Again, thankfully the weather relented and the pitch was playable. Altrincham are normally one of the stronger teams in our age group and I personally expected a very tough time of it.

However we showed we can mix it with the ‘big boys’ and gave our opposition a real fright.

We originally agreed 2 games but such was the spirit in both squads that a third game was played.

All three games were close affairs with Kersal coming out on top 4 tries to 3 on aggregate.

Game One – We put up our strongest 9 available and really took the game to Kersal (Panthers) in the 1st half. Level at half time we conceded two quick tries, the first a very good rolling maul that wouldn’t have looked out of place at Twickers. Rather than heads going down we pinned Kersal into their own half for the remainder of the game and only stout defence stopped us from crossing for a deserved consolation.

Game Two – This game saw us put up the remainder of the squad and a couple of players from game one against Kersal’s Cougars. James was made captain and led by example. We really played well in this game coming out 2-1 winners. Tries from Aaron & Spencer capped off a great performance from all the players. Brett & Brandon getting good game time and really putting themselves about. A really pleasing effort from all.

Game Three – As with the Stoke fixture this was also a casualty strewn game. We lost many of the boys to knocks during this game, Jamie A having to leave the game early with a nasty looking knee injury, hopefully he will make a quick recovery. Going down to an early try we upped our game and put Kersal under a lot of pressure. The game looked as if it was going to end with 6 players each such was the physicality of the game. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Tom Mc picking the ball up in his own half, one thing on his mind. He jinked past 3 opponents and looked as though he had run out of room close to the line but he launched himself over the line for the equaliser.

A really physical tie where we matched our opponents in all departments, a drawn tie would have been a fairer result. Lots of positives to take from the games, especially the pleasing aspect that all the lads kept asking to take part in all the games, even though the weather and pitch were awful.