Garstang found Trafford MV too hot to handle at a wild and wet MacPherson Park on Saturday.

MV started brightly and early possession allowed Tom Armstrong to open a gap. Swift interpassing gave winger Jamie Kingdon a clear 20 yard sprint for the posts. Fullback Ben Wheeler converted for a 7-0 lead.

MV forward pressure brought a lineout close to Garstang’s line where MV ball was driven on and veteran flanker John Kevan burst off the maul to put the hosts 12-0 ahead.

Spirited Garstang put MV under pressure from the restart and good forward work narrowed the scoreline to 12-5.

Despite playing into a gale, Ben Wheeler’s boot gave MV good field position and from a lineout they created room on the blind side for scrum half Jack Barber to scurry over and extend the lead to 20-5.

Leading up to half time MV’s forwards gave a glimpse of what they could do as Paul Davenport and Mike Boyle worked the sweetest of switch moves which left hooker Tom Willgoss with very little to do apart from cross the line for a comfortable 25-5 lead at the break.

The second half continued in similar vein with MV dominating. Good recycled ball allowed winger Gaz Bevan to add an early score and MV’s man of the match Armstrong got his toe to a loose ball then won the foot chase to get the touchdown and take the scoreline to 39-5.

Armstrong doubled his tally when good play between forwards and backs was finished with a loop around, Bevan and Armstrong outpacing the cover to score in the corner.

MV’s 44-5 lead was improved yet again as impressive centre Jack Gallagher hit a good running line to split the defence and leave himself with only the full back to beat – a ferocious hand off cleared the last line of defence and Gallagher crashed over the white line, taking the score to 51-5.

MV brought Aaron Fagan on as a late substitute and what a thorn in the Garstang side he proved to be.

Numerous strong runs from Fagan put Garstang on the back foot and he burst over only minutes after taking the field.

MV had saved the best for last, however, and their 10th try of the afternoon came when a a well-rehearsed backs move worked to perfection, allowing captain and full back Wheeler to enter the attacking line and cut a course through the Garstang defence untouched to finalise MV’s tally at 63-5.

MV’s seconds lost a close encounter against Rossendale 8-10 while the third’s were disappointed to slip off top spot losing out to highly-rated Wilmslow 18-7.

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