Hoylake 1st XV v's Bowdon

By Matt O'Neill

Bowdon 10
Hoylake 18

Hoylake win the battle in the trenches.

A tough trip to Bowdon was on the menu for Hoylake this week which always promises an intense close encounter. In contrast to Hoylake's good start to the season, Bowdon had experienced a tough few weeks and found themselves in the wrong half of the table.

Hoylake arrived after a few changes to the squad and without the ever present Coach G, luckily Assistant Coaches Young and Stevenson were on hand to take the reigns. Due to the First Team Pitch being re-laid and not yet ready for play, we found ourselves on one of the back pitches that was boggy under foot and one try area even underwater. Nevertheless play got under way and Hoylake started the game well, using their forwards to gain yards and finding a few gaps to get on the front foot. After some sustained pressure Fly Half James McLaughlin fired a 30yard drop goal through the posts to get the visitors on the board. Hoylake looking to control the play with good set piece play backed up with some good place kicking. After a good solid scrum, Tom Selby-Milic off-loaded to James McLaughlin, who in turn found Chris Whiteley. He used his strength to hold off the attentions of two would-be tacklers and offloaded superbly to McLaughlin on the loop. He drew and popped
To outside centre, Rich Young, to power through for the score just right of the posts which was ably converted by Joe Lavin.

Shortly afterwards though the visitors lost their powerful Centre Whiteley who dislocated his shoulder badly whilst initiating a counter ruck, it was a bitter blow to a player who has fought hard to get back to the first team after a series of bad injuries. We all wish him luck in his rehabilitation. Despite this Hoylake maintained the pressure and after another strong set-piece, diminutive number 8, Matt O’Hanlon outpaced the flanker from the scrum. He popped to Selby-Milic who broke a tackle and passed to Joe Lavin who outpaced the cover defence to score in the corner. He was unable to convert his own try though. After the half hour mark Hoylake started to get complacent and took their foot off the gas a bit and Bowdon did not need much invitation. Using their big pack to gain yards, they managed to push the defensive line back and after some unusual poor tackling by Hoylake their winger managed to touch down after a good strong run, which was also converted. At half time the score was 7 - 15.

Unfortunately the game in the second half was not as gripping as after 40 minutes of play the pitch was becoming increasingly difficult and as mistakes started to creep in on both sides especially in the breakdown area. A penalty apiece was the only change to the score line with both teams tiring and conditions deteriorating as the game went on.

Frustration threatened to boil over at times as both packs tried to ascertain their dominance over the other but mistakes again at crucial times maintained a fractious affair for the remainder of the match. Bowdon threw one last attack in the closing stages but the Hoylake defence remained strong and Bowdon attempted a last play kick for the bonus point but were unsuccessful resulting in a 10 - 18 win for Hoylake.

Man of the Match went to Tom Corkhill (pictured) who after an injury ridden season last year is having his greatest spell for the boys in red, white and green with a series of high quality performances.

Next week Hoylake entertain West Park(St Helens) at Melrose Avenue which once again should prove a difficult encounter.