Moor fall short in the teeth of Dukinfield gale

MOOR travelled the short distance to Dukinfield on Saturday to play a side who, after a poor start, are now rapidly climbing up the league table and a team who they have yet to beat in the league over the last couple of seasons.

Played out in strong winds, it was apparent that the match would be more suited to forward play and not one for free-running backs, an area where Moor have excelled this season.

With no game at Green Lane, Moor had brought a larger than normal band of supporters with them, some suitably attired, but the majority ill-equipped for the conditions.

However, whatever was lacking in Everest-style clothing was more than made up for in vocal support as Moor kickedoff down the slope into the gale.

Early exchanges favoured the visitors as they came close to scoring on a couple of occasions in the opening minutes, but solid defence by the home side and unforced errors, perhaps understandable in the conditions, prevented Moor from opening their account. Moor’s pressure began to tell and they were rewarded with two penalties in quick succession midway through the half.

The first would normally have resulted in a reasonably straightforward attempt at goal, but given the situation, a kick to touch was taken and although the subsequent lineout was won, Moor were penalised just as they set up their driving maul, to once again deny them a possibility of scoring.

The second was much nearer the posts and this time scrum-half Shaun Stirrup slotted the kick between the uprights for Moor to take the lead.

That Dukinfield were not often able to use the wind to their advantage in this first period was due to the fact Moor were able to deprive them of any useful ball, as their forwards and backs kept play tight, not risking anything too expansive.

Shortly before the interval, Moor’s backs did launch an attack down the right and when finally stopped on the opposition’s 22, their forwards were there in numbers to set up repeated phases, resulting in No. 8 Ben Jones crashing over for an unconverted try, leaving Moor with an 8-0 lead at half-time.

From the restart and with the wind now behind them, albeit playing up the slope, Moor continued where they had left off and to their watching supporters, it felt as if it would only be a matter of time before the lead was increased.

This seemed extremely likely when Moor won a lineout metres from the Dukinfield line, but as the driving maul edged even closer, the ball was spilt forward and was pounced upon by the home side’s scrum-half who recycled it quickly along his back line. With the referee playing an advantage and Moor caught out in an attacking formation, Dukinfield took play deep into their opponent’s half, before the ball was cleared into touch.

From the resulting lineout, Dukinfield were awarded a free-kick, which was quickly taken and the ball passed along their back line, only for Moor to miss a tackle, resulting in an unconverted try.

From this point, the whole tenure of the game changed, as the home side took charge, using their larger forwards to good effect.

They repeatedly laid siege to the Moor line, but the latter’s defence held out and just as it seemed as if Moor might hold on to their narrow lead, they were again put under extreme pressure in a series of scrums just short of their line.

When a couple of these resulted in a penalty, Dukinfield elected to retake them and on the third such offence, the referee awarded a penalty try.

This then set up a grandstand finish, as for the last 10 minutes, Moor wrestled control back and in turn were camped on their opponent’s line. Try as they might however, they were not able to break through, Dukinfield running out winners.

Moor did have the consolation of securing a losing bonus-point.

Moor play the first of two consecutive home derbies next week, as they host Marple at Green Lane, 2.15pm kick off.