Moor, for a change, started this match with an overflowing bench which afforded the Squadron Leader some flexibility in his approach to gaining another win against a very youthful Bedes outfit. Bedes won the toss and elected to play with a strong wind at their backs rustling the tired runner beans and cabbage leaves in the allotments.

Moor forced the early pressure nevertheless and the stronger forwards began to dominate, especially in the scrummage. However, it took a while to settle, and Moor were guilty of trying to play at too frenetic a pace which resulted in some scoring opportunities going astray. The early game plan worked effectively with Moor running the ball back towards the forwards – a little more pick and drive would have worked a treat, but the Bedes lads were quick to fly over the top and kill the ball (which was a tactic that worked well for them when under pressure on their own line). Moor’s pressure paid dividends when reasonably quick ruck ball was sent down the line for Mark Graham (are those sideys real???) to bluster over to open the scoring. The match then rumbled into a stalemate phase where Moor probably had the best of territory but couldn’t break the strong defence of the younger, more mobile outfit. Bedes began to get to the breakdown in numbers and managed to turn over a fair bit of ball as Moor struggled to match the pace of their play. Bedes eventually worked a good field position and forced a try on the narrow side after Moor over-committed to the maul.

Bedes backed this up with a penalty soon after and it looked like they might take a half-time lead until Moor once again broke into and camped in the visitors’ 22. Yet another penalty was conceded and Squadron Leader Heath decided to let Jaz fetch out the sand wedge to even the scores with a penalty on half time. 

Moor made changes at half time and the impact was immediate. Heath kicked the home side into opposing territory with accuracy and regularity (sounds like a laxative, eh? - Yes, he's shit really!), and Moor’s runners were eager to threaten the line. Heath broke left from a turnover scrum and shimmied off his left peg then went right to hit a nice gap – the tackles flew in and his offload was desperately unlucky not to reach Moor hands with the line beckoning. Colts skipper, Tom Ireland, did his usual Houdini trick by disappearing into a maul and emerging with the ball to accelerate away down the left wing. Despairing tackles made no difference as he ‘Gumped’ (I couldn't say 'Forrested' because that accolade belongs to Butch) to the corner then, without changing pace, hung a right turn to gleefully score under the sticks. Actually, gleeful isn’t right. Tom has such high expectations of himself that he rarely breaks into anything more than a forced grimace on the field of play. I’m glad he’s on my side, anyway. Jaz slotted the conversion.

Ireland Jr. then gathered the resulting restart and set off on a magnificent run. He’s been watching Strictly Come Dancing – merging the Quickstep with the Foxtrot and adding a slice of Salsa hip he led the visitors on a merry chase which only ended with a slack piece of handling in the Bede’s 22. Len Goodman would have been stuck for words. Considerable pressure built on the left wing and the forwards once again did the damage as Stu ‘Pugwash’ Poole sniped off the side of a maul. With only 5 yards to go, the scrum-half didn’t stand a chance and assumed a Wile Coyote ear-droop stance as the Pugwash anvil bore down on him. Another 5 pointer, thank you very much.

Moor’s pack was now looking more dynamic and they used the ball to great effect with pick and drive working well. Bedes decided that they’d had enough and called for uncontested scrums. Tiny suggested we offer them a prop to keep the contest going – I don’t think their skipper was that daft! Chabal made a few great breaks running off the Squadron Leader, and Rick Lyndsay came to the party with some incisive breaks, pumping his legs to make more yardage than was his right. Pressure again told as Poole steamed over for his second.

Moor didn’t look too troubled in the second half but gifted the strong running Bedes centre a well-taken try through some ineffective tackling.

The final whistle and another good win, made all the sweeter by the fact that Wilmslow lost and are now only one point ahead but we have a game in hand. M-O-M has to go to Ireland Jr. for his 15 minute domination of the world at the start of the second half. He looked like he could have taken them on single-handed and must surely wear his undies outside his trousers (for impersonating a well-known superhero) when The Honorable Mr Bennett, QC,  next holds court.

On a welcoming note, the two Jameses had very good debuts and looked like they enjoyed their turnout. We hope that they will become solid members (Ooooer, Matron!) and will help the team and the club go from strength to strength.

Post Scriptum:

I forgot to mention yet more gaelic/celtic/neurotic/psychotic madness: The ever-keen Nolan, disappointed not to be brought into the back row, once again had to slum it on the wing. Now, as a long-standing back, I know what it's like standing long on the wing - often boring, never rewarded, always cold, and then comes your 10 seconds of glory... the superb stand-off launches an attack on your side and you see the overlap materialising like a blow-up-doll before your eyes. You reach into your pocket for the hidden tube of KY as you see the slick movement of your colleagues drawing their opponents, teasingly, then passing before contact. You stretch out your arms with the line and nothing else ahead to catch the perfectly weighted pass and... you drop it. That's wing play! That's KY! Still, it could be worse! You could try to fly-hack the ball and produce an air-shot then prance around doing the Gay Gordons over crossed sabres to vent your frustration. Wasn't Gay Gordon the one who drove Thunderbird 4??? Yus, M'Lady!!

Danny O-Ceans 11 - in the bar the nifty winger had a nifty finger in the nick - 3rd eye spotted by Higgy and the Squadron Leader!