Orrell take top spot at Hoylake RUFC

Hoylake vs Orrell

1st team selection

1. Adam Glover 2. Lloyd Davies 3. Kyle Herbert 4. Jack Granby 5. Brad Garner 6. Max Huxley 7. Dan Huxley (Captain) 8. Wilbur Harris 9. Adam Worley 10. Kie Herbert 11. Matty Johnson 12 Tom Hallsall 13. Alex Gaskell 14. Matty Stott 15. James Ratcliffe 16. Josh Grant 17. Jack Booth 18. Chris Owen.

We knew as soon as we saw the Hoylake side today that we were in for a physical match that would inevitably come down to fitness. It started off as a dry day with Orrell roaring to go with ball in hand for the first 10 minutes of the match. We soon found ourselves on the back foot after a few penalties from the referee, but credit to the boys they pushed on with respect, perseverance and played as a unit.

With both teams scraping for possession and the early exchanges Hoylake had Orrell on the back foot. A series of Penalties early on against Orrell led to Hoylake taking the advantage and crossed the line for a try after 20 minutes. Conversion missed Hoylake lead 5-0.

Solid scrums and tidy line-outs from Orrell pushed the home team back and Orrell started to grow in confidence and elected to put the ball through the hands instead of kicking and on 20 minutes with smart quick passing in the backs and the dancing feet of Alex Gaskell, Orrell score in the corner. Conversion missed score move on to 5-5.

Five minutes later Hoylake found themselves defending their own line desperately, giving away a penalty under the sticks and James Ratcliffe converts to give Orrell the lead 5-8.

HT Hoylake 5 Orrell 8

Second half under way and from the kick off Hoylake press forward and on 48 minutes Jack Granby receives yellow card for back chat, penalty kicked score line all square again 8-8. Hoylake with a man advantage score again with the referee giving a penalty try for Orrell players infringing defending try line. Score moves on to Hoylake 15 Orrell 11.

Orrell reply with a penalty 15-14 and with the tails up, strong running by the forwards leads a fantastic break by Jack Granby and Orrell score the winning try converted by James Ratcliffe.

MoM award goes to Kyle Herbert: 2nd time this season for young Kyle with excellent scrummaging, strong running and tackling for 80 minutes.

No 1xv team game next week so focus will be on 2xv and 3xv teams.