Hoylake 1st XV v's Tyldesley

Hoylake battle through and march on, by Matthew O'Neill

Hoylake 21
Tyldesley 7

Early league leaders Hoylake welcomed last season's third place finishers who had endured a difficult start to the season. This fixture has been a high scoring affair in recent games and Hoylake were hoping the defence would stand tall.

Tyldesley kicked off the game and Hoylake started to try and get motoring which ensued into a forwards battle for the first ten minutes as each team tried to dominate the other with most of the play occurring in the middle third of the pitch. The hosts lost their stalwart prop Iain Stevenson after 15minutes with a gash to the eye meaning fellow stalwart Steve Butterworth had another run out for Hoylake on his beloved Melrose.

Hoylake managed to open the scoring after some concerted pressure from the forwards on the left flank, then a good quick ruck in the middle of the pitch gave full back Joe Lavin the ball who somehow managed to jink his way through from ten metres out. The subsequent conversion was missed by Chris Whiteley.

The ten minutes after the try followed a similar pattern to the ten minutes previous as forwards battled for possession and territory. Although Hoylake managed to make good yards, they started to become sloppy and received numerous penalties in the tackle and breakdown area which was frequently punished by the Tyldesley 12 who made sure Hoylake were pegged back in their own 22.

Although Hoylake were competing in the line out, Tyldesley secured some good ball and tried a driving maul to get to the try line but Hoylake repelled this attack but the scrum half quickly fed the 7 who found a gap in the defence and easily beat the flailing defender to score just left of the posts and was easily converted. This gave Hoylake back their fire though and reasserted their pressure on the visitor's with the backs finding space and making breaking runs particularly by James McLaughlin and Liam Rushworth.

Also the Hoylake backs were doing well to frustrate their opposite line with center's Mike Kearney and Chris Whiteley putting in some good hits. As half time approached Hoylake were leading 8-7 thanks to a penalty from Chris Whiteley, unfortunately no more points followed as Hoylake were guilty of losing composure in the final third.

Hoylake started the second half with a good kick off and looked to try and keep the pressure on but persistent infringements meant that similar to the first half Tyldesley were able to clear their lines and put Hoylake where they wanted them. After a good spell of defence by Hoylake and with some good clearances of their own, were able to start attacking again and the forwards were showing signs of starting to win the battle and were able to achieve a better platform and cleaner ball for their backs.

A successful Hoylake penalty from 25 metres out after ten minutes calmed down the boys in red, white and green more so. With Hoylake now getting some success down the right flank and some good yards made by Tom Selby-Milic and Dan Baldock, the forwards were able to recycle the ball quicker and give the backs more ball which was rewarded just on the hour mark when after some good play from Chris Whiteley, fed Mike Kearney who was able to put the ball down on the left after showing a good pair of hands. Unfortunately the conversion was missed giving Tyldesley hope while trailing 16-7.

Fortunately though Hoylake had cut out their earlier mistakes and were now living comfortably with their visitors and extended their lead further when after again more success down the right by both forwards and backs the scrum half set up a forwards run by feeding skipper Matt O'Neill who was able to offload sublimely to top try scorer Rob Kurton, who span out of a tackle to score near the posts. Another missed conversion left the game at 21-7 with just over ten minutes left and although Hoylake tried hard to get the bonus point try they were unable to do so.

Hoylake were better and brighter than the game before at Ruskin Park with some good performances in the pack by Tom Corkhill, Jake Woods and Matt O'Hanlon on his return to the back row, Mike Kearney, James McLaughlin and Joe Lavin impressing in the back line. Man of the Match went to birthday boy Rob Kurton, for keeping the hosts on the front foot most of the game.

Afterwards a content Coach Gareth was quick to point out that we still have a lot more to work on for the future upcoming games with an away trip to high flying Warrington next.