ALTRINCHAM Kersal's third XV were the only senior team to gain victory last weekend, winning 36-15 at Dukinfield seconds to seal their third win of the Division Four East season.

But it was heartbreak for the firsts who went agonisingly close when they went down 10-9 at Manchester RUFC in North One West.

Kersal had the better of the first half and were deservedly 9-3 ahead at half time, thanks to the boot of Matt Tully who kicked three penalties.

In difficult conditions, Kersal looked to hang on for a confidence-boosting win in the second period.

But a series of handling errors led to a breakaway try from Manchester, which was expertly converted from an impossible angle to seal victory for the hosts.

Kersal second XV hosted Holmes Chapel firsts a week after their cup triumph, but the visitors kept most of the possession in the early exchanges, Kersal finding themselves down to 14 men for 10 minutes due to ill-discipline.

Their defence stepped up well during this period and kept scoring opportunities for the visitors to a minimum, eventually conceding scores through a penalty and converted try from their winger.

In one of their first periods of extended possession, the Kersal attack put the visitors under pressure in their own 22.

A quick tap allowed for some link-up play to put Kersal fly-half Ben Harris over in the corner for a try, making the score 10-5 to Holmes Chapel going into the break. 

Kersal started the second half positively, prop Jack Gallimore going over from close range for his second try in as many games, tying the scores.

Despite continued attacking efforts asking questions of the visiting defence and the game being into the balance up until late in the game, Kersal failed to cross the whitewash again, Holmes Chapel pulling further away thanks to the boot of their fly-half to seal a 21-10 victory. 

Meanwhile, the under-17s junior Colts' fixture at Newcastle was postponed due to waterlogged pitches.

On Saturday, the first XV host Carlisle while the thirds are at home to Stockport seconds.