Merchants on top

No-one was quite sure whether it was wetter in the Mersey or by it asMerchant Taylors got the better of old rivals Birkenhead 29-5.

The visitorshad great start when Alistair Olive finished off nine phases of play afterjust two minutes and further tries from Matthew Cornwall and Ryan Ruttergave them a 19-5 half time lead.

The wet conditions led to many mistakes inthe second half but a try apiece plus a conversion and penalty from NeilHunter made the final score 29-5.

Merchants now entertain Sandbach who hadan impressive 43-5 win at St Edward's, Liverpool.

Lymm had too muchexperience for a battling Mosslands and won 52-0 to set up a big game withManchester Grammar while Hutton take advantage of a bye into the fourthround after a comfortable 48-0 win over Kirbie Kendal.