Trafford MV pipped at the post in nail biter at Heaton Moor

By Wilf Dooley

In excellent conditions for playing rugby Trafford MV (TMV) travelled to Heaton Moor with full focus on bringing league points home in a crucial relegation battle game.

Trafford started well and opened the scoring early with a good driving maul that just kept going from outside the home ’22 Jimmy Craven claiming the score and Pat Eccles converting 0 – 7. Heaton Moor responded and heavy pressure eventually broke down MV’s valiant defence 5 – 7.

TMV were playing well and again exerted good pressure and Micah Dyos sneakily evaded defence from close range to touch down, conversion missed MV 5 – 12 ahead. Trafford were hit with a yellow card for hooker James Halsall and the resultant penalty brought Moor to 8-12.

It was a good forward battle and Trafford were defending against a probing home attack. Trafford edged further ahead when No 8 Micah Dyos scored again with the conversion rebounding off the upright 8 – 17.

Breathes had hardly been regathered before Moor attacked immediately scoring wide right and missing the conversion 13 – 17. On stroke of half time Trafford captain and scrum half Pat Eccles scurried over in the left corner from the base of a breakdown and converts 13-24 at the break.

The pressure was telling on the home side and following a flare up in tempers both sides collected yellow cards. Trafford were soon caught cold when a simple pass interchange at the front of a lineout saw the Moor hooker stroll over, the conversion brought them right back in at 20 – 24.

Trafford built pressure in attack once moor and continuous possession stretched the home defence for centre Joe Walls to crash over under the posts and Eccles converted 20 – 31.

Trafford needed to keep cool heads now with 7 mins to play but it seems the God’s were against them once more ! As Moor drove into the Trafford ’22 a driving maul 10 yards from the MV line went to ground and the referee blew for a penalty try with a full MV defence in play. Dumbfounded, Trafford were now leading narrowly with minutes to go 27 – 31.

With less than 2 minutes left to play Heaton Moor went ahead for the first time in the game as they scored a try wide left and missed the conversion 32 – 31 to snatch the game. The referee blew the final whistle as Trafford were about to take their expected restart to deny any last chance to recoup the game.

Micah Dyos with 2 tries was Trafford MV’s Player of the Match and a good all round performance was made by the whole team. Four yellow cards contributed to the defeat and Trafford can only look on this as another one that got away.

Two losing bonus points was little reward but the battle continues and now Trafford have their eyes set on Aspull and New Brighton with just 4 games left to play in the season.