Hoylake 2's (22) -v- (10) Birkenhead Park 3's

Well it was a grey, wet, cold and dismal day at Melrose Avenue for this battle between the Hoylake 'young guns' and the B'Head Park 'Old Arses'!

The first half the 'Park' pack dominated the scrums by fair means and by foul, Hoylake were pushed off the ball on a number of occasions and when not pushed off it the 'Park' hooker managed to have his foot up waiting for the ball to be put in and hooked it against the head. Unfortunately the Ref could se nothing wrong in the scrum, even when the 'Park' prop took the ball out of his scrum-half's hands and fed it back to his second row! However, the defence from the young Hoylake team was something to see and admire as they refused to let the opposition get over their defensive line. As the 'Park' team started to get rattled, the Hoylake forwards secured some good ball and fed it out to the backs who played some magical passing moves resulting in the ever-present No.8 scoring a great try near the posts and this being duly converted by Danny O'NEILL. This was quickly followed by two more well executed tries from Gary HUMMERSTON and Danny GASKELL as a result of good link-up play from the forwards to the even more magnificent backs (1 converted/1missed by Danny O'NEILL). The Park 'Old Arses' were not to take this lying down and put together a great piece of forward 'old style' mauling followed by successive pick-up and drives from rucks inside the Hoylake 5m line, Hoylake defended well but the pressure told and Park eventually managed to drive over the line for their 1st try just before half-time.

The second half virtually started off where the first finished, the 'Park' forwards dominating the forward play mauling their way into the Hoylake half time and again, the Hoylake boys just managing to keep them out through sheer determination and guts! Hoylake managed to foray into the opposition half and through a penalty secured 3 points from the boot of Danny O'NEILL. 'Park' reacted from the restart by securing the ball and for the majority of the half keeping the ball within their pack and scoring a very similar try to the one they scored earlier in the game. Unfortunately Hoylake were unable to secure the ball for any great lengths of time and restart their backline, but the defence they produced against the onslaught from the fired up and far more experienced 'Park Old Arses' was a pleasure to watch and deserved thje admiration of those who turned out to support them in such dirty weather.
Overall the Hoylake team played some great rugby and showed great character under the leadership of 'Capatain for a day' Will DOW who was ably supported by Jay BALDOCK (Inside Centre) and Niel HARVEY from the sidelines and a 10 minute cameo appearance in the second half.

Captains 'Man of the Match' : Matt EVANS - 'For his outstanding play in defence, securing the ball in the lineout and his ever-present tenacity to secure the ball in the rucks and mauls. A player for the future!'