DESPITE Tyldesley's 43-19 defeat at home to Southport, every player can hold their heads high, after a gutsy and never give in attitude had them compete well for the majority of the game.

With a mass of first team unavailabilities, the odds were always going to be stacked against Tyldesley before a ball was kicked which got even greater after just six minutes, when Bongs received a red card, meaning they had to play out the remainder of the match with fourteen.

Bongs took an early lead, after an excellent break from Carl Redford, was finished off by Harry Hutton, conversion missed.

Tyldesley’s joy was short lived due to Jack Kirkpatrick receiving a red, for a tip tackle, but despite there being no malice intended, the match official gave him his marching orders.

With the game just into the second quarter, Southport took the lead through a converted try, then missed with a penalty, minutes later, has they started to turn the screw.

During the last five minutes Bongs regained the lead, after Matt Soulsby, caught the defence napping with a quickly taken tap penalty, Scott Brown added the conversion.

Southport came back and recorded their second seven point try, giving them a two point cushion with half all but up.

Tyldesley could have gone into the break in front, but Brown narrowly missed a penalty, with the last kick of the half. Half time 12-14.

Southport started the second half on top, pegging Tyldesley back, through some good kicks and used the extra man advantage effectively, which resulted in three tries, two converted, giving them 12-33 lead with fifty minutes played.

With most expecting the flood gates to open, Tyldesley, regrouped and started to have some excellent spells.

Great interplay between Hutton and Soulsby, instigated a good break, but Soulsby was stopped inches from the line, although superb support, found the line through Matt Crampton, Brown added the extra two, with a fantastic touchline conversion.

Southport crossed for another two, with them receiving a yellow in-between, whilst Tyldesley finished the game with twelve, after they received two yellows during the last five minutes, but thankfully no further scores was conceded.

MOM Rob Jones

Next week Tyldesley host Widnes. Kick off 3pm