Didsbury had put Hawcoat to the sword in the reverse fixture earlier in the season but, due to injuries and unavailabilites, Didsbury took a depleted squad to the Barrow based team. A number of changes in the backline saw a new centre pairing of Jim Southall and Anton Vasseur, and included on the wing was the live wire Sam Wallis. There was also a place on the bench for new recruit Kevin Wong.

The weather was clear but there was a strong wind blowing slightly in favour of Didsbury in the first half. Didsbury mounted the first serious attack of the game but were thwarted by the well organised home defence. Hawcoat, used their big runners to make yardage into Didsbury territory and were particularly adept at recycling the ball. The opening score came from a close range drive by the home pack and the conversion dropped just short of the target. 5-0 in arrears Didsbury started to exhibit the gameplan that has served them so well this season, quick ball giving the backline space to exploit out wide. Winger Sean Bishop made a thundering break down the left flank evading several tackles before being hauled down just shy of the tryline. Didsbury maintained the possession and territory advantage and looked to have surely leveled the score when Shaun Walker crashed over. But the refere e deemed him to have been held up, much to the dismay of the Didsbury side. The visitors soon did get a try, fine hands in midfield set Bishop free to race in at the corner and Gaz Oakley slotted a fine kick from out wide to add the extras. The game entered a stalemate for the rest of the half and the score remained 5-7 at the break.

Didsbury picked up the tempo after the restart and started to stretch the Hawcoat defence, but just when it seemed like a break was on the home defence snuffed out the chance. Didsbury were rewarded for their territorial advantage when a kick through was well chased by Wallis and put the Hawcoat fullback under pressure. the ball spilled loose and Wallis fed Gaz Oakley to score under the posts. Oakley added the conversion himself and Didsbury had a clear lead 5-14. Didsbury then had to absorb a lot of attacks from Hawcoat as the home side were buoyed by a number of penalties going their way. A mix up in the Didsbury defence saw Hawcoat's scrum half allowed a clear run to touch down, but crucially the kick was missed. Hawcoat threw everything at Didsbury in the closing ten minutes but some sterling tackling and real character kept them out.

10-14 not a high scoring win, but an important away victory. Next week Didsbury visit the in form Littleborough who beat third placed Trafford MV last saturday.