Moore 2nd XV 24 - 14 Warrington 3rd XV

With a partisan crowd cheering on both sides, storm Callum was trying with all his might but even the strong winds didn’t hindering the spirit and passion on and off the pitch.

So with a moderate breeze at their backs Warrington’s social part timers set about the task manfully with hard lines of running from the forwards featuring rugby league legend John Done and exquisite tactical kicking from Farrell and Murphy. This proved fruitful after good work from the pack, centre Dave Hartill picked the line of the year to dissect the defence to score under the posts. Farrell slotted the extras and is yet to miss a kick at goal this season. 0-7 with 15 mins played. Then with a shift in momentum, no doubt due to better fitness from Moore’s regular players, the home team started to press hard and with some good work out wide they cross to open their account. The kick however only managed to terrify the moles that reside at Moore’s pitch. 5-7.With the halftime whistle imminent the pressure from Moore’s fitter pack was too much and Warrington, despite defending like gallant gladiators, gave away a penalty and with Warrington’s tired troops slowly regaining their feet, the penalty was tapped quickly and dotted down before Warrington realised. 10-7 Moore this time the kicker managed to get the ball airborne, 12-7 half time.

The rest did Warrington well and it took until the hour mark for the tins to rattle again, unfortunately it was for the home side who again showed ability not unfamiliar to a higher level of match, from an ambitious clearance kick from Matty Drinkwater, the ball was caught well inside the Moore half only for the back three to combine in precision not normally found in the social arena to carve Warrington defenders apart and slide over for the first points of the half. 17-7 again no mistake made for the conversion 19-7. Surprisingly this gave Warrington’s casuals a second wind, the response was as brutal as it was breathtaking with hits and hard lines from all areas of the pitch and after some great phase play Nick Roberts dummied his way over with a yard of pace to give the traveling crowd a reason to cheer. 19-22. Farrell clearly fatherhood has focused his eyesight nonchalantly nudged the extras from 15m in. 19-14. With time running down and the tanks all but empty Moore’s heavy set prop made easy work swatting the tired tacklers off left and right. The kicker proved that the first attempt was merely an apparition in an otherwise faultless display from the boot.

With the final whistle blown it brought a great game full of all that you would expect from a neighbours derby. Moore take the spoils. 26-14

Man of the Match
Chosen by
Andy Kellett

Dave Murphy