Moor youngsters warm up for Conference season with victory

Jamie Samme produced a man-of-the-match display as Dewsbury Moor warmed up for the new National Conference League season with victory over Queensbury last Saturday.

Moor again mixed up the 17 to give some of their fringe and younger players a run out.

This has been a method used in all four of Moor’s pre-season games and one that has proved successful giving the younger lads some much needed open age experience playing alongside some of the established first teamers.

The game was tight throughout with both defences on top in a low scoring game.

Moor eventually opened the scoring when Jamie Samme crashed over from close range following a set play and Conner Vickers converted.

Moor added a second try after 30 minutes when 17-year-old hooker Archie Bruce broke the Queensbury defence from close range to score between the posts. Vickers converted as Moor took a 12-0 lead into the half-time break.

Moor looked like they could increase their lead against a tiring Queensbury outfit but against the run of play and on the back of three penalties, it was the visitors who scored next with a converted try.

Moor had to withstand a spell of intense pressure with the young team defending six sets on their own line but held firm to protect their lead.

With two minutes to go, the influential Jamie Samme was tackled just short of the line but from the next play, veteran Simon Whitley hit the ball at speed and used great footwork and a spinning technique to crash over for a try next to the posts, with Vickers adding a third conversion to seal an 18-6 victory.

Samme collected the coaches man-of-the-match along with the players award, closely followed by fellow prop Ashley Boddy, as both led the charge all game for Moor and dominated the middle of the field with the help of returning loose forward Pete Robinson.

Moor go into the 2017 season full of confidence having rebuilt the adult section three years ago, primarily bringing through two sets of successful Under-18 teams to build what is now a 50 man squad.

The club are extremely proud that 90 per cent of their current squad have played their junior rugby at Dewsbury Moor and are currently under the age of 25, which bodes well for the future providing a foundation the club can continue to build on for the next five to 10 years.

Moor begin their National Conference Division Three campaign away to Stanningley on Saturday (kick off 2.30pm), while their Yorkshire Men’s League team travel to Wibsey in the Forty20 cup.