Nailbiting end to a close match sees Moor remain unbeaten at the top of the league.

Moor came very close to surrendering their unbeaten league record to a much-improved Birchfield side. Playing on a school-sized pitch, the home side used their large and well-drilled pack to good effect, whilst Moor’s more expansive style was restricted.

The Widnes-based side opened the scoring with a pushover try from a 5-metre scrum after 10 minutes, the conversion putting them 7 points ahead. This was extended by a snap drop-goal on the half hour. Minutes later, Martin Shelley converted a long-range penalty chance to post a 3-10 half-time score.

In the second half, Moor began to exert more control over the game, but not before Birchfield increased their lead with a scrambled try after 10 minutes. Line-out dominance, particularly by skipper James MacIntosh, paid dividends on the quarter hour when a tap down at 5 metres was taken by prop Joe James who sensibly took the blindside option to score in the corner. The 7-point deficit was further reduced after 20 minutes when winger Ivan Smetana sped down the touchline from halfway to score wide out.

A combination of more controlled play from a rearranged pack and increased indiscipline from the frustrated home side, gave Moor 3 penalty chances in the final quarter hour, one of which was converted by Shelley, to put them 16-15 ahead. A nail-biting finish ensued as Birchfield opted for a long-range penalty with the final play. Fortunately it dropped short allowing Moor to keep their unbeaten record and top of the league position.

This Saturday, Moor welcome Garstang for the first time to