Glossop 1st XV v's Hoylake 1st XV Match Report

Match report courtesy of Tom Corkhill
Hoylake slip to lowest league position of the year

With the past couple of weeks being disturbed with incessant bad weather, you would think Hoylake would be looking forward to what is usually a fairly equal contest between two physical sides, however after 80 mins of rugby, the Hoylake team must have left their game on the team bus as Glossop imposed themselves on the league by moving up to 4th, with a 31-6 bonus point win. Hoylake fielded a strong team with long term injured Rich Young, Jake Woods, Tom Corkhill missing and Liam Rushworth unable to play due to work commitments. Unfortunately coach Gareth John had picked up an illness and was unable to travel.

Prior to kick off, both teams were positioned well in the league on 44 points and both wanting to make ground on the teams above them. With both teams usually fairly well matched there was good optimism from the travelling faithful who arrived early to enjoy a prematch tipple with the ever welcoming hosts.

With the first half underway it was apparent that the Glossop team wanted this game more than the boys in red, white and green. Glossop’s ever present pack controlled the set piece well in addition to their trademark rolling mauls and the backline worked well to create space for each other. Special mention must go the backrow who badgered the Hoylake 9, Tom Selby-Milic all day, giving him no time to provide good ball to his backs. It was from a 5m defensive scrum that Glossop registered their first try of the game. Hoylake seemed to have held the initial nudge from the Glossop pack only to forget the ball, this shot out of the back of the scrum and the Glossop back row were quickest to react, resulting in an easy conversion for the 10 to slot over. Hoylake had a chance to respond quickly, however, the bearings of Steve Young seemed to be slightly off with a difficult long kick. With a second similar chance also going narrowly wide, Hoylake did finally register their first 3 points from a more difficult angle. This was soon followed by a second. To leave the half time score at 7-6

With Hoylake having little to no ball in the first half and yet were only a point behind, should have seen them kick on and raise their game, however, the opposite seemed to happen, numerous mistakes seem to creep into the Hoylake game which saw Glossop take a strangle hold, scoring 3 additional tries and a penalty. The try of the day summed up Hoylake’s torrid day with flyhalf James McLaughlin trying a behind the back pass in broken play which landed directly into the Glossop number 8’s arms, who duly outsprinted Tom Selby-Milic down the right flank. With space running out and perhaps not having the legs to make the corner, he looked up and put in a delightful kick cross field (only he will tell you if he meant it or not) for the centre to pick up and cross under the sticks.

On reflection, a bad day at the office for Hoylake who didn’t seem to turn up but Glossop thoroughly deserved the win playing some excellent rugby throughout the 80 mins. Next week Hoylake welcome Bowden to Melrose Avenue, who are always physical and have strong ball carriers. Hoylake must find their earlier season form back after losing 5 of the last 7 games and start making their way back up the league.