Trafford MV 3 – 23 Didsbury Toc H

Didsbury, still missing skipper Mike Hyde, took to the field knowing this was the sternest test they would have faced so far this season. Didsbury had the upper hand in the opening exchanges, particularly in the tight, but it was the home side who opened the scoring with a penalty after Toc H transgressed at the break down. Didsbury, playing into the wind in the first half, used a mixture of forward drives and the crash ball by centres Williams and Popoola to make ground. The pressure paid off with Dave Hoare finding space down the right wing to dive in at the corner, Euan Wilder missed the conversion but soon atoned for the miss by slotting a penalty to give Didsbury a narrow 3-8 lead. Despite pressuring Trafford's line further there were no more scores before half time.

Toc H must have reflected well on a good steady half, but would look to press home the wind advantage after the break. From the restart Didsbury pinned Trafford deep in their own territory with astute kicking by Oakley and Wilder, and the home side struggled to clear their lines with any authority. Trafford were penalised at the break down and Wilder duly converted the penalty to extend the lead to 3-11. Toc H looked comfortable at two scores up, but a misplaced pass was hacked forward by Trafford and suddenly Didsbury had to turn and race back. Winger Hoare showed tremendous pace to get back first and mop up the loose ball, and Trafford were awarded an attacking scrum five metres from the Toc H line. From a good position the home team fed the ball to the centres, where the ball was dropped. Didsbury weren't content to just clear their lines, they fed the ball wide and Bishop scored a long range try in the corner. This was a sickening blow for MV, seeing a try scored from their own possession some 90 metres down the field. Wilder added the conversion to make it 3-18. Didsbury continued to contain the Trafford team in their own half and went close to another try on several occasions, but it took something a bit different to seal the game. The visiting pack drove the ball to within a metre of the try line, but the well organised Trafford defence held firm, so Oakley popped the ball to centre Dylan Williams who dived over the potential tacklers to touch down in the corner. A move out of the NFL playbook but it sealed the victory for Toc H.

Didsbury can be happy with another victory under their belts and will look to continue their run with the visit of Bury to Ford Lane next saturday, 2:15pm kick off.