Following another week of miserable weather Tarleton v Hutton was one of only two games to be played in North Lancs. 1 on Saturday, mainly due to Hutton sportingly agreeing to switch the fixture to Carr Lane which had survived the deluge.
The weather, though cold was dry but it chose to start snowing 10 minutes before kick-off.
Tarleton had several enforced changes from last week and from the kick off they knew that they were up against a side that were ‘up’ for this fixture.
The first 10 minutes saw both teams playing to their game plans but cold hands and good defences stifled any chances for either side. It was from a steady scrum for Tarleton that saw quick ball spread wide along the back line into the hands of George Skofic who side stepped the Hutton full-back to score a good opening try.
Hutton were playing some good phases of rugby and a decisive break by their No. 13 set up an equalising try for their winger in the corner. With 20 minutes gone it was all square.
Hutton looked the most likely team to score in the next 15 minutes and their probing kicks were causing Tarleton some problems. Two instances of indiscipline at the breakdown gifted Hutton two kickable penalties that should have seen them take the lead but both attempts slid by either upright.
Tarleton began to exert pressure on the Hutton scrums and from am Hutton put in they turned the ball over and following three phases of forwards driving forward the ball came to Hugo castle who crashed over to score. The half time whistle saw Tarleton with a narrow 10-5 lead which was probably against the run of play at that time.
The second half saw Tarleton start to create holes in the Hutton defence and the forwards were messing up most line-outs and scrums so the Hutton backs were surviving on scraps.
A clearance kick from the Hutton 22 was gathered by Tom Crowe who went on a barrelling run clearing a path through Huttons defence, a good off-load from the tackle to the supporting Archie Skofic saw him over the whitewash to score a good try and increase the lead to 15-5 to Tarleton.
Tarleton had another good spell of pressure and a break by Hugo Castle and a quick flick pass by Chris Gordon saw Archie Skofic in space 8 metres out and he went over for his second try to give Tarleton a 20-5 lead.
Hutton came again and tested the Tarleton defence on several occasions but Tarleton managed to keep them out for the remainder of the game and no more points were scored.
Tarleton welcome Littleborough to Carr Lane next Saturday and will need to be at their best if they are to get anything from this opposition who have won 11 from 11 so far.
The seconds are back in action with a trip to Oldham for their fixture.