AN under-strength Trafford MV side brushed aside Burnley at MacPherson Park on Saturday to record a 29-10 victory.

Fit-again backs Jack Gallagher and Ben Wheeler more than made up for three key absentees – skipper Pat Eccles, his brother Chris and hooker Ross Anderson.

Wheeler opened the scoring for MV with an early penalty kick.

And Gallagher, returning after a long lay off with a knee injury, was soon exerting his influence with strong runs and powerful tackling.

When not making the breaks himself, Gallagher was drawing defensive attention, giving room for players around him.

He opened MV's try tally as good quick ball from a line out in the Burnley 22 allowed the centre enough space to break through flailing tackles and crash over close to the posts, with Wheeler converting.

It was Gallagher's influence again that sucked in the Burnley defence to allow fellow centre Wheeler to split a defensive gap and sprint over, leaving the full back stranded.

Wheeler converted his own try.

Burnley kept themselves in the game, catching MV in possession to turn over the ball and score wide on the left to make it 17-5 at the break.

Indiscipline saw prop Carl Tanner pick up a yellow card, but good wide play saw winger Jamie Kingdon power over as MV opened up a 19-point lead.

The visitors again hit back, capitalising on confusion between Trafford's wing and full-back after a fumbled catch, to score an unconverted try.

MV had already done enough though and it was down to replacement hooker Paul Davenport to record the final score as he barged over from close quarters.

Wheeler missed his final conversion attempt, but it did not tarnish what was an effective display from the former MV captain.

The win consolidated MV's position in fourth place, with three game of the season to play.

They will have a weekend off league action to go head-to-head with Southport in the semi-final of the Lancashire Plate.