Lacklustre Thirds lose heavily

Heaton Moor 60 Buxton 5

Another away game another defeat for the thirds. Buxton travelled hopefully as Heaton Moor were only just above them in the league, but things began to look ominous when it was realised that Moor’s second XV game had been cancelled and that they had enough substitutes to film a biblical epic. Even so it was a lacklustre performance on a good pitch considering the weather conditions of late. The defence which had been exemplary in previous weeks went awol. At one point the thirds were conceding tries faster than the supermarkets were dumping Jade Goodies perfumes.

It had begun quite promisingly. For the first ten minutes Buxton held their own and even dominated the territory. With Buxton having a solid base in the set piece, Heaton Moors first try came against the run of play. It was a long range effort which came from turnover ball. And that was the story of the afternoon. The pack worked hard to win possession,as soon as it was taken into contact it was lost and as Heaton Moor counterattacked the defence missed the crucial first up tackles. Within the half hour the game was over as a contest and it showed.

On the plus side there were some good individual performances. Ian Henderson did a solid job reverting to his favoured position at the back of the scrum. Buxton's only try came from a trademark Henderson close range drive and he burrowed through the defence to score.

Dan Gyte was outstanding, especially in defence. His tackling is ferocious and he never gives up. On the other wing Jon Dawson was as solid in defence and bravely counterattacked when he got the chance.

Matt Poole took up the challenge of the number ten shirt and grew in stature as the game progressed, his probing kicks over the advancing defence on another day could prove very effective.

Wayne Dilworth battled bravely all afternoon, and a word has to be said for the front row. Bearman fresh from his trip down under joined Uprichard and Fussell. Moor changed their front row three times but got nothing from the Buxton trio and spent large parts of the second half being put under considerable pressure.

Next week the thirds are at home to Bowden. Even with the advantage that Lilliput gives them it will take a hundred percent improvement if they are to get anything from the game. And just to add to the interest Sandbach recorded their second win to bring them within eight points of Buxton.

Buxton were Bearman, Uprichard, Fussell, Dilworth, Taylor (Brendan), Allen, Charles, Henderson. Preece, Poole, Dawson, Stratford, Weston, Gyte, Bennison