Leek's Joe Byrne scored the winning try as the North West beat the North East in the Big Match at Manchester rugby club on Saturday.

Byrne was joined by team-mate Oli Powell in a squad featuring the best of the Regional 1 North West league against their North East counterparts.

The North West led 21-14 at half time, but the scores were tied 28-28 late in the game before Byrne broke through for the decisive score, giving the North West a 35-28 win.