Hoylake 1st XV v's Ashton-on-Mersey

Hoylake 41
Ashton-on Mersey 10

Hoylake sought to register their fifth victory in the last six games against a resurgent Ashton side. The hosts started very slowly as their forwards struggled to secure set piece ball against their heavier opponents.

Ashton were on the scoresheet first with a penalty and could have been further ahead when 2 kickable penalties were missed by the visiting flyhalf. As it was, Hoylake took the lead with a Tom Selby-Milic try and a Joe Lavin conversion. Hoylake were still largely on the back foot though and Ashton squeezed over for a well-earned try following a period of sustained pressure.

Hoylake eventually found some momentum and a Lavin penalty made the scores level at half time.

The second half was a totally different story. The Hoylake backs started to fire and their Ashton counterparts struggled to match their pace. Tries followed from skipper, Steve Young (2), Mike Kearney, Joe Lavin and Selby-Milic completed his brace. Lavin converted 3 of the 5 second half tries giving a final score of 41-10 to Hoylake, their biggest win in the league for at least a season.

Hoylake know that they will need to sharpen up in the forwards for the visit of Vagabonds on Saturday. Hoylake were comfortably defeated when they visited the Isle of Man earlier in the season but will be looking to continue their good form at home. A 5th place finish in the league isn't out of the question, giving the team plenty of motivation as we reach the end of the season.