Heaton Moor RUFC: Firsts open with win, but seconds and colts suffer narrow defeats

Heaton Moor 78, Oldershaw 7

Centre Christopher Sutton ran in five tries and Matt Hughes four as Heaton Moor opened their Northern Division season in comfortable fashion against Oldershaw.

Sutton opened the scoring in the first minute and the hosts never looked back, scoring 12 tries against their visitors from the Wirrall.

Hooker Danny Ireland, Hughes and winger Perkins Joseph plus two more for Sutton gave Heaton Moor a commanding half-time lead, with 17-year-old winger Olly Reynolds kicking five conversions on his debut.

Hughes put in Jack Wilson for the first score of the second half before Hughes scored his second try with two more following late in the game.

Sutton also scored one more and Reynolds ended the day with 18 points from the boot.

Heaton Moor are away to Oswestry on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

Heaton Moor – Tries: Sutton (5), Hughes (4), Ireland, Joseph, Wilson; Conversions: Reynolds (9)

Heaton Moor’s seconds were beaten 28-26 by near-neighbours Burnage, who won with a last-gasp converted try.

Heaton Moor Junior Colts 24, Liverpool Collegiate Junior Colts 26

Heaton Moor Junior Colts narrowly failed to get their season off to a winning start with a late flurry that included two Steve Ireland tries against Liverpool Collegiate.

The home side found themselves 19-0 down at half-time to the visitors, who ran in three first-half tries.

On the resumption, Heaton Moor – already missing several regulars – lost the influential Shane Ennis and Asa Bottomley to injury but that seemed to galvanise the team.

Sustained pressure midway through the half resulted in a penalty try for Moor being awarded but they were caught with a sucker-punch shortly afterwards when a turnover resulted in the decisive Collegiate try to leave the home side trailing 26-7 with only 15 minutes left.

But the spirit shown in the last 15 minutes almost brought the home side the win.

First, Joe Kilbride converted his own try before Ireland, impressive as a replacement flanker, scored two tries to bring the score line to 26-24.

Unfortunately, time ran out and Collegiate deservedly held on to win. The long trip to Millom in Cumbria is next for Heaton Moor.

Heaton Moor – Tries: Penalty, J Kilbride, S Ireland (2); Conversion: J Kilbride