Last kick takes the points in Cumbrian slog.

For the second successive away game of the season, Moor travelled to the west Cumbrian coast on Saturday, this time to play Workington. Games between the sides have usually been close with the hosts relying on a large pack to dominate possession, whilst the Green Lane side have relied on a quick back line to keep them in the hunt. As it turned out, this game was to be no exception, with the result in doubt until the last kick of the game.

For most of the first half the Zebras’ forwards were able to keep the visitors pinned in their own territory and as early as the third minute had taken the lead with a penalty, but this was to be reversed within 5 minutes as Moor, on their first real excursion into their opposition’s half, won a line-out and the ball was swiftly passed down their three-quarter line where outside centre Felipe Silva outpaced the cover to score under the posts, converted by scrum-half Shaun Stirrup. This lead was to continue until the half-hour mark when a third penalty for the home side edged them ahead 9-7 and this remained the score at the interval.

More of the same was to unfold in the second half as Workington had the majority of possession and position, but effective defensive work by Moor kept them at bay. With 15 minutes to go this sustained pressure did pay off however, as an uncharacteristic missed tackle allowed the Zebras’ outside centre to run through and score a converted try under the posts. This setback seemed to sting Moor into action as for the next 10 minutes they produced their best rugby of the game and sustained pressure on the home side’s line was rewarded with a try for centre Petr Stourac, the conversion by Stirrup going just wide. Moor then took the lead in dramatic fashion as having fielded the kick-off, the ball was kicked back up field and a fortunate bounce enabled fly-half Martin Shelley to collect and sprint in to score out wide, the conversion being missed. This set up a grandstand finish and in the fifth minute of injury time, Workington were rewarded with a penalty that was kicked, for them to snatch the lead back and win the match 19-17.

Next Saturday, Moor are at home to St. Benedicts, k.o. 3:00 pm.