South Lancashire and Cheshire Division Two
Dukinfield Firsts 15, Oswestry Firsts 47

AN EXCELLENT performance from Oswestry Firsts saw them claim their first away win in the league this season.
The game got off to a steady start but following a period of extended possession it was the Eagles who struck first with Tom Treasure’s long kick allowing Gaz Hughes to power well into the Dukinfield half. Olly Wilford continued the attack to give Nick Clay quick ball and he released Nick Howland who rounded the defence before passing back to Clay for a great team try, converted well by Dan Williams.
The Eagles continued to show their attacking prowess from the kick off, with the forwards giving Clay more quick ball and the backs showed superb handling to get the ball quickly to Jack Fox who managed to find space between three defenders then outpace the fullback for a superb try, again converted by Williams.
Once again, from the kick off, the Eagles attacked with some more great handling by the backs releasing Howland this time, who showed pace to beat his man and round the fullback, with Williams converting the difficult kick.
More tight exchanges between the two sides followed, with Dukinfield finally getting deep into the Eagles half. They looked certain to score with a three man overlap but Fox showed great vision to pluck a long pass from the air and race 90 metres to score under the posts, converted by Williams.
The Eagles pressured from the kick-off but this time Dukinfield stole the ball and went deep into the Oswestry half and, with the visitors seemingly waiting for half time, their winger burst through tackles to score in the last play of the half, with the conversion missed.
The second half started with Dave Richardson reacting first to a knock on, before outpacing the covering defence to score his debut first team try for Oswestry, converted once more by Williams.
Dukinfield came back strongly, and after some tough exchanges with tempers fraying, managed to cross for another unconverted try.
But the Eagles dusted themselves down and  some Justin Tipuric-esque hands by Jamie Luckett saw him put Treasure in for a great try, though this time the conversion was missed.
Williams found touch with a great kick to give Oswestry a lineout deep in the home side’s half and they made it count with a great maul which stopped just short of the tryline.
However, Jack Fox took the ball quickly from the back and used his bulk to power through three defenders to score. Williams kept up his impressive kicking form to add the extras.
The Eagles spent the last five minutes of the game camped in their own half but great defence kept the hosts out, until a penalty was awarded at the last play. The home prop chipped the defence to give their second row a chance to take the ball behind the defenders and he took it well to give Dukinfield the last say. The final score was 47-15, and the man of the match was Tom Keaveney.
l Next week the Eagles host Port Sunlight at Granville Park.