Ashton on Mersey 0 v Altrincham Kersal 39

ALTRINCHAM Kersal did the double over local rivals Ashton on Mersey in this return league match, beating them 39-0.

From the start, Altrincham Kersal went onto the attack and kept Ashton penned in their own half.

In fact, Ashton rarely got into AKRFC territory in the whole game, such was Altrincham Kersal's superiority in all aspects of the game.

In the very heavy conditions, both forwards and backs handled well and supported the man in possession.

The first score came after 15 minutes play, when Ashton were penalised for offside in midfield and Daldry kicked the points.

The pressure being applied by the Altrincham Kersal side and the forwards in particular, began to show dividends.

Ashton gained possession and had their charged down for a five metre scrum No. 8 Gibbons picked up and drove to form a ruck and second row Ford gathered and scored.

Altrincham Kersal's second try was scored by Cueto from a scrum in centre field.

He ran some forty yards to score a superb try under the posts, converted by Daldry.

All the time the Altrincham Kersal side maintained the attack and kept Ashton on the back foot until good running, passing and support play created the opening for centre Forster to score just at the end of the half.

One of the factors in the Altrinchan Kersal ascending was the work of their forwards.

Harrison and Ford disrupted the Ashton line out, the back row of Hart, Gibbons and Entwistle were quick to the break down and Faulkner, Wade and Dutton drove the ball forward into the rucks and mauls.

And when Watson and Frankland came on as replacements, they maintained the pressure.

Ten minutes into the second half saw AKRFC score a very simple try.

To add to Ashton's woes a loose pass in their own 22 was intercepted by Daldry who strolled in to score under the posts.

Worsfold entered the line from full back at the end of a passing movement which under the heavy conditions was breathtaking and touched down in the corner to present Forster with a difficult conversion attempt.

Finally another passing movement involving both forwards and threequarters created the opening for Wade to crown his afternoon's display and run the twenty yards for a well-deserved try.

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