THERE is still a long way to go, but after being involved in and coming through two extremely tough back to back encounters, against previous league leaders, Tyldesley now become the third side, in as many weeks, to sit in top spot.

Last week’s great win, away to Hoylake, would have meant nothing, in many ways, had Bongs failed to secure another vital win, in what is now slowly turning into a four horse race for the title, with just five points separating them.

They defeated Liverpool Collegiate 15-10 after starting the better of the two sides.

They should have crossed for the first points of the day, but a poor pass, put paid to promising advance.

Collegiate had several good advances throughout the half, testing the hosts to the limit, and took the lead via a good seven point try, in the thirteenth minute.

Both sides continued to press hard, but cancelled each other out, on many occasion, through some well organised defending, with no further points being recorded, until the half hour mark.

Tyldesley made good inroads and pushed Liverpool back. A great ball from Paul Martin found Ash Worsfold, who then looped the ball over for Mark Dickinson to touch down. Martin converted, bringing the scores level.

Collegiate regained the lead after dissecting the posts with a penalty, but yet again, Tyldesley came back, and should have touched down for a second, but a very harsh call, for a forward pass, had a second genuine opportunity go begging.

With the half all but up and Tyldesley on the front foot, Dickinson received the ball, before striking it superbly, for a very wise and clever drop goal; from thirty meters out, bringing the scores level yet again, Half time 10-10

Tyldesley had the better of the second half, territory wise, but continued solid defending, made points very hard to come by, for both, in what was another very entertaining and bruising forty minutes.

Bongs missed the chance to further their lead, after an early penalty attempt sailed wide, not long after a yellow card reduced them to fourteen, but to a man they stood the test, as Collegiate tried in vain to take advantage of their numerical advantage.

With just eight remaining and the scores still nervously tide, Tyldesley got their just reward for a very good five minutes of intense pressure, with both the forwards and backs combining superbly, before Dickinson crossed the line, for a brilliant team score, for what tuned out to be the match winner, in what was a superb and very even contest.

Mom Zack Sargent