Manchester got on the scoreboard first in the fifth minute when poor defensive play led to full back Doug Day picking up a loose ball and neatly avoiding two LSH defenders to score near the left hand corner.

LSH responded well with Dave Cunliffe making two marauding runs through the Manchester defence bringing a line-out close to the opposition line. This brought a penalty, converted into a scrum, which was successfully pushed backwards over the try line after 12 minutes for Phil Kearns to touchdown, converted by Matt Cunliffe. Seven minutes later LSH repeated the procedure, although when the scrum was stopped Kearns dashed over from three yards to score to make it 5-12.

The first half action was far from over as Manchester then had much the better of the final 15 minutes. It was probably here that the game was won and lost as the home side created half a dozen chances all of which were repelled by a strong and sterling defensive effort enabling LSH to reach half time still seven points in front.

A Matt Cunliffe penalty early in the second half edged LSH further ahead, before Manchester hit back in the 48th minute with a converted try from centre Steve Pearson to narrow the gap to 12-15.

With Matt Cunliffe in the sin bin Matt Johnston was called upon to convert the next penalty in the 55th minute to make it 12-18. LSH then pressured again and 12 minutes later following another Dave Cunliffe break, stand-off John Pape threw out a long pass left, finding Mark Potter. The second row then galloped over at pace from 15 yards to make it a more comfortable 12-23.

Manchester came back again capitalising on a poor clearance kick to score close to the left hand corner to bring the encounter back to a one score game at 17-23. LSH, however, were not to be denied and another Matt Cunliffe penalty close to the end brought the final score to 17-26 and put the issue beyond doubt.