SURE Vagabonds produced a solid performance in difficult conditions to beat Moore at Ballafletcher and consolidate their fifth place in the South Lancashire and Cheshire Division Two standings.
Vagas are poised just behind the top four and, with games remaining against three out of the four leading pack, they could well feature in the promotion mix come the end of the season.
Driving rain and gusting wind meant that the game was never going to be much more than a forward slug out, but initially both sides tried to move the ball wide at pace.
Vagabonds dominated the first half with the wind at their backs. Beckley kicked intelligently for the corners and let his pack do the hard work for him. The Vagas set scum got on top early and a big score looked to be on the cards.
The initial deadlock was broken after 13 minutes of play when, after playing the opening period deep in their own territory, Moore cracked.
A catch-and-drive lineout was the weapon of choice and it was number eight Akkie Van Den Berg who pulled the trigger when he was shunted over the line by his forwards. Jonny Beckley judged the wind to perfection to add the conversion.
Moore hadn’t made the trip over to simply make up the numbers. Their defence tightened and they scrapped for every breakdown. Hooker Tom Young carried well out of defence and scum-half Joe Long was like a yappy little terrier as he harassed Leigh Kennaugh at every scrum. The visitors’ sheer grittiness kept them right in the game and, two minutes before half-time, Vagas finally gave up chasing tries and Beckley knocked over a penalty to give his side a 10-0 lead at the break.
Ten minutes into the second half, the hosts finally got the breakthrough they wanted. Moore conceded a five-metre scrum and Vagas’ tight five did the rest, leaving Van Den Berg with the simple task of touching down for his second of the game. Beckley converted for a 17-0 lead.
The floodgates didn’t open and Vagas had to wait until the final five minutes for their bonus point. Leigh Kennaugh bagged the third try from a quick tap penalty with five to go. Beckley converted and he also acted as the link between Van Den Berg and Tom Gascoyne for the bonus point score with the final play of the game.