Without a contested scrum the game never really started for the Melbourne pack as any momentum was taken out of the game in the set piece.

Melbourne did try and use the fixture to their advantage and tried different combinations in their back line and line-out play, this proved to work well within the first few minutes when a good catch and drive from the Aylestone 22mtr line saw the forwards carry the ball to within a metre of the try line, quick ball to the blind side and James "the tank" Thornton scored in the corner 5:0.

This was to be the only score of the first half, although Melbourne dominated field position they couldn't seem to break the Aylestone defence. Paul Macer limped off just before half time with a hamstring injury and Dean Sylvester returned after a 3 week lay-off into the backrow.

The 2nd half started alot brighter for the home side, the forwards making better yards with the ball from the much improved lineout plays, Robin Clayborn made alot of ground from the front of the line.

Melbourne scored two more tries in the 2nd half, another from James Thornton that was converted by Perry and from a back row move Andy Fulton drew the last Aylestone defender and passed to Andy Watts who scored out wide, this made the score 17:0 to Melbourne.

Aylestone did score a late try of their own, their full back coming into the back line creating the overlap, the Aylestone winger eventually scoring under the posts and converting 17:7.

Although the win is good for morale the game never really started as a physical match with the lack of scrums.

A tough month lies ahead for the green and golds with a full league fixture throughout November, better performances than this will be required to keep Melbourne near the top of the league.