Kirkby Lonsdale 17-24 Heaton Moor Junior Colts

Heaton Moor Junior Colts made a profitable journey up the M6 when they overcame their hosts in a very even battle.

After a four-week lay-off, Moor may have had a few cobwebs to blow away but they came out all guns blazing in a rip-roaring start.

They had two early chances to cross and it looked like Dom Rafferty had got their early reward only to be denied by excellent defensive cover.

In the move, they lost Dylan Starkie to a nasty head injury, but his replacement Angus Boothroyd would prove influential.

On Kirkby Lonsdale’s first foray into Moor territory, Tom Whitehead caught high on his own line and passed to James Molloy, who beat four tacklers to race the length of the pitch and open his account for 2018. Nick Tenney added the conversion.

Soon after, a great steal by Stephen Ireland, supported brilliantly by Jake Barrett, paved the way for a tremendous move across the pitch.

Joe Kilbride made a great pass to Angus Boothroyd via the good hands by Asa Bottomley, Boothroyd stepping beautifully inside his man to cross for a try and a healthy 12-point advantage at the break.

The hosts re-appeared with a bit of zest second half and a converted try followed by a penalty made it a two-point game.

Moor fought back, a sublime kick by Kilbride setting Bottomley away to score.

Better was to come ten minutes from the end, Kilbride with an eye-catching long pass to create the space for Boothroyd to score his second try of the game, Tenney converting and the points were now secured.

Kirkby grabbed a consolation under the posts to make it a little tenser than necessary but a deserved victory for the Stockport lads.

Heaton Moor: Gondal, Barrett, McGeehan, Savage, Soufain, Ireland, Loftus, Glanfield, Rafferty, Tenney, Kilbride, Molloy, Starkey, Bottomley, Whitehead
Tries: A Boothroyd 2, A Bottomley, J Molloy; Cons: N Tenney 2