Netherhall concede league game and 'friendly' ensues with comfortable Moor victory.

Moor entertained Netherhall at Green Lane last Saturday in what should have been the first reverse league match of the season. In the event however, the game was reduced to a ‘friendly’ as the Maryport-based side had conceded the game the day before because they were unable to field a full front row and under league rules, Moor were awarded a 0-0 win before the game had even kicked off. To their credit, Netherhall still travelled down from Cumbria and Moor provided them with the necessary personnel to fulfil the fixture.

Anxious to wipe away the memories of their poor performance the week before and to maybe increase upon the margin of victory they had against their opponents earlier in the season, Moor were soon dominating all phases of the game, but had to wait nearly 15 minutes before they were on the score sheet. This came from a try by centre Petr Stourac, converted by scrum–half Shaun Stirrup, following a flowing move by the three-quarter line. Thereafter, Moor scored pretty regularly, clocking up another four tries before half-time, all converted by Stirrup, and should have had even more had they not over-elaborated some of their moves. Scorers were back row Adam Crawford, a second for Stourac, a fine individual effort by winger Chris Ogden-Smith and the final one in injury time at the interval by fly-half Zander Claassen, in what was to prove to be the first of three. The visitors contributed fully to the contest and attempted to play a similarly open game whenever possible and were rewarded with two tries, one converted, in this period. Both were instigated by their lively, MOM scrum-half Tony Nicholson, with kicks over the advancing Moor defence, to make the score 35-12 to Moor at the break.

The second half followed a similar pattern to that of the first, with Moor scoring a further six tries, but with conversions either being attempted only half-heartedly or not at all, Moor chose not to try and maximise their advantage. Scorers were winger Felipe Silva, number 8 Keith Young, full-back Martin Shelley, centre Martin Snidal and Claassen, completing his hat-trick. Fittingly, Nicholson scored a consolation try following a scrum 5 metres from the Moor line, which was converted, to reduce the deficit, and the home side ran out comfortable 65-19 victors when the referee blew up with some 4 minutes left on the clock.

Moor resume their travels next Saturday when they play at Kirkby Lonsdale, k.o. 2:15 p.m., in the first of three crucial matches against Cumbrian teams either side of the Christmas break.

Moor’s other senior sides also had emphatic wins on Saturday. The 2^nd XV won 47-17 at Broughton Park, with tries from Chris Sutton (2), Tom Ireland (2), Phil Butcher, Tom Smith, Paul Hine and Phil Thomas, the latter also adding a penalty and two conversions and the 3^rd XV defeated Littleborough 3^rds 55-10 at Green Lane, with tries from Tom Ormesby (3), Anel Idriz (2), Stevie Gilbert, Sean Jobson, Jack Pipe and six conversions and a penalty from Alex Murphy.