TRAFFORD MV are up to third in North Lancashire Division One after a comfortable 35-0 home victory over bottom-placed St Edward's Old Boys.

MV were in control from the start and took an early lead when pressure brought good scrimmage ball which allowed winger Jonny Lord to outflank the defence to score.

With the conversion missed it was again up to the forwards to build dominance for the MV backline to play with and full-back Zack Crabb added a penalty to put the MacPherson Park men 8-0 up.

The tricky conditions brought plenty of scrums and MV had the upper hand in set pieces.

MV drove deep into the visitors' 22 and a well-controlled driving maul saw heavyweight prop Paul Davenport cross the whitewash, despite the frantic calls from scrum-half Pat Eccles who was looking for the easy score.

With a half-time lead of 13-0 MV were looking comfortable but they had failed to find the defensive gaps and consistently took the ball back into heavy traffic.

Pressure kept telling, however, and despite a good, spirited performance from St Edward's, it was inevitable more scores would come.

Crabb came into the line well from full-back and his pace split the defence, allowing him to go round his opposite number to score and convert for a 20-0 lead.

The MV forwards again took the game into enemy territory and it was open side flanker Danny Burke who took the plaudits after good inter-play and close support pushed MV further ahead to 25-0.

Crabb missed the conversion but he added a penalty in short time for a 28-0 lead as conditions worsened.

Driving sleet and snow came and MV suffered injuries to Davison, Davenport and Gobbert.

MV drew final blood, though, when winger Lord rounded off a good individual performance and a solid team display with an interception try – picked up as the spirited visitors tried hard to take something home from the game. Crabb converted.

While not being a particularly impressive performance from MV it was enough to overtake Ashton Under Lyne who lost 10-5 to league leaders Oldham.

Trafford MV are looking to the local rugby community and players to help raise the profile of the game ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.

Metrovicks are inviting players of all abilities – and former players – to get involved.

Anybody who has played the game, maybe at school or college and may be interested in having a go at playing are invited to train or watch rugby at the club on Finny Bank Road in Sale.