Moor celebrate Lancs Cup win
HEATON Moor are Junior Colts 2018 Lancashire Cup champions after a pulsating encounter at Eccles at the weekend.
There were heroes all over the pitch in a battle which raged from the first whistle to the last, two teams totally committed to their club cause and it was a shame there had to be a loser.
The game started at a hectic pace, Blackburn making the early running, a penalty giving them a very early lead after just three minutes.
But Heaton Moor struck back after ten minutes, Asa Bottomley and James Bellis creating for Bob Berry to charge over for a morale-boosting try.
Blackburn then hit back with a try after 17 mins which was duly converted. Tackles were ferocious at this point by both sides, a brilliant sporting spectacle! Nick Tenney struck a penalty five minutes before the short whistle, added bonus of a yellow card to the Blackburn centre for a deliberate knock on!
Heaton Moor finished the half well with only a two-point deficit, Blackburn probably the marginally better side
The two sides had a well-earned breather before renewing their battle in the second half.
The Moor coaching staff made four huge changes at the break which proved decisive with Joe Kilbride and Sam Sheppard dominating, also Dom Rafferty at scrum half and Jake Barrett at hooker.
Seven minutes in, Jono Glanfield crossed after a brilliant forwards drive, one of many lineouts presented beautifully by Shane Ennis to re-take the lead by three points. But half-way through the second half, the game turned again.
Blackburn capitalised on Dominic Rafferty boxkick which was remarkably held up in the wind and scored a try to make it 15 to 13, Moor had it all to do! But, almost instantly, Moor stepped up a notch, some terrific tackles by colossal skipper Tenney whose turnover rate was exceptional on the day and Dylan Starkie, provided the platform for spectacular tries by firstly Will Smith and Bob Berry, Berry’s the result of a wonder catch by Tom Whitehead and an almighty break from Asa Bottomley.
Moor now had a twoscore cushion entering the final five minutes. Blackburn pulled a penalty back but another exciting Heaton Moor move involving the entire back line, resulted in the try of the day by super sub Will Smith, his second of the afternoon! Quite breath-taking rugby and a perfect way to seal a memorable victory!
Congratulations to all the Heaton Moor players and their coaching staff on a fantastic achievement, their second County trophy in consecutive years.