Heagerty left disappointed by thriller

RUGBY UNION ALEXANDER HANNAH MACCLESFIELD Blues head coach Giles Heagerty was again left disappointed after his team came away with another loss at Priory Park after putting themselves in a strong position at the break.

The Blues were up by two points at half time against Cinderford thanks to two tries from vicecaptain Jordan Brookes and one a piece for Josh Fowles and Ollie Fewtrell.

“To go in winning at half time from 22-5 down showed a lot of character and rugby ability, we played some brilliant stuff and Ollie Fewtrell scored an outstanding solo try. In the second half we didn’t touch the ball early on but then when we did Rhodri Mayor scored a try. But after that we didn’t touch it for nearly 20 minutes and by that point the game had gone.”

Heagerty admitted that from a neutral point of view the game will have been brilliant, but said scoring five tries at home should not result in a defeat.

“We’ve scored five tries and lost. For the neutral it was brilliant, 75 points in the glorious sunshine, happy days. We lacked control, we came under pressure at the scrum and I’m not too sure why, it didn’t necessarily decide the game but it had a big impact on the momentum of the game and we know that plays a very big part. We’ve played some sublime rugby in parts but fair play to Cinderford they came and had a game plan and executed it.”

Besides being the final home game of the season, it was also a the final game as a player for Chris Jones who will take up a coaching role at the club and the final game at home for head of rehabilitation Caron Doyle.

The Blues have one final game left of this National One campaign, and Heagerty hopes that his side can give one last big effort before they can enjoy a couple of months off.

“We’ve got two practices left and then 80 minutes, before two months off. Weve got to count the costs of today, we’ve had a couple of nasty bumps but we’ve got to dust ourselves off one last time and give a big final 80 minutes of National One rugby.”