With Tyldesley holding second spot in the league, having only lost one game, Moor rose to the occasion playing their best rugby of the season so far. After 10 minutes, Moor’s three-quarters showed their potential when centre Phil Thomas broke through two tackles for an unconverted try. An exchange of penalties over the next 20 minutes was to produce a score of 8-6 for Moor.

Excellent scrummaging then created turnover ball, which was put to good use as fullback Martin Snidal sidestepped two defenders for a try, again unconverted. Just before half-time, Moor gave away unnecessary penalties that took the visitors into Moor’s 22 where they forced their way over for an unconverted try to reduce the margin to 13-11. A feature of Moor’s first half display was their defence, particularly by their backs who disrupted their opposite numbers.

Moor extended the lead 5 minutes into the second half when lineout ball quickly went through the hands of fly-half Martin Shelley and Snidal for centre Petr Stourac to burst over, Shelley converting. Finding themselves 9 points adrift, the visitors were forced onto the offensive, being helped in some measure by Moor’s decision to kick possession away. Tyldesley reduced the margin when their fullback rode a tackle to force his way over to score a converted try and then a chip ahead into Moor’s 22 was snapped up for a try which put them 3 points ahead with time running out. Moor’s hopes were raised when Shelley kicked a penalty from the half way, but from the restart, Moor’s failure to clear the ball allowed the visitor’s fly-half to drop a goal to snatch victory with the last play of the game. Having dominated play for over half of the game, Moor were disappointed with the result, but if they can reproduce this performance, they can look forward to the rest of the season with confidence, starting at Oldham this Saturday.