After 10 days off, it was back to business for the u13’s who hosted Anselmians at Melrose Avenue this morning.

After the last two games, a good start was crucial and that was delivered almost immediately by the boys in green, red and white. Strong Hoylake defence caused Anselmians to spill the ball twice in their own half and allowed Hoylake fly-half Henry Stephenson to scoop up it up and skip through broken lines for two tries in the first 10 minutes.

Strong running continued to be a feature of the home team’s play with Teddy Santer-Wikberg cutting a powerful line back against the grain to score a third on 12 minutes. It looked bleak for the visitors when Isaac Saunders galloped free inside their 22 swerving and stepping out of tackles to make it 20-0 just after 15 minutes.
However, credit to Anselmians for continuing to make determined, forceful efforts to break the Hoylake line. Injuries to Zac Saverimutto and Josh Hughes, the latter a nasty looking hand injury after a fine break down the right, meant some reorganisation was required.
With a number of players out of position, the Hoylake attacks struggled for potency and the Anselmians defence were able to use the touchlines to stifle any attempts to outflank them. Despite a very proficient and promising debut at full-back Bobby Ashman couldn’t quite find a route to the try line or link with the wingers but has definitely staked a claim for the role in future.

In the second-half Anselmians continued to apply pressure. However, it was the home side’s turn now to use the touchlines and some highly effective counter-rucking to disrupt the visitors’ attack, before Eddie Miller scored a breakaway try that had the potential to open the floodgates once more. It wasn’t to be. Despite some champagne moments, Aiden Fenna’s turnover, break and kick, Jacob Stark’s thumping hit to deny a try in the corner and Bobby Ashman’s perfect technique to chop down a rampaging Anselmians second row, the game became a bit disjointed and scrappy.

Hoylake did well to prevent the visitors scoring and should be proud of much of their efforts today. As a return after a long break it was a good performance but as we’ve said before, loads to work on: getting our shoulders into tackles and putting together longer series’ of attacking phases to match the lengthy defensive sets that kept the opposition at bay today.

Men of the match today, Luke Lappin and Finn Ellis for leading the way amongst the forwards and showing how size is less important than skill, technique and ferocious intent when fronting up to a big powerful pack.