From the off, Southport set the tone with captain Lauren McCluskey claiming the kick off and bundling forward whilst literally running over an opposite back row player, Faye Dagnall set the forwards in motion but Didsbury had their wits about them and no 12 stripped theI ball in Southport's half to put them on the front foot. The resulting scrum was turned over by hooker Lisa Dunkley (which was an early indication for Didsbury of how the afternoons scrums would go), "Daggers" laid it back for Zoe Corfield to clear Southport lines with a neat kick out of play up in Didsbury half.

Didsbury came back strong and marshalled their way in Southport's 22 area, last line defending stopping them short and Claire Stewart managed to jackal her way in a ruck to turn the ball over, referree deeming the ball had been touched down over the try line offered Didsbury a scrum and the last opportunity they would get all game. Didsbury took their chance and crossed the white wash to the right of the posts after some intricate draw and pass movement in the centres. The conversion struck the post and Southport came out of the blocks determined to make amends.

First half played our pretty much in Didsbury half with a number of line breaks but Southport lacked that decisive last pass to take them into the red zone, stand in fly half Zoe doing a fantastic job marshalling the backs around the pitch while the forwards punched holes in the opposite defensive line, Moggy Morris had Didsbury at sorts with a signature dummy and charge.

Unfortunately Louise Gray limped off with a knee injury adding to Southport injury list woes; having started to have an impact in open play. This opened up the opportunity for Emma Fay to show the Southport supporters what she could do after a short stint with the club and she didnt disappoint, her first touch of the ball put Helen McIntrye through half a gap which was made bigger by "Daddys" unorthodoxed step and spin technique, this took Southport right into Didsbury 22 metre line, Daggers set the pack moving right but Natalie Burns straightened and then headed left where there was space for her to take in and beat 4 drifting defenders only to be taken by the recovering fullback, Louise Palmer covered the ruck perfectly to give Daggers clean ball and the platform to get the pack moving forward again. A few drives in had Southport 5 metres out when Italian moma Claire Stewart picked the ball from the base, fainted right and then steam rolled left crashing over for a deserved Southport try in the left corner.

The remaining minutes played out with a number of scrums which Lisa Dunkley was winning for and against the head by now, Zoe laying the ball up for centres Emma Barisio and sulking Aussie Alice Kirkman (no one dared mentioned the All blacks) who pierced the Didsbury line a number of times with strong lines but were unable to find that decisive move/pass.

The second half started with Didsbury prop surprising Southport down the blind side but a fantastic cover tackle by fullback Racheal Porter stopped her in her tracks of a certain try, Southport were scrambling but Didsbury over zealous pack messed up the ruck allowing Lisa Dunkley to pounce and claim the ball after the back foot had come in front of the ball, Daggers pounced and set the ball up for Dory to put a clearing kick in which didnt make touch but the chase was excellent and Southport forced a knock on from the fullback to give themselves space to breathe and compose themselves.

The resulting scrum led to a penalty after referree deemed Didsbury to have "lost" their bind and dropped the scrum, quick thinking Daggers set off running at the offside defence which led to a second penalty which despite sideline cheers couldnt be taken quickly again. Skipper Lauren correctly opting for a kick to touch which Dory happily nudged through to take Southport into the red zone.

As had been the case all day Southport again dominated the set piece with Dunks to Moggy in the line setting up a rolling maul which had Didsbury worried, Dory took an early peel left and headed straight for the back line who managed to bring her down, Daggers switched play back right through quick hands but Didsbury managed to edge play out into touch.

The remaining 15 minutes saw Southport pressuring in 22 with a number of opportunities but couldnt deliver the final blow, Moggy delivered a turn over line out but has had often been the case Didsbury Player of match, outside centre came to the rescue to stop an advancing back move between Emma and Casper after the pack had put then on the front foot.

A number of scrums and line outs continued to be claimed in Southports favour, from the hard work of the pack in paticular front 3 Moggy, Dunks and Claire Stewart who went on to claim a deserving three fold Player of match award; the telling score arrived from a turned over scrum with Lauren picking from the base to peel left, fullback Rachel taking the next drive to the line and Dory edging others out to take the next hit up and land just short of the line, Claire Stewart took the initiative and nicked the try right under the Didsbury defences nose. The relief clear to see as frustration turned to joy. Dory added he extras to leave Southport needing to see out the final few minutes for a deserving win.

They done this without any further events and played intelligently with ball in hands and strong rucks to recycle for the next drive, final play call came and Dory put ball to boot to bring proceedings to an end.

The win takes Southport top of the table stretching their undefeated streak.