The second half was the complete opposite of the first with Tyldesley dominating all facets of play. It appeared that the visitors expected Tyldesley to roll over as they were attempting to throw the ball about recklessly and Tyldesley sensed a chance as possession was being handed to them at regular intervals.

With only 6 minutes of the half played a break from the base of the scrum by Soulsby was shipped through 5 pairs of hands and through good backing up, Tom Baker to show a clean pair of heels and score by the posts for a score converted by Crampton to put Tyldesley back in the game.

With Wilmslow still trying to play an expansive game without a secure platform Tyldesley were forcing error after error from the visitors and eventually got the reward their effort deserved when man of the match Bishop came up from the bottom of a pile of bodies following a rolling maul to put Tyldesley within a point. Crampton’s conversion put Tyldesley ahead with 12 minutes remaining.

When you are at the wrong end of the table closing out matches can become alien to teams and so it proved on Saturday. With two minutes remaining and with a drop out Tyldesley found touch directly and from the resultant scrum Wilmslow worked an opening for winger Kennedy to score the decisive try.

Despite 6 minutes of added time Tyldesley could not work a field position to pressurise Wilmslow and yet another potential two points went begging.

Very hard to bear but there were some admirable performances with Bishop and Boyle leading the way in the pack and the return of Brown from injury added some much needed bite in the tackle. Sargent and Fisher in the centres looked assured throughout the game and Baker playing at fly half did an excellent job of keeping Tyldesley moving forward.

There are still sufficient games left to avoid relegation but every one is now becoming must win. Next week Tyldesley visit a resurgent Vale of Lune the scene of one of their best victories in recent years, another tough task but with the right attitude and application one which can be achieved.