Manchester (0) 5 Manchester University (19) 24

While the game provided the opportunity for Manchester to field five new players, the students were able to take advantage of the settling down period, building up a 19-0 lead at half time.

As the game progressed however, Manchester developed their play and became more and more difficult to break down as the established and new players gelled. The nineteen point gap at the restart was maintained by the University, but the second half “draw” at one try apiece was a much fairer reflection of the match.

Manchester in fact spent the last ten minutes in the visitor’s 22 and were frustrated not to get the final try, despite being held up on the line several times. Without doubt Manchester finished the stronger team and will be looking to build on their promising second half performance in the games to come.