Colts beaten but unbowed at Altrincham
ALT KERSAL ............... 21 HM JNR COLTS .......... 17
HEATON Moor’s junior colts winless start to the season continued when they lost out narrowly to Altrincham Kersal in a game of two halves very much dictated by a strong breeze.
The Stockport boys began well. Assisted by the strong wind, they put their opponents under a lot of pressure playing a running game.
Six minutes in, Asa Bottomley scored a fantastic try after great work by the Kilbride brothers and Bob Berry.
Indeed, they were dominating the exchanges, the forwards providing a strong platform, notably Connor Bailey again having a fine game at flanker.
Things got better for Heaton Moor on twenty-six minutes. A lineout win on the far side of the field ended up on the other side of the pitch, a sweeping move and Dylan Starkie deftly touching down. Nick Tenney added the conversion to give Moor a twelvepoint lead before having to come off for a nasty rib injury.
Just before half time, Bottomley broke from his own half, looking like he was going to go all the way before a great tackle, but his quick thinking released Joe Kilbride who then popped to Starkie for his second try. A healthy 17-point lead at half time.
On the resumption, Moor were immediately under pressure. The Altrincham boys obviously realised their predicament and stepped up. They pulled a converted try back within four minutes and this score vividly lifting their spirits.
Their fly half was starting to pin Moor back with some sensational kicks behind the defence.
But Moor were holding them off well, some massive hits by Glanfield and Coffey and Loftus also carrying the fight. But the pressure eventually told, the Kersal fly-half was starting to dictate terms and from one massive kick to touch, the ensuing lineout provided the basis for another converted try.
It was going to be a long last fifteen minutes. Five minutes from time and Altrincham took the lead, a strong set piece and the try came through good work from their second-row giant.
It was looking bleak now, and Kersal were trying to get another score but a fantastic block by Evan Coffey on a kick, led to Emilio Ramirez breaking on the wing. Suddenly Moor were pushing Kersal back but just could not get the winning score as Altrincham held firm on their own line.
So, another defeat, but Moor colts deserve huge credit for a good performance and in tricky conditions, the difference was two conversions after the two teams shared six tries. Hopefully this will be the catalyst as the team prepare to take on Fylde in the Cup next week.