TRAFFORD MV made the trip to Littleborough on Saturday for the long-awaited clash for supremacy at the top of the Lancashire (North) Division and went down 26-21.

League leaders MV started well and took an early advantage as pacy running and good hands led to full-back Gaz Bevan carving a path through a crowded defence to cross the line to the left of the posts.

Captain Ben Wheeler converted for an early encouraging 7-0 lead.

In true contenders fashion, though, Littleborough hit back on the attack and settled in the MV 22 zone, leading to a try with the conversion being missed.

MV were under considerable pressure and they conceded a number of penalties in their efforts to avert a try.

These persistent offences resulted in a kick being converted to make it 8-7 to Littleborough and also brought a yellow card for lock forward Andrew Clegg.

MV weathered the storm of being a man down and it was the influential Bevan who again made an impact when his pace once again split the home defence and neat passing put centre Andrew Moore crashing over. Wheeler again successfully converted for a 14-8 half-time lead.

The sides changed ends and the home side took the advantage of the wind and slope.

The game was always expected to be a close one and Littleborough stuck to the script as they came right back in the game with an early try to make it 14-13.

The wind was working to their advantage and MV were knocked when an innocuous penalty near the halfway line was carried on the strong wind and sailed between the uprights to put the home side 16-14 in front.

Littleborough were now playing a good controlled pick up and go game with plenty of forward pressure bringing out the best in MV's defence with Danny Burke and Sean Garvey putting plenty of hard work in.

With MV pinned in the corner for a long spell of pressure it was eventually the home side's number 10 who sneaked around the blind side and forced his way over. A good conversion from the inside centre opened a gap at 23-14.

MV were not beaten yet and fought against the wind with time running out to get into enemy territory.

A series of good interplays and recycled ball made good inroads and prop Joe Cooper was on hand to get the final touchdown and with Wheeler's conversion MV were back in with a shout at 23-21.

As the minutes ticked away the home crowd were sent home happy as MV conceded yet another penalty which the Littleborough centre, with the wind at his back, launched across the crossbar with the final kick of the game for a deserved win.

It now looks as if the league title will be decided when the sides meet at Trafford's MacPherson Park on April 16.

This Saturday MV face Hutton at home (kick off 3pm) and must keep on track by earning good wins in all remaining fixtures.