Wigan v's Hoylake - Report

Wigan 20
Hoylake 11

Hoylake travelled to Wigan with yet another experimental and largely untested side due to continued absence of a number of established first team players.

Hoylake started the stronger and dominated possession but rarely threatened the Wigan line. Something was missing as Wigan began to make yards through their forwards. The passion and aggression from the previous week's performance just wasn't there from the forwards.

Wigan led 10-3 at half time with the visitors only points coming from the boot of Stephen Young who had to revert to his more accustomed position of fly-half.

Wigan continued to dominate in the second half and secured a penalty from the boot of their Skipper and scrum half. This was quickly followed by a break away score from the outside centre following another aimless kick from the Holyake backs.

At 20-3, Hoylake were chasing a seemingly lost cause but to their credit put together a well worked try scored by substitute winger, Ben Flint, which followed a well-struck Young penalty. However, it was all too little too late and Wigan deservedly took the points.

The Hoylake management saw this as an opportunity lost for their young side. Wigan were defensively organised but were very beatable. There were some positives though, with winger Matt McClaren again putting in some great work defensively with some bone shattering hits. Youngster, Jake Woods filled in at blind side flanker and was Hoylake's Man of the Match by some distance. Unfortunately he disappears to University now for the majority of the season! Special mention should go to James Edwards who put in a creditable performance at No. 8 in his first game back since his horror hip injury that was actually sustained during the same fixture last year!It was also good to see Hoylake stalwart Richard Young return to action.

Next week Hoylake entertain league newcomers Oswestry at Melrose Avenue. There is still a relatively lengthy injury and unavailability list including Phil James, Guy Byatt, Chris Whiteley, Tom Corkhill and Rob Kurton to name but a few but Hoylake will be bolstered by the returning Mark Wylie, Andy Fielding and Ian Griffiths. Tom Selby is also available for selection following his hat trick of tries for the 2nd team in his first match for 9 months.