Junior Colts held at home

Morley were held by their visitors in a game that turned out to be friendly in name only. A scrappy first half saw the home side miss the opportunity to take the lead with an early penalty, but then concede the opening points in a well worked move from the Heath backs that ended with a try in the corner.

Chances were few and far between but the hosts had to defend well for lengthy spells towards the end of the first half before coming close to their own breakthrough as Kieron McMahon was bundled into touch just short of the Heath line with the last action of the opening period.

Morley began the second half more brightly than their opponents and another lively run from McMahon ended in a last ditch tackle soon after the re-start. Some “needle” was already beginning to creep into the game by the time Morley Captain Harrison Baylis ended another McMahon charge with a neatly taken try to level the scores.

An ugly altercation involving several players from each side saw red cards for a Morley player and a Heath player, though the recipients seemed to be no more guilty than several others.

Each side missed long-range penalty kicks that would surely have won the game, before the referee brought the second half to a close with Morley on the attack, there having been no further addition to the scoreline.

Morley Head Coach Mike Bowen awarded the honour of Man of the Match to full back Luke Patterson, whose sure handling and all-round awareness enabled Morley to turn defence into attack on several occasions.