Get a Grip...

Sefton got their first five points in as many minutes when Manchester were slow to react to a penalty in their own 22. A quick tap allowed an all too easy run in and Sefton were up and running.

It looked as if Manchester were straight back in it when thevisitors’ line was crossed following a fine run by Doug Day, well supported by his partner in the centre, Luke Tyrrell. As the referee went to blow and signal a try to reward Tyrrell's efforts, the ball was dropped over the line however and the signal correctly changed to a knock on! When Sefton were caught offside shortly afterwards, posts was the only sensible option and the score was back to 3-5.

Manchester’s attacks did not have the quality to make the most of the few opportunities that came their way. Sefton however were quicker at taking their chances and scored their second when Manchester failed to learn from their earlier mistake. Another quick penalty gave the impression of being waved through rather than defended, with the conversion making it a dispiriting 3-12 after half an hour.

It wasn’t a good first half performance by any standards, but the half time score was made more respectable by a Tyrrell burst supported by Matt Davies along his wing that splintered the Sefton defence and closed the gap to 8-12. With time up and a kickable penalty awarded, the gap should really have been down to one point but the ambition to run it was flawed and the break was reached without further progress.

Amends were soon made when Manchester opened the second half scoring. A good touch finder penalty set up a likely catch-and-drive but instead the ball was moved quickly out, then back in towards the touchline. Tyrrell used his strength to twist over the line and Manchester had their noses in front at 13-12. An excellent conversion by Day stretched that lead to 15-12.

When Sefton were gifted a mystery penalty to level it at 15-15 and with half an hour to play, the game couldn’t have been more finely balanced. That aberration was corrected after a fashion five minutes later, when a penalty was slotted by Day to restore the fragile three point lead (18-15).

It was only at this point that Manchester started to take a grip of the game. A very alert Chris Lloyd seized on a loose ball and combined brilliantly with Day at inside centre. Day’s diagonal run from centre field outflanked the defence so that he could touch down in the corner, making it 23-15 with more than one score between the teams at last.

With ten minutes remaining, Manchester’s bonus point, and effectively the win, arrived, courtesy of yet another Tyrrell rampaging run. This time Lloyd was supporting his centre and the resulting 28-15 scoreline looked a fairer reflection of the two sides performance overall.

This game certainly wasn’t a classic; it was too scrappy for that and the officiating seemed to stop any flow or momentum from either side. Nonetheless, a win is a win and the first bonus point win of the season was cause for celebration. Two away bonus points and two home wins in the last four games made for a happier clubhouse and room for optimism looking at the fixtures ahead.