Moor make history

Last Saturday, Moor players met bleary-eyed at 7:00 a.m.

Vagabonds (IoM) 3 - Heaton Moor 118

Last Saturday, Moor players met bleary-eyed at 7:00 a.m. on a damp morning prior to flying out to the Isle of Man to play bottom-of-the-table Vagabonds, not realising that they would return with a club record of points scored and points difference for a win. Although they had never beaten Vagas on their home turf, the Green Lane side have started well this season and were cautiously optimistic about the outcome, especially as coach Mark Edwards had a nearly full-strength squad to select from. Due to the time of the return flight, the game had to kick off at noon, but Moor still had an adequate warm-up period to prepare for what was to prove a very one-sided match.

Moor took control of the game from the kick-ff and soon opened their account with a debut try from centre Lyle Sutherland, converted by scrum-half and captain, Danny Child. Shortly afterwards, the home side did kick a penalty goal, but this was to be the last time they troubled the scoreboard, as Moor proceeded to rack up points almost every time they launched an attack and reached the 50-point mark by half-time; the interval score being 50-3.

Unlike other recent games when Moor players have appeared to take their foot off the pedal in the second half, this time they continued right through to the end, scoring more points in the second period than in the first. A highlight of the performance throughout the game was the unselfishness of players who repeatedly broke through the defensive cover, but instead of seeking glory for themselves, offloaded to others to finish off the move. Noticeable amongst these were fly-half Jack Wilson and wing-forward Kingsley Child and for their efforts were awarded the joint MOM award. Another player who was prominent in keeping the pressure on the opposition, helping to set up a platform from which the Moor backs profited immensely, was No. 8 Ben Jones. The final try of the day was scored by veteran replacement forward Will Pacey, one of only three forwards to score, as the back line helped themselves to a total of 15 tries, with every member of that section scoring. Vagas have lost a number of players over this and last season and on the day were unable to provide an effective opposition, but as the old adage goes ‘you can only play what is in front of you’ and this Moor did clinically and ruthlessly.

There were hat-tricks for Chris Sutton and Perkins Joseph, with two tries each for Lyle Sutherland, David Adebo, Ollie Reynolds and Danny Child, who converted 14 of the 18 tries scored, giving him a personal tally of 38 points, and a try each for Jack Wilson, Kingsley Child, Mike Maguire and Will Pacey as Moor scored a club record 118-3, beating the previous one of 103-6, scored against Anchor in the Lancashire Cup way back in season 1971-72. However, the participants of that victory will no doubt remind those of this one that 20 tries were scored in that game and they only counted for 4 points then!

Next week, Moor come back down to earth when they play away at Orrell in the quarter-final of the Lancashire Plate Competition, k.o. 3:00 p.m.

David Todd