Moor move to 3rd in league with win over Aldwinians.

In a change from the usual long journey to Cumbria, Moor made the short trip to Droylsden on Saturday to play Aldwinians, making it as close to a derby match as they get in their league and with the advantage of already beating the opposition this season when they knocked them out of the Lancashire Trophy competition at the end of August.

The usual pattern to Moor’s games this season was soon apparent as the home side’s pack dominated possession and position but Moor adequately cut out most threats and in turn the pace of their back line posed an even greater threat to Aldwinians. As early as the fourth minute, Moor opened their account when the ball was passed quickly down the three-quarter line to winger Ivan Smetana who easily rounded his opposite number to score in the corner, fly-half Shaun Stirrup missing the conversion. Moor never then relinquished the lead as the opposition only managed a solitary penalty before the interval; this coming after 10 minutes which was then nullified by one from Stirrup midway through the half. The lead was extended when, following a number of rucks, the ball was switched down the blind side for inside centre Petr Stourac to barge his way over for an unconverted try in the corner. Moor continued to soak up the pressure being applied by the opposition and made it to the break 13-3 in the lead.

The Green Lane side stretched their lead 8 minutes into the second half when the ball found Stourac who made a break, drew a defender and timed his pass superbly to fellow-centre Nick Smith who sped in to score under the posts, converted by Stirrup. Moor’s task became even harder as constant pressure by Aldwinians forced them into conceding a number of penalties and they had two players yellow-carded at different times in this half. During the first of these, the home side scored their only points in the second period when, following a scrum 5 metres from the Moor line, one of their back-row players picked up to drive over the line for a converted try. Moor sealed the game however deep into injury time, as Aldwinians had a pass intercepted by the ever-present Stourac, who raced away to score under the posts, converted by Stirrup, and the 27-10 win took them into third place in the league.