Ramsey hit the top of South Lancashire/Cheshire Division 4 with a solid 43-8 home win over Port Sunlight.

Ben Harding, getting his first start of the season, got proceedings underway in the first minute. Sunlight were too traa di liooar with their clearance kick and when the ball was turned over Ben was on hand to race in under the sticks for a dream start. Ramsey then suffered injury setbacks. Steve Brew went off in the second minute and then Garry Vernon injured his knee when making a try saving tackle. Replacements Andy Wilson and Simon Hirtenstein were both called into action early and their introduction didn’t seem to affect Ramsey’s rhythm.

Thirteen minutes in and Ramsey were further in front. The visitors’ midfield parted like the Red Sea and gave Aneurin Pritchard a straight run in under the posts. Nick McCudden, deputising at ten for Fintan Cummins, banged over the conversion and things were starting to look rosy for Ramsey.

Jimmy Roberts sneaked a drop goal to open Sunlight’s account but that was quickly snuffed out when Ramsey skipper Tynan Pritchard exploded off the back of a five metre scrum and touched down to make it 17-3 which quickly tuned to 19-3 with McCudden’s conversion. Sunlight then showed it wasn’t all one way traffic. Ramsey failed to clear their lines properly and the ball was shipped wide to left wing Darren Thomas who went over to reduce the deficit to 19-8.

Ramsey however responded quickly and soon had the game in the bag by half time. Quick scores from Nick McCudden and Adam Yates plus a McCudden conversion saw the teams turn round with Ramsey 33-8 to the good.

The lead was quickly extended from the restart. Gareth Hinge stole Sunlight ball at the base of the scrum and this was quickly moved left before the defence could reorganise. Adam Yates was snared close to the line but skipper Tynan Pritchard was on hand to finish the move off with his second try of the game.

 Before the end, that man Pritchard picked up his hat trick. With Sunlight now desperately chasing the game, Aneurin Pritchard picked off a stray pass inside the visitors twenty two and his offload found baby brother Tynan in support to finish the day off in style.

With close rivals Parkonians losing to Linley, Ramsey now find themselves on top of the table albeit only on points difference. Their big test will come on 6 December when West Park Warriors visit the Mooragh, although there is the small matter of St Mary’s Old Boys between now and then.