There were two memorable trips to France in May 1973 and May 1975. A few weeks before the first visit the Club received an invitation from the Racing Club de Versailles to take part in their Tournoi International de Rugby. The invitation included an offer to pay for the accommodation of the players and some officials. Moor officials thought that the invitation was too good to be true and that it must have been sent to the wrong club. However, after translation and further investigation the invitation proved to be genuine and arrangements were hastily made for the trip. The main party made the rather laborious four-day round trip in a coach which had been fitted with a speed governor, whilst other members flew to Paris on two-day bargain break packages. The Moor party all met up together in Versailles for a fabulous weekend which included a Civic Reception at the Town Hall and wonderful hospitality throughout the whole stay. The quadrangular tournament was played in the very fine Mountbauron Stadium and the three other clubs taking part were the host club, Saint-Germain and Cardiff HSOB.

To everyone's delight, Heaton Moor won the tournament with victories over Racing Club de Versailles (12-6) and the other French team, Saint-Germain (36-4). Winger Geoff Costello scored a total of five tries in the two games. Mike Bishop was unable to make the trip so Ron Dickson, the Second XV Captain and former first team full¬back, skippered the side and did a superb job as well as providing himself with a fitting finale to his playing career. His position as a brewery employee also ensured that the team coaches for both the Versailles trips were well stocked up with liquid refreshments.

Ron was a good servant of the Club for many years as player, touch-judge and administrator and his defection to Davenport some years ago was disappointing. A Versailles Victory Hot Pot Supper was held at the Club in June 1973. The 1973/74 season was arguably Moor's best ever season and certainly a record-breaking one. A total of 810 points scored is a record for the Club, as is the twenty-eight wins. Also a record is twenty-one year old Peter Cholerton's tremendous total of 364 points in a season (356 from kicks). The First XV played forty-six games, which is also a record, and should not detract from the other records, which were gained on a very strong fixture list. The side was skippered by Brian Wilkinson who later played for Sale & Cheshire. He was an inspirational back-row forward who led by example. Brian's vice-captain was another talented player Mike Bishop, a former Oxford University scrum-half, who played most of the season at fly-half in order to accommodate Cholerton at scrum-half. Noel Atkinson had the good fortune to be in his second year as President during this remarkable season.
The highlight of the season was a tremendous Lancashire Cup run.

Following three away wins (Manchester 16-13, Kersal 41-land Leigh 13-0) Moor were drawn at home in the quarter-finals against a highly-rated Fylde side. A very large and enthusiastic crowd saw Moor give a superb display and run out convincing 34-15 winners with Peter Cholerton kicking 19 points. The reward was a semi-final draw against Waterloo at Broughton Park. Moor were 12-9 down shortly after half-time when they were depleted through the loss of Brian Wilkinson with a dislocated shoulder. It was only in injury time that Waterloo, the eventual cup winners, made the game safe with two tries to give a rather flattering 24-9 score line.

Charlie Hanley had been joined by Ken Jones, a former Manchester & Lancashire player, to form a formidable coaching partnership. Their influence was most noticeable in the cup run when the pre-match planning and mental preparation was superb. The players' coach slopped en-route to each of the cup venues for a pre-match lunch and team-talk, which ensured that the players were fully focused each time they look to the field. Another memorable feature of the cup run was a decorated double-decker bus full of vociferous supporters who followed the team to the cup matches.

There were several other events of note during 1973/74. Reg Hall was honoured for his services to the County by being elected Lancashire President and he had alongside him Jim Walsh who was in his final year as County Secretary after seven years service. Cholerton became the first Moor player for several seasons to figure in a final county trial and his 13 points enabled The Rest to gain a surprise 21 -16 win over Lancashire at Orrell. In February 1974, the Club were hosts to Boston Massachusetts R.U.F.C., winning 19-6. Dr Ian Nixon, who captained Moor in 1966/67, should have captained the American side, but unfortunately he fractured an ankle a few days prior to the game and was a reluctant spectator. As usual the Club entered the Manchester 'Sevens' and gained what was probably their best-ever sevens result with a 12-6 defeat of a Sale side containing two internationals plus five county players. Unfortunately Moor lost to Wilmslow in the quarter-finals. The Club Dinner was held in February 1974 at the Valley Lodge Hotel, Wilmslow, when our principal guest was Tony Neary, the British Lions star. Sadly two Past-Presidents, Jim Marsh (1964-66) and Walter Deacon (1968-70) and a Vice-President, Alf Bullivant, all passed away during the year.

1973/74 was a truly memorable season and almost certainly the peak of the Club's achievements to date.  It is therefore very pleasing that so many key members of that successful side can still be seen regularly at Green Lane some twenty-five years later. They include Colin Beer, Geoff Costello, Graham Drage, Roger Judson, John Royle, Brian Wilkinson and Roger Wilkinson. Our Club Solicitor, Philip Davies, was also a member of that great team.

The Club received another invitation to Paris in 1975, when the three other teams taking part were Racing Club de Versailles, the Portuguese team Belenenses Lisbon and another French side, C.A.O. Saint-Cyr. The Club was much more prepared and organised on this occasion and the luxurious Manchester United team coach was hired for the trip complete with bar, toilet, dining tables, etc. On returning, the coach was used by the England soccer team, who were staying in Manchester prior to playing an International Match in Belfast. Skipper Mike Bishop was able to take a strong and youthful side and once again Moor won the competition with wins over Saint-Cyr (33-4) and Versailles (25-0) in the final. Wingers Charlie Beadle and David Belfield were the leading try-scorers with a total of three each over the two games. Teenager Paul Roberts, who made his first team debut in December 1974, was at full-back in both games and kicked a total of 15 points. Paul, a prodigious goal-kicker, went on to enjoy a long and successful playing career with the Club. Playing at prop in both games was Paul Barlow who now lives on Green Lane and is still a regular supporter at our home games. The Tour Manager for both the Versailles trips was Bill Maynard who organised the visits in his usual efficient manner. Racing Club de Versailles were due to visit Heaton Moor in September 1974 but the trip was called off at the eleventh hour, without a satisfactory explanation. Even the French club's President, Jean-Claude Seguier, was left in the dark as he had arrived at Green Lane having cut short a family holiday in Scotland.