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Bairstow’s boot helps Boro win

Mike Floyd
28/11/2006

Rugby Union
Littleborough 29
Blackpool 0

WITH no game last Saturday, a rested Boro outfit took on Blackpool in a league game at Rakewood.

Playing uphill into a strong wind, Boro were pinned in their own 22-metre area and the home defence had to be on top form to withstand early pressure from the visitors.

Youngster Andy Walton, playing on the right wing, made several good clearing kicks to give Boro some respite, but the visitors continued to turn the screw. After 20 minutes, the home team broke out and the Boro forwards drove Blackpool back. The visitors' back-line was caught offside and fullback Andy Bairstow slotted over the penalty to give the home side the lead.

For the remainder of the half Boro were on top, and Bairstow slotted over three more penalties to increase the home team's lead.

Early in the second half, Boro increased their lead with a long-range penalty from just inside the Blackpool half.

The hosts were now in total control and began to spread the ball wide. But they had to wait until the final 10 minutes to cross the visitors' line and they did so twice.

The first saw Ed Klieve take the ball against the head and from the scrum the ball was thrown out wide. The initial attack was held up, but from the ruck Boro came back, Mark Murgatroyd bursting past the Blackpool defence to score from five yards. Andy Bairstow tagged on the two.

In the last minute of the game, good work by the pack saw Mitchell score near the posts to give Bairstow an easy kick to complete the scoring.