An aggressive start by Glossop had Manchester on the back foot such that a penalty for offside was conceded to get some early points on the scoreboard for the visitors (0-3).

Despite early dominance in the scrum it took Manchester the first quarter of an hour before they entered the Glossop 22 courtesy of a penalty to touch. The ball was moved wide as Manchester threatened the try line, but the reward was just a levelling three points from Doug Day (plus the first of Glossop’s four yellow cards) as a high tackle was penalised (3-3).

A gap was opened when Matt Beasley followed up a long kick with the visitors’ defence slow to respond, allowing a try under the posts, converted by Day to make it 10-3. The score was pegged back to 10-6 after half an hour with a second Glossop penalty but there remained little between the sides, a third Glossop penalty hitting the uprights soon after.

The visitors finished the half strongly and were justly rewarded for their pressure when Manchester’s stubborn defence finally cracked and Glossop were back into the lead at 10-13.

Manchester’s response was positive but a try scoring opportunity was blown with a clear overlap wasted as the expectant winger found his pass intercepted, and then dropped, by a team mate joining the attack. The first half scoring was instead completed courtesy of Glossop indiscipline as an innocuous penalty award in Manchester’s half was marched forward 20 metres as the visitors debated matters with the referee. Day then converted into points for a fair 13-13 score at the break.

Glossop’s kicker was in fine form and edged his side ahead 13-16 from the 10m line within the opening minutes of the second half. The significance of this kicking advantage started to become apparent when the gap was widened to 13-19 with another long range kick, helped by a strengthening tail wind.

This wasn’t the only weapon in Glossop’s armoury however as was demonstrated by a fine try in the far corner after 15 minutes. A couple of ambitious passes went to hand as the ball was moved across the pitch at speed so that the home defence became overstretched and a daunting 13-24 deficit was now being chased.

With Glossop now in control of the scoreboard, their tetchiness developed into indiscipline for no good reason. A yellow card deep in their 22 started a series of tap penalties and scrum options, but the Glossop 14 stood firm by fair means and foul. When a second yellow card swiftly followed, it seemed that Manchester had to score as they pressed the line. Unfortunately a combination of cynical play by the remaining 13 and a surprisingly patient referee meant that penalty after penalty was conceded which Manchester failed to take advantage of. Manchester were now opting for scrums but ironically this played into Glossop’s hands as their repeated offences started to eat up the remaining time.

It may only have been 10 minutes that the farce was played out, but it seemed an age from the touchline where it seemed bizarre that a penalty try was not awarded for the repeated offences. The referee was content to keep waving his yellow card instead and when a third Glossop player joined two team mates in the sin bin, sheer numbers meant that a try was eventually scored. At 20-24 with 10 minutes remaining the game was back on again.

Glossop began to strengthen of course as their miscreants were allowed back on to the pitch, and with five minutes to go they were back to their full complement. A long range penalty which at first seemed a time-consuming tactic was very well kicked so that the 20-27 score left Manchester chasing a converted try to level, and maybe, just maybe, a penalty to win it...

With just a few minutes remaining, a superb run by Chris Nuttall down the wing looked as if it was going to be finished by Brian Ndlovu in support as he bounded over the line. A decision to cut back in to simplify the conversion proved to be misjudged however as a chasing Glossop defender halted progress and was adjudged to have held the ball up.

Incredibly Manchester then crossed the line for the second time in as many minutes with Gareth Bridgman appearing to touch down as the ball was knocked out of his hand. For some reason a knock on was awarded to Manchester (rather than the more obvious ‘advantage’ of a try being awarded). Nonetheless the line was crossed for a third time and this time a score resulted as Chris Nuttall took touched down, but out wide. At 25-27 the touchline conversion against the wind was needed to close the match but as it dropped short, full time was blown and the Grove Park Fortress had finally been breached.