was a key feature of Ashton's win. Their lighter pack were also unstoppable in the rolling maul, which brought the visitors much of the territorial advantage. From one such maul on the Dukinfield line winger Mike Waddington, assisting the drive, peeled off to touch down. In the muddy conditions Ashton's lineout play, led by number 8 Dan Billinge, was superb and Dan capped a solid display with a blindside try well set up by Mike Mills at fly half. But the opposition chased hard and brought the score back from 11-24 to 21-24 in the final 10 minutes with a couple of unstoppable tries in the swamp-like left hand corner of the pitch.