FOR their last home game of the year Little Hulton Reds hosted Rochdale Cobras and ended the match 28-12 winners.

Little Hulton are acquiring a reputation for being miserly hosts late in the season and so it proved as they saw off high flying Rochdale.

The first score came inside five minutes when Mike Bolton burst through the defence and Ben Cottam was stopped just short of the line, only for the ball to be moved to Mike Jones on the right and he scored the opening try, converted by Wes Winder.

But the Reds turned the ball over close to their own line and, though they held out initially, the pressure told and the Dale winger went over in the corner, a superb kick from touchline making it 6-6.

Bolton again crashed through the Cobras' defence and ground the ball close to the posts, Winder adding the extras.

Winder would have a hand in the next try too, kicking wide for the impressive Cottom juggle and then ground the ball. Winder's conversion made the half-time score 18-6 to the Reds.

The second half started with the Cobras applying pressure but they left themselves open to the counter attack and after Danny Jones stripped the ball close to his own line he went on a mazy run. Rochdale's numbers eventually told in defence but when Little Hulton created an overlap Mike Jones presented the hard working Gareth Hessian with the chance to score.

It came as no surprise when, after another cross-field kick from Winder, the lively Alan Hargreaves collected the ball spilled by a Cobras winger and raced over the line unopposed, Winder again converting.

In the closing minutes of the game Rochdale bagged a late consolation try to make the final score 28-12.

Little Hilton have one game of the season remaining, a fixture at Cadishead Rhinos on September 24.