Last-minute drop goal puts an end to Reds’ unbeaten record

The more experienced visitors raced into a 12-0 lead after only 10 minutes.

Their skill was evident as they launched anattack on the right side defence, and the centre found a gap to score without a hand being laid on him.

The second try, again, was the result of a perfectly-executed handling movement, from the base of the scrum.

The home team rose to the challenge and hit back with some punishing runs from the forwards.

Some big hits in defence saw the Miners spill the ball in their own 20. From the scrum, the Reds exerted some pressure, and the impressive Sam Walker beat several defenders and, in the tackle, reached out to place the ball on the line. Marcus Farnworth converted.

Only some impressive defence by Richard Murray and Ian Coates in the centres prevented Miners from extending their lead, but the hosts were very much back in the game.

Some neat footwork by loose forward Danny Rowland saw him breach the defence deep in his own half. He outpaced the covering defence to score under the posts, converted by Farnworth to tie the scores.

Burnley and Pendle shocked the visitors by scoring direct from the kick-off. Another break from deep by Rowland split the defence, and he offloaded to Walker for his second try, converted, to take the lead 18-12.

Clock Face redoubled their efforts, but defensive pressure caused the Miners to spill the ball on one of their forays into the red zone. From the scrum, the powerful Murray burst through the tackle and sprinted 70 metres to score. The try was once again converted to stretch the lead to 24-12.

As half-time approached, once again, the home tryline was put under great pressure by the big Miners forwards, and a fumbled ball was pounced on for the visitors to crash over to close the gap.

The half time break seemed to galvanise the visitors, and when the home side were penalised for ball stripping. from the resulting penalty, the classy scrum half turned the ball back inside to a strong running attacker, beating the wrong-footed defence to score under the posts.

With the game heading for a draw, a knock on in the locals’ own 20 resulted in a scrum, and the ball was cooly slotted over the bar to win the game.