A game of two Halves! 

Maybe it was crossing the time zones to Glossop or the early kick off time on a cold winter’s morning but Heaton Moor took a long time to warm up and start playing to their normal standards. Glossop took advantage of our sleepy start and their skilful backs ran in their first try in the first minute of the game. Our forwards worked their way into the game and started providing a solid platform with some excellent rucking and mauling, with Joe Hayward, Jack Briggs and Sean Aggett working well as a unit at the breakdown. Our front row of Ollie Nilan, Aiden O’ Malley and Sam Smith then started to control the set pieces at the scrum and line out. 

Despite this increasing control our usual reliable backs kept misfiring and dropped passes and a couple of missed tackles saw Glossop score a further try before half time. 

After half time our forwards kept up the pressure with Aiden putting in some storming runs down the touchline, but against the run of play Glossop scored again and went 21 points up. Rather than letting heads go down Heaton Moor started to move into gear as a team with the backs making better use of the forwards hard work. Great forward / back interplay found Casey Cornwall on the half way line, and following a weaving run he scored our first try. 

As the half went on it became all Moor, and despite injuries to Dan McDonough, Chris Williams and Sam Smith, the team kept up momentum with Ellis Astall providing some strong runs from full back. With Nye Parfitt in great form, giving good distribution and Dan McDonough back on the pitch, another great forward effort saw Jack Briggs pop up a lovely pass to Owen John to drive over for a try from close quarters.  

This half was a real squad effort with strong performances from Aengus Laverty, Jordon Murray and Ciaran Connelly, who was injured showing his usual bravery, keeping up the standard. Now it was a race against time and with the backs storming the Glossop line to support our forward pressure it looked like we would get the third try to draw the game but the whistle went with Moor camped on the Glossop try line. 

It was a really close game and once again our forwards showed real character and greater presence, and once our backs clicked into action we played some very good team rugby – well done everybody and let’s make sure we start our next game as we ended this one!   

Try Scorers:

Casey Cornwall 1

Owen John 1 

Tacklers: 

Owen John 6

Dan McDonough 5

Jack Briggs 4

Joe Hayward 3

Sean Aggett 3