3s start season with a hard-earned win.

It's never easy getting a decent team out to start the season, and today was no exception - it wasn't easy and the team wasn't decent! Teams play on grass, not on paper, so sometimes it is kidology to pretend that a team on paper will 'gel' enough to perform on grass... this one did, by golly!

Pre-season training has gone very well - but not many of today's selection were there to witness it. The usual cry-offs did little to help us, as normally dependable players had to represent the club at higher levels, but this team took to the task with relish, confidence, aggression and a will to win.

Picture this - the pre-match talk is delivered by the skipper, who also happens to be the referee... pure 'village' as the cricketers would say. Steve Darwin looks like he's just been awarded the best recruit sword in the SAS - running twice daily eh?... serves him right for not drinking clean water. Ziggy texts from his local hostelry - "just got the text, already in the boozer, call me for next week mate!". Rick and Jaz - the Frankenstein Twins - more stitches than a WI Duvet. Fortune returns in brothel trousers and pseudo-linen shirt, good job he doesn't play like a woolly woofter!

The 'Perm-any-15-From-What's-Available' 15 take the field and are down 7 points in the first 3 minutes. Is this a day of revelry for the Burnage boys? Well, it would have been, but for the home fires burning. The Moor defence after the Burnage salvo in the first 15 minutes was immense. Try-saving tackles flew in everywhere and the team grew in confidence. A thrust into the Burnage 22 saw quick ball released from a ruck - textbook draw-and-pass from the waiting backs fed Steve Reed with an easy try in the corner. Then Joe Lynch refused a nailed-on try by cutting back inside to get tackled short (silly bugger!), and Tony Grimsley was cut down within 2 metres of the line following good Moor interplay.

Both teams suffered from injuries and the scrummage had to go uncontested for a while until Jim Somerwill dragged himself on to hook for the Moor. It's just as well that he did, because uncontested seemed to suit the visitors (strangely - as they always produce strong forwards). Some big hits went in from Chuddy, Reynolds, Lindsay and Grimsley (who knocked out his opponent through sheer exuberance and excellent driving technique) which resulted in turnover ball, but Moor were slow to take advantage. Burnage regained the lead after half time and looked set to dominate territory and possession with their forward powerplay.

Moor needed to release their quicker backs, and eventually managed to do so as the visitors' pack tired.  Replacement Maz Kondratowicz used his pace to set up scoring opportunities, and SAS Darwin gave 2 try scoring passes as Moor overhauled the Burnage lead. Daniello Silva powered through hard despairing tackles to score near the corner flag on his debut - well deserved through his excellent support play. Jaz and Maz weaved their way to tries - pace will win any day!  Liam Reynolds had the run of the match - an amazing display of pace, power, fast feet and aggression took him to within 10 metres of the Burnage line having fielded the ball in his own 22 - what we'd give to have his talent on display every week!

There's not much else to be said, other than the skipper was very proud of his team's display as witnessed from the back end of a whistle!

Well done, lads, let's keep up the good work and build upon our excellent start against Aldwinians next week.

MOM - Daniello Silva, for a cracking display of open-side rugby, turning over ball, making great tackles, carrying the ball with aggression and scoring on debut!