WESTHOUGHTON Lions battled to a narrow 32-26 victory away to Rylands Sharks A on Saturday.

The Sharks went into the game above the Lions in North West Men's League Division Four before, but Westhoughton's win saw them climb to fourth and the Sharks drop to seventh.

It was a game of two halves, with Rylands dominating the first and the Lions taking the second by the scruff of the neck.

The Sharks opened the scoring after benefitting from a refereeing decision.

After the ball was dropped in midfield it was adjudged by the official to have come off a Sharks player's thigh.

A Rylands forward was the quickest to react to the bobbling ball and ran in from 20 yards, before the extras were added to make the score 6-0.

Westhoughton were causing themselves problems with cheap penalties and ill discipline, but they did manage to level the game.

Shaun Markland used his footwork to beat several defenders, before drawing the full-back and sending Scott Benyon in unchallenged under the posts.

Nicky Bullough converted and the game was even at 6-6.

But Rylands received further penalties, and with the advanced field position scored twice more to make the score 16-6 at the break.

In the second half the Lions were far greater focused and dominated in the forwards.

The first Lions try of the half came from a barnstorming 50-yard run by Matthew Meehan.

This was followed by scores from Nicky Bullough and Shaun Markland, giving Westhoughton a 22-16 lead.

The Sharks responded but the Lions defence held firm, and when leading scorer Ryan Berry ran in two more tries the game looked sealed.

With less than five minutes remaining the Sharks did bite back, and a nervy finish was assured when they ran in two tries of their own to make the score 32-26.

The Lions did hold on for their fourth win of the season, much to the delight of coach Geoff Sheelan.

He said: β€œIt was a great comeback victory. We nearly threw it away but that will to win and the confidence that comes with winning games is beginning to come to the fore, and it is that which helped us cross over the line for the victory.”