Ormskirk v's Hoylake 1st XV

Ormskirk 21
Hoylake 19

Hoylake started the game in determined fashion and dominated for 30 minutes amassing 16 points via a try, conversion and 3 penalties, all from prolific point scorer Steve Young. However, it should have been much more as the Hoylake pack took apart their counterparts.

Hoylake spurned a couple of guilt edged opportunities before Ormskirk managed to work their way up field. 5 minutes of pressure resulted in the turning point in the match. Hoylake's number 8, Rob Kurton was sin-binned for a highly debatable off side offence at the ruck. With the man advantage, the hosts added to their 3 points with 2 tries either side of half time, one of which was converted.

Hoylake did respond when they were restored to full strength with another Young penalty giving them a slender 19-15 lead, but the momentum was firmly with Ormskirk as they were granted numerous penalties and scrums on the back off countless Hoylake mistakes.

Eventually, their fly half slotted a well-taken drop goal followed by a penalty to give them the advantage with 10 minutes to go. Hoylake had two opportunities to snatch the points at the death but Steve Young missed with a difficult penalty attempt and an almost certain try scoring opportunity was spurned when the Ormskirk slapped down the ball. He was sin binned for his efforts...

Credit should go to Ormskirk who recognised the dominance of Hoylake's forwards and brought on some older heads in the second half who steadied the ship, however, they knew that the game should really have been over by half time.

Despite the obvious disappointment of losing a game that should have been on, Hoylake can take some solace in the fact that they put in their best forty minutes on the road this season, and that the team is starting to gel after so much disruption in the pre-season.

Man of the Match went to young flanker, Matt O'Hanlon, who along with veteran back rower, Jason Pell, put in an outstanding first half performance.

Next week, Hoylake's 1st XV take advantage of a fixtureless week and look to prepare the squad for what promises to be an intriguing fixture against local rivals, Anselmians, when they return to league action on Saturday 28th Nov at Melrose Avenue.