Anselmians recent form and Manchester's poor away record suggested that this could be a long afternoon for the visitors. When the hosts scored within five minutes, those thoughts seemed to be confirmed. In fact, as half time loomed with a 26-0 deficit opened up and a bonus point in the bag, the books would have been closed on the final result.

Two very late first half tries changed the complexion of the game however, although it has to be said that although the 26-14 half time score had reduced the damage, it didn't feel as if the game had been turned around.

In fact, normal service appeared to have been resumed when Anselmians almost recovered their large lead to close the third quarter of the game with a healthy 38-14 advantage, half a dozen tries having been scored to Manchester's brace.

In a dramatic final quarter, the home side found themselves down to 14 men as a result of two separate yellow cards, and this gave Manchester an opportunity that was well and truly grabbed with both hands. Three converted tries closed the gap to 38-35 so that a couple of bonus points would have been an unlikely but welcome return.

The closing act was still to come however and with just a couple of minutes left, the by now creaking home defence was breached yet again so that Manchester ran in their own sixth try! The full set of conversions that Manchester chalked up made all the difference so that the lead was taken for the first time in the final play, making it 38-42 to a determined Manchester side.

Following on from the home/away double earned against Bowdon at Grove Park the previous weekend, a second double in such circumstances was very encouraging for the end of season run in, coincidentally against the league's top two clubs, Altrincham Kersal (h) and Liverpool St Helens (a),