Silva strikes gold as Moor maintain top spot.

The opening engagements were a foretaste of what was to come when Felipe Silva ran the ball out of defence and was only stopped after making at least 30 metres. At the ensuing scrum, Ashton backs encroached off-side to allow a penalty attempt by Martin Shelley. Unfortunately the ball slid a few inches past the left hand post.  Moor were not to be denied for long though as, from an Ashton scrum on half-way, Kieran McColl took a heel against the head, the backs were quickly fed and Phil Thomas made a break which took him to 10 metres from the Ashton line where Felipe Silva was up in support to take the pass and score. Martin Shelley converted.

The score remained at 7-0 for the next 25 minutes as Ashton forwards managed to gain the upper hand and prevent the quality possession that Moor‘s backs wanted. Moor’s attacks were largely brought about from running clearing kicks back at the Ashton defence. Ashton’s first cohesive back movement resulted in them being tackled into touch and Moor were able to relieve their lines when an Ashton player was penalized for preventing a quick throw.

On the half hour mark Moor went further ahead when a line-out on the 22 provided quick ball for the backs. After another break by Thomas, Silva was again on hand to take the pass and go over close to the posts. Again Shelley converted. The game was all but sealed 5 minutes later when Silva took a quick tapped penalty, made ground, fed Jamie Haynes who in turn fed Keith Young and who else but Silva appeared on his shoulder to take the pass and complete his hat-trick. Shelley again converted.

The last five minutes of the half were spent with Ashton forwards hammering the Moor line with a succession of 5 metre scrums and Moor were glad to reach the whistle with their line intact and the score 21-0.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first with the Ashton forwards making ground but for the most part Moor’s lighter pack held out and the Moor backs were always dangerous on the counter attack. Indeed only careless handling and silly penalties prevented Moor extending their lead. It was not until the 17th minute of the half that Moor made the game safe when Shelley kicked a loose ball on, Martin Snidal led the chase, recovered the ball and fed that man Silva who went over to complete a four-timer. Again Shelley converted.

Five minutes later Ashton gained their only score when a dropped ball 5 metres from Moor’s own line allowed an Ashton player to gather the ball and score an unconverted try. This was the last score of the game as strong tackling from both sides negated Ashton forwards and Moor backs from making progress.

Next Saturday sees the first team return to Green Lane with a home league game versus Old Bedians.