It looks closer than it was. And at 20-7 at half-time it also looks like Wilmslow nearly threw it all away.

But the Wolves built a healthy half time lead in the midst of a gale and were robbed of a handful of try-scoring opportunities in the second.

Two late tries saw the Isle of Man side come close at the end, but Wilmslow hung on to retain their unbeaten record and stay top of the table.

With closest rivals Burnage losing at Widnes, the Wolves now have a four-point cushion at the top of the league.

This weekend Wilmslow travel to 10th-placed Ruskin Park, who lost 23-19 at Aspull on Saturday.

Fly-half Bob MacCallum opened Wilmslow’s account with an early penalty, and followed it up with a try which he converted himself.

Vagabonds replied with a converted try, but full-back Ben Day scored his tenth of the season and winger Dan Hargreaves touched down just before the break to give Wilmslow a 13-point lead.

Playing with the wind in the second half, the Wolves pinned Vagabonds in their own territory. They were aggrieved not to increase their lead with another Ben Day try, disallowed for an alleged forward pass.

The home side got back into the match, scoring two tries in the last 10 minutes to ensure a nail-biting finish. But the Wolves held on to retain their unbeaten record.

Skipper Steve Braddock said the game went almost to plan: "I chose to play into the wind in the first half, in the hope that we could keep the ball to ourselves, drive into their territory and build a lead for half-time, which is what we did.

"In the second half, we got a bit complacent and lost our shape, allowing Vagabonds to come back at us.

"They turned out to be one of the strongest sides we have played all season. They were all over us in the ruck and forcing us to turn over ball.

"They just didn’t give up.

"That’s when I got the lads together and told them that this would be a test of our resolve. That was one of the most pleasing aspects of the game for me.

"When questions were asked, we answered them. They tested our resolve and we passed.

"We can’t go to Ruskin Park this week resting on our laurels. We must not go there thinking we’re top of the table and they’re two off the bottom. We have got to keep this ball rolling.

"The season has only just started and there’s a long way to go yet. We are going to lose players through availability and injury, so we have to build this lead while we can."


* The Vikings thumped Leigh in an eight-try massacre at Pownall Park. Skipper Rob Milner chipped in with 17 points from seven conversions and a penalty.

Scrum-half Christian Walsh (2), centre Richard Valentine (2), winger Chris Dickens, centre Sam Boyd, fly-half Josh Longmore, and No 8 Ben Eckroyd were the try scorers.

Wilmslow’s Hawks lost 14-12 at Heaton Moor.