It was an unlikely change of roles that brought the first score of the day after ten minutes. Anthony TiaTia made the running but it was Harry Noar running a great line and approaching at speed that grabbed the try, converted by Doug Day to 7-0.

Manchester looked comfortable following that score even without the ball, containing Southport and looking far more dangerous with it. Harry Lewis was a threat throughout, confidently roving from his right wing position to look for work. The second try another ten minutes later was workmanlike but effective. An attacking lineout was well taken and the strength of James Brodie bullied the ball over the line to double the score to 14-0 with another Day conversion.

With Manchester already in control of the match, it was now a case of when the next score would be made. When Karl Higginson found his man from another line out in the visitors’ 22, a catch-and-drive was well set up. With the Southport pack going backwards, the Manchester pack splintered at the right moment for Brodie once again to carry on over the line unopposed (19-0).

Minutes later the bonus point try was registered on the half hour. The try of the match was from a great ‘assist’ from Lewis who came off the wing to quickly deputise for Manchester’s scum half who had been floored. This seemed to catch Southport unawares as TiaTia was fed, setting off on a diagonal run before cutting in to make it a simpler conversion and open a 26-0 lead.

That lead was taken to the break and with Southport creaking, a similar score in the second half was anticipated. The next score was a while coming as Southport dug in and the game became a little untidy. With quarter of an hour played though, it was that man Brodie who took a long throw to the back of the lineout, bursting through the remaining defence to make it 33-0 once Day had added the extras.

Unfortunately this didn’t spark the hoped for try-fest and as the game went on, it was Southport who seemed the more determined to score to prevent being nilled. Manchester defended their half as if there was only one score in it, preventing any scoring opportunities at all.

With the afternoon’s work having been well and truly done by half time, it was a pity that the match began to peter out, but much more seriously, there was a great shame in the way that the game ended. An assault by a visiting player on try scorer Harry Noar as he contested a maul, caused a serious injury with minutes to play. Two breaks to his jaw and a stay in hospital was the end result and we wish Harry a quick recovery and return to the cause.

Nonetheless, despite the upset over the unnecessary injury, there was reason to celebrate the result at least - especially when the results from the top two came in, and Manchester’s tenth home win in a row meant that there was a change of leader at the top of the table!