Heaton Moor 37 - Colts 31
Crewe and Nantwich RUFC Academy Colts headed to Heaton Moor RUFC on Sunday the 16thknowing they needed a win against one of the top two teams to keep the aim of a top three finish in the Halbro League Preliminaries on track.

From the kick off, C&N showed straight away that they had listened and learned at training. With the ball going wide through the hands, a series of backs runs saw Ben Digby pushing hard up the left pulling the defence over. A change of direction saw the ball go back right to the forwards, who set up Nigel Ngoni on the wing to go over in the corner for his well-deserved first try for the club. With Toby Evans converting, C&N led by 7 after 5 minutes.

Heaton Moor then went to work, going down the field and forcing a penalty for not rolling away quick work by the forwards saw them pick and go to get their first try. With the C&N defence sitting back too much, this was quickly followed by them going over in the corner, having worked the ball wide through hard running centres.
C&N stuck to their game plan though and continued to work the ball through hands, looking to exploit gaps in the Heaton Moor defence. But as the first half loomed and with a few creaks in the C&N set piece, our hosts again found space and forced over to lead 26 – 7 at half time.

The half time talk was about staying with the attack plan and waking up in defence. From the kick off, Cai Owen set the example with some major tackles, was matched across the pitch by strong hard defence and probing runs in attack. C&N soon had a reward for the effort, as the backs again trusted themselves and each other to go wide and up the pitch, before setting up Jacob Belfield-Upton to push over with the forwards for a great team try. With Toby taking the extras, the score looked a little more respectable at 26 – 14

They call a penalty against you just after you have scored a “Coach Killer”, with Heaton getting 3 points straight back, C&N had to take a deep breath and go again. But with growing confidence the backs ran at Heaton Moor, a strong carry by Harry Oxley took the play close to the Heaton Moor line where a quick tap and go on a penalty advantage saw Thomas Hollins force his way over to score, though the extras could not be taken the score was 26 – 19

Another “Coach Killer” penalty saw Heaton Moor go back to a 10 point lead, but again C&N showed determination to stay in the game. A well worked lineout drive pushed C&N up the pitch, where the forwards set up a drive for Robert Hough that was well defenced by Heaton Moor. The backs now took control, with Nathan Aston O’Donovan at 9 hitting a hard running Luke Thomas at centre who was not to be stopped, Toby added the extras to see the score 32 – 26

With the clock counting down, Heaton Moor know they were in a battle for the win so their try in the corner was treated as win by their supporters. With the extras not taken, they had an 11 point lead to defend.

C&N were not in the mood for giving up, once again the lads moved up the pitch and the forwards set up camp just short of the Heaton Moor line. With the backs wide open and waiting for the ball, a brave Oli Griffiths picked from the ruck and drove over to score. The extras went missing from a tight angle, but the game was now back to 37 – 31 and the whiff of a win was in the air for C&N.

From the kick off, a well kicked penalty by Bill Putt gave C&N a lineout inside the Heaton Moor half, but it was not to be C&N’s day. The lineout went astray and Heaton Moor kicked the ball of the field a relieved group of players to win 37 - 31

Thanks to Heaton Moor for a great game, played in a really good spirit by players, coaches and supporters alike.