Walney Central picked up the points with a 52-16 win over Haydock at Central Drive in the Premier Division of the North West Men's League last Saturday, but the visitors put up a gallant fight despite having arrived with only ten players.

What looked at one stage to be heading for a massive cricket score for the Cents against their depleted opponents never really materialised until the latter stages of the second half.

Walney soon shot into a 20-0 lead then Haydock were reduced to nine men when Gary Anderson was sin-binned for back chatting. However, with a player less they did cross the Cents' line for an unconverted try.

Walney were soon up and running, going ahead when Jordan Staffieri broke through to score an unconverted try. Jamie Morrow was next over the line for the hosts, with Matty Elliott adding the goal for 10-0.

Haydock, who had Anderson sin-binned were struggling and conceded further tries through Matt Solsby and Stu Tippett with Staffieri adding one goal to extend the lead 20-0.

The visitors then came back briefly and after prop Adam Brown had gone close, in nipped Darren Rotherham from the play the ball, 20-4. They almost got over two minutes later but Brown couldn’t ground the ball with five defenders hanging on.

They did cross through Brown with Scott Johnson adding the goal 20-10, as Walney slackened off.

However, with half-time approaching, the hosts got their act together and Tippett went in for his second unconverted try to extend the lead to 24-10 at the break.

Into the second half, Tippett broke on halfway to leave defenders grasping at thin air to score and complete his hat-trick.

Elliott then showed a clean pair of heels to go deep and send Jack Rushton in by the posts, making Staffieri's goal an easy one, 34-10.

The ten men of Haydock never threw the towel in and were rewarded for their hard work with a try from Mike Sexton, converted by Johnson, 34-16.

Old head Mike Whitehead then surprised all by putting in a deep kick to the corner for Corey McCallister to score. Staffieri adding the goal to take Cents up to 40 points.

Tippett then broke again on half way to release Elliott to touch down by the posts, Staffieri adding the goal 46-16.

And to round off the scoring, Elliott's long ball found McCallister to go in at the corner and bring up the half-century, Staffieri adding one final goal to finish off a much-needed win for Walney.

Ellis Rea, although not receiving much ball on the wing, had a sound game in defence.