Hoylake 18-20 Northwich

Hoylake were unlucky not to come away with a much needed 4 points. On paper, this should have been a comfortable win for Northwich, as they sat 3rd in the league and on a decent run of form whereas Hoylake have been unlucky at best which sees them sat one place off the foot of the table. However, as many team have found out, its never easy getting a win on the Melrose turf.

Hoylake were forced into more late changes, Phil James was taken ill and Tom Corkhill finally succumbing to a back injury sustained in the previous weeks. With Ian Griffiths tied up with work commitments, Mike Russell was called upon to fit into the 2nd row. Jake had moved back to Hooker to accommodate the return of Matt O’Hanlon at 8. Guy Byatt returned to a starting birth after the birth of his daughter Darcy-Rose and Rich Young completing the back row line up. Captain Matt O’Neill and Darren Agnew took their usual front row duties. In the back line, the only change to last week was at 10. The return of James McLaughlin saw him replace Ben Flint, who took his place on the bench with Matt Evans and Jamie Russell.

Northwich kicked off with a brisk off shore wind in their favour, Hoylake were faster out of their stalls than their counterparts. Guy Byatt leading the charge with a good break, followed up by a lively Jake Woods. Northwich seemed stunned with the pace at which the game had started to give away a series of penalties, one of which Ben Sparke converted to give Hoylake a 3 – 0 lead after just 5 minutes.

However, as in recent weeks, concentration levels by the boys in red, white and green lapsed and any early optimism was quickly dashed as the Northwich kick off was failed to be dealt with, this was easily gathered by the Northwich 8 and a couple of missed tackles later, he was under the sticks, surprising the conversion was missed. 10 minutes later and Northwich were almost another score to the good, only Jake Woods covering and dropping on the ball over the line saving the day.

Hoylake picked up the pace and with the play of the match, Joe Lavin picked up a loose kick, several phases of play later through forward runs, the ball was fizzed through the back line for Liam Rushworth to dot the ball over the line. Northwich were unable to compete fairly at the break down and resorted in trying to kill the ball illegally, the ref was having none of it and quite rightly yellow carded the Northwich 6. Despite being down to 14, a mix up in the Hoylake defence saw the Northwich 13 breeze through 10/12 channel untouched to score, again the kick was missed.

Despite Hoylake’s defence being as stubborn as always, Northwich were playing very expansive rugby, lucky for Hoylake the Northwich 15 made some awful mistakes which could have cost them the game. After creating an overlap, he threw the ball straight into touch, 5 minutes later he created a simple 2 on 1 only to make a obvious forward pass. Hoylake had their luck for the day and tightened up the defence. The pack were solid in the scrum and the lineouts were giving the backline good ball to create. However, it was Northwich who extended their lead. A quickly taken penalty saw their scrum-half scamper through to score to bring the half time score to 15 – 8 in their favour.

Now into the second half, although the wind had dropped a little, it was blowing across rather than down the pitch it now favoured the home side. Hoylake again started brightly putting pressure on the Northwich defence who started to concede penalties again. Many of which were repeat offences in the ‘red zone’, the Hoylake support were baying for another card but it failed to transpire. The following play however, the supports got what they wanted; a driving maul was collapsed within niches of the Northwich tryline. This time, the ref did produce a yellow for the Northwich 5. Hoylake decided to go for the try and another catch and drive from the lineout was set. Northwich again brought the maul down illegally, with the advantage being played, the pack broke off and Jake Woods scored in the corner. There were some murmurings that it should have been a penalty try and another yellow, with the conversion being missed, the two points could have a factor at the end of season, but that’s rugby.

With the extra man, Hoylake scored their 3rd try of the day from a 5 meter scrum, man of the match Matt O’Hanlon picked up at the base, outpaced the covering flanker and pirouetted to bamboozle the Northwich winger to dot down. Hoylake were now leading the game 18-15 but knew there would be another wave of attack to deal with at some point.

As the game went into the last quarter it was nip and tuck for about 10 minutes enabling Northwich to get back to full strength without conceding any more points. Suddenly the men in black and gold began to dominate possession and it was Hoylake’s turn to concede penalties, not all of which the spectators approved of. So it was that first Mike Russell and then James McLauglin were despatched to the sin bin, the latter certainly rather harshly, it was obvious to everyone bar one, that he had legally won the turnover by being the first man. However, the ref saw otherwise and Hoylake would have to defend their line with 13. It was no surprise then that Northwich with a two man advantage restored their lead through a 5 metre scrum which was driven over the line to restore the lead, 20-18.

With less than 10 minutes to go, Hoylake forced their way down field, to good field position and playing for a penalty, however the penalty never game within kicking distance and James McLauglin attempted two drop goals. The first which looked like it would have sailed over was charged down and the second was sliced wide. Following the 22 drop out, the ball was knocked on and the game was over.

Although losing, it was not through lack of effort typified by the Hoylake front 5. Jake Woods, lead from the front, Byatt was a welcome return in the back row, his aggression at the break down was something that had been missed the past few weeks. Mike Russell was more than efficient in the engine room. In the backs James McLaughlin brings experience and game management which has been lacking throughout the season. Mike Webster had an occasional battering run, which is now becoming a trademark of his and Joe Lavin always threatens the opposition with ball in hand and this week made some telling defence relieving kicks. The Man of the Match chosen by the sponsors Brandshaw, Farnham and Lea went to number 8 Matt O'Hanlon who time and time again broke through the Northwich defence.

So where does that leave us? With West Park beating Ruskin Park convincingly, Hoylake are still a point above them at the foot of the table. Both Manchester Medics and Bowden lost and so we are a point closer to them but still 6 and 9 points behind respectively. There were whispers that the Medics have sustained a 5 point penalty which has yet to be applied due to playing an unregistered player. If true, this means Hoylake’s survival is back in their own hands as it would leave us 1 point from safety with a game in hand, However with 4 difficult but winnable games to end the season, Hoylake will be looking to finish comfortably strong and hopefully Doulgas won’t have to make the trip over.