League Champions

Hoylake fielded their largely regular side.

New Brighton kicked off with the wind advantage and applied the early pressure, their over eagerness conceding the penalties to enable Hoylake to gain a foothold and put the opposition on the defensive. The early exchanges were tenacious with New Brighton out to impress their noisy, drum beating spectators. However, they did not impress the referee who repeatedly penalised the offending and back-chatting New Brighton players.
Hoylake quietly got on with keeping New Brighton at bay and after 15 minutes their efforts were rewarded. From a penalty Hoylake went for touch and from the ensuing line out and drive out muscled New Brighton's defence for Jake Woods to score. Jack Jones conversion into the wind was just wide of the posts.
The next quarter saw both teams efforts unable to break through their respective determined defences. The conditions helped neither side and frequent slips and slides kept the game evenly balanced. As the first half was drawing to a close New Brighton's lack of discipline led to a sin-bin as Hoylake pressed. At a break down the quietly effective Shaun Jardine helped his opposite number to his feet only for the New Brighton player to take offence. The referee's patience gone, the yellow card was produced. Hoylake lost the advantage within minutes as Matt Evans was sin binned for a desperate tackle attempt which was too high and off to the bin he went. From the ensuing penalty New Brighton kicked to touch deep in Hoylake's 22. However, from the line out Hoylake managed to deny New Brighton any space and the touch judge's flag went up. However, the referee failed to spot it and let play continue and despite the best efforts of the touch judge play continued and New Brighton's backs went on to score. Meanwhile the referee finally consulted the touch judge, the try was disallowed and instead of playing the line out blew for half time.

The rain and the wind and the cold were countered thanks to coffee Ray had brought. That didn't help the players at all. Hoylake opened the second half with the wind in their favour, but it was New Brighton who took the early initiative converting a penalty to bring the score to 3 – 5. Like the first half it was defences that dominated, Hoylake's tested increasingly as New Brighton tried to find gaps through their backs but to no avail. Just as the game moved to the last quarter Hoylake created a great try. From a scrum Matt O'Hanlon broke free and fed young James McInally on the wing, his pace and elusiveness took him round and through New Brighton's defence and take the ball as close to the posts as he could to score. Still the conversion was wide and at 10 – 3 the game was still anybody's.
New Brighton rallied strongly but Hoylake's brave defence kept them at bay. On the half hour Hoylake conceded a penalty, New Brighton took it quickly and went for the line to be stopped just short, however, they were so close Hoylake couldn't hold out and conceded the try. The drum beat reached a crescendo but that didn't help the conversion attempt which went wide. 8 – 10 with 10 minutes to go.
The tension mounted as New Brighton threw everything at Hoylake but to no avail. The final whistle was received with great relief from Hoylake's supporters and great celebration from the players. New Brighton's players were yet again unable to break Hoylake's team spirit and conviction. So a splendid season's efforts were rewarded, league champions and Cheshire Bowl winners, a great credit to all the players involved led by Mike Webster and coached by the unassuming and highly effective Ben Sparke. Congratulations.