A RESHUFFLED Trafford MV went down 42-11 to fellow North Lancs/Cumbria League newcomers Carlisle at MacPherson Park on Saturday.

Captain Andy Quigley moved to the back row alongside Gareth Davidson, while in the backs the return of Pat Eccles at scrum-half saw MV player/coach Stuart Crampton start in the unaccustomed role of full-back alongside Henry Brownlow who enjoyed a promising debut on the wing.

Trafford opened the scoring with an early three points from the boot of fly-half Ben Wheeler.

It was not long, however, before repeated infringements saw Carlisle slot a penalty of their own over.

Kicks over the defence from both Eccles and Wheeler saw the visitors pinned in their 22 and further pressure from both sides saw the teams exchange penalties again.

At this point the game began to open up and a strong break up the middle from MV prop Joe Cooper saw him throw a long pass to winger Jamie Kingdon who could not quite beat the covering defence to the corner.

This was the story of the half for MV as good positions were continually thrown away by errors in the visitors' 22.

Carlisle began to show their class and superior fitness in the final 10 minutes of the half saw MV concede two tries.

The visitors 

Carlisle started the second half with sustained pressure and it led to their third try from a catch and drive line-out.

Things went from bad to worse for the home side when they lost Wheeler to a straight red card following a scuffle involving both sets of players.

Soon after MV conceded the bonus point try, after a good break from the Carlisle winger.

This disappointment initially appeared to spring life in to the home side, with Davenport coming up with their only try of the game.

But Carlisle’s numerical advantage told with a further two tries before the end.

MV must look to take the positives from this experience where they can, with Jack Gobbet and the MV pack maintaining a solid platform at the scrum and new centre Ed Brady enjoying another good game.

Carlisle’s execution and clinical finishing is ultimately what MV aspire to and this was very much a wake-up call of what they can expect in level seven rugby.

 The next game for Trafford MV on Saturday is in the northern Lake District at Silloth on the Solway coast – the first away trip of the season and probably the longest.

MV will be without Wheeler and Andrew Moore and will be wary of the home side bouncing back

from two opening defeats to Oldham and Aldwinians.