TRAFFORD MV played out high-scoring pre-season friendly against Windermere drawing 42-42.

It was an end-to-end battle which was staged in idyllic surroundings in Cumbria.

MV played with an understrength side with a number of key players unavailable and veterans Paul Murrell and Ollie Stuart getting call-ups.

The early stages looked as if the home side would have a rampant afternoon running in three early scores but MV gradually pulled themselves back into the game with the young MV players running hard at the home defence.

Both sides showed early season rustiness with some shoddy tackling and at the same time both sides tried to play expansive games running in frequent scores at both ends of the park.

MV were pleased to get another run-out and their final pre-season game will be at home on Tuesday at MacPherson Park when Ashton on Mersey visit.

Last week the Messenger reported how MV faced local rivals Bowden as part of their pre-season preparations.

MV had taken a selection of players from all their three regular teams and gave all players a fair run out.

It was 7-7 after the first quarter and despite MV giving some fringe players some game-time the middle quarters saw both teams working hard for superiority but neither got on top.

The final quarter saw both teams field their strongest XV's and again both sides managed a converted try keeping the scores level at the final whistle.

It was a good workout for both sets of players with MV possibly the happier of the two sides having held the higher rated opposition in all phases of the game.

On Saturday all eyes are focused on the Lancashire Plate when MV look to repeat last season's feat of reaching the final when they take on Burnley in the first round of the competition.

Trafford MV Hawks mini/junior rugby will start their season on September 6 at 10.30am.

With the Rugby World Cup only three weeks away MV are expecting to see a great wave of interest in Rugby Union and have been developing their coaching strength to accommodate a surge in new members.

If interested please take a look at the club's website www.pitchero.com/clubs/traffordmv.