TYLDESLEY maintained their pressure on league leaders De La Salle with their ninth consecutive league victory as South Manchester side Bedians were defeated 29-0 at a muddy Well Street.

Again the heavy conditions favoured the visiting side with the game gradually getting slower as the pitch deteriorated.

Tyldesley opened the scoring with a try created from some good work in the pack that resulted in scrum half Lee Cunliffe spinning the ball wide for winger Gary Corbett to sail in at the corner. Moments later a loose pass sailed into the hands of fly-half Dave Sivill who raced 30 metres unopposed to score under the posts for a try converted by Eddie Wallbank.

Muster

Good work in midfield and strong running from Lee West saw Tyldesley march back up the field and a set move in the forwards allowed flanker Craig Pulman to power to the line for another try. Five minutes before the break a carbon copy move of the first try of the day brought Corbett his second and ninth try of the season.

The second half became a grind with Tyldesley unable to maintain a flowing pattern and Bedians defending well in what became the closest thing to trench warfare you are likely to see. The Tyldesley forwards did manage to muster one decent play and Cunliffe slipped the ball to loose forward Darren Edge who crashed over near the posts.

With the darkness descending the home side failed to make their now constant pressure pay off and had to settle for not even allowing Bedians a glimmer of a chance in the final quarter of the match.

Next Saturday Tyldesley visit Bury hoping for drier weather and a flatter pitch which will allow their powerful backline some space to run in. Tyldesley seconds travelled to Bedians and despite playing the better rugby Tyldesley allowed the home side to come from behind to earn a 24-24 draw.

Winger Graham Harrop landed his 11th try in nine games with a brace added to scores from Brent Broadhurst and Steve Pulman, Harrop also landed two conversions. Tyldesley thirds yet again had the dreaded phone call from Bedians saying they couldn't raise a team to travel to Tyldesley.