With the Buxton cry-off last week, Moor 3rds were ready for a game… or so the skipper thought! The usual early Saturday casualties left Moor with 17 to travel to Sandbach – it must be noted that no players were called up to the 2nds following selection on Tuesday, which must be a first for this season.

The match referee turned out to be the Sandbach Chairman, Tim, who did a good job on the day, with good communication and good overall control. He advised the scrum halves to attempt to hide the feed at scrummage, upon which advice Turners gallantly told the ref that he would inform him of his own intention to feed clearly at every scrum.

Moor looked sharper from the kick off and began to establish control, culminating in an early pressure try as Rick Lindsay ghosted over to give Moor a 5-0 lead. Heath missed the conversion from the right of the posts. Moor were granted a series of penalties as the home forwards sought to spoil Moor’s possession, and frequent infringements could have culminated in yellow cards. Moor didn’t exactly take their foot off the gas, but they did begin to make basic errors on a frequent basis, especially the normally dependable Heath at first-five-eighth, who seemed unable to hit touch with any kick.

Such poor clearance led to Sandbach evening up the scores as their forwards crashed over from a series of mauly-rucky things (as forwards do) after Moor continuously failed to clear their lines. It was clear that the day would be won by the forwards, and Moor picked up the urgency to compete up front, although they struggled to get support with the ball carrier on enough occasions to produce dangerous ball for the backs.

Moor struggled to maintain territory and often made poor decisions which allowed the much-improved home team to launch forays deep into the Moor half. Against the run of play, Moor managed to retain possession in the home 22 and scored an opportunistic try as the home team were penalised for offside at the ruck. Turner, returning to the team at 9 in place of the injured Kondratowicz, tapped the ball and passed to Sq. Ldr. Heath who brought Chabal onto the ball at pace – a despairing tackle was brushed aside and Howard Powered towards the line, using his strength to restore Moor’s lead. Heath hit the upright with an unlucky conversion attempt. The lead was short-lived, however, as the impressive Sandbach Colts scrum half took advantage of the veteran opposition to jink beautifully for a try from a scrum on the Moor 22. The Sandbach skipper converted to give the home side a 12-10 lead at half time.

The Moor half time message was to get more players around the park in support so that the home spoiling tactics would be negated. This didn’t exactly happen as Moor made too many sloppy mistakes and failed to protect possession, allowing Sandbach to dictate territory. Tommy Taylor came on in the front row to make his debut, and Ray Wood returned from a long lay-off due to injury early in the second half. It suddenly looked like we were going to fall apart in the scrummage, but, all credit to the lads, they sorted it out and carried the battle well in the face of a physically larger pack.

The game deteriorated into a midfield war, with both sides looking to capitalise on the mistakes of the other, but neither looking like scoring from open, creative play. Moor’s backs, starved of decent ball, didn’t really have a clue what to do when possession came their way – too many people standing flat and not really doing the basics well. The mistake tally for both sides increased as tiredness took over, and it was clear that one score would decide the match.

Chances were created, and disappeared in a puff of Aladdin’s Lamp’s smoke. Nothing seemed to go right for either team.

And so… desperation ensued and more mistakes turned the game into an even scrappier affair.  Moor pushed deep into the home 22 with 4 minutes on the clock, then gave away a penalty (offside) just as the pressure looked like resulting in some points! Sandbach scrambled away to the other end of the park, and Moor’s opportunity seemed lost. However, turnover ball enabled Moor to push deep into home territory once again, following a well-struck clearance from Heath (it’s a pity he took so long to find his punting boots). Sandbach again cleared their lines and looked like running the clock down until Moor turned them over in a maul. From the counter-attack, a penalty ensued, 35 metres out on the right wing, and the ref declared that there wasn’t time for a lineout, so it was the last play. With limited options (and even more limited ability), Heath decided to attempt a kick at goal, and elected himself as the kicker.

Now, we’ve all watched poncy fly-halves and Brylcreem Backs step up to take the glory at the end of close matches, and Heath’s compadres showed no confidence whatsoever in his ability to strike the ball cleanly throught the uprights to sneak a 1 point victory. Heath at least tried to look the part, giving some exotic hand movements to show the intended direction of the ball before attempting to kick it. Everyone on the park knew it was the final act of the match. Thje Squadron Leader composed himself then approached the ball…  a complete miss-hit! The ball spiralled to the left of the posts as Heath had bent it like Beckham, and the home side sniggered in response to the dreadful execution of the goal attempt. However… they seemed to forget that the ball was still alive, and their premature celebrations were short-lived as the ever-alert-never-say-die Tom Ireland pounced on the bouncing ball, handed off a forlorn tackler and powered over for a try in the left wing corner.

Heath, having scuffed the kick so badly (as previously planned with his Colts back-row Captain), had already turned away in dismay and defeat, only to be delighted as his lads on the touchline informed him of the Irish try.

Un-bloody-believable! The home lads were parrot-fashion, sick as, and Moor found it difficult not to smile having snatched an undeserved victory. Moor cannot afford to play with such little regard for territory, technique and possession if they are to maintain 3^rd position in the league and challenge the top teams as the season enters its second half. Next week – away at Wilmslow – a real tester.

Man of the match?  Welcome back to Charlie, Turners and Woody. Well done on debut for Matt and Tommy T. Tom Ireland bossed the park as usual, and deserves M-O-M for being on the same wavelength as his skipper and coach to sneak the try at the end.