Big Win in the Sunshine

Hoylake came to The Avenue, on a beautiful sunny day, for the first time to play Bolton on Saturday. The Former Players’ Dinner was attended by sixty-four past players. It was also Bolton’s last home game of the season. There was great expectation in the air.
Bolton couldn’t have started the game better; within two minutes they had scored their first try. A break by Andrew Wood put Will Bate in space and Will passed to Chris Cockton to score. Lewis Lockett added the conversion. In the seventh minute a lovely break by Louis Critchlow through the melee of Hoylake forwards saw him pass the ball to Chris Cockton who scored his second try. Lewis Lockett added the conversion. From the re-start, Ryan McClusky caught the ball and charged through the Hoylake forwards and was tackled by the fullback. From the ensuing ruck, quick ball saw Andy Wood go over the line to score. Lewis Lockett added the conversion. In the twenty-fourth minute a superb move down the right-hand side of the pitch saw Kieran Shacklock score a try, after some great handling and support play. Lewis Lockett added the conversion. In the twenty-ninth minute Lewis Lockett sold an outrageous dummy to the Hoylake defence and sauntered in for a try under the posts, he added the conversion. The final score for Bolton in the first half came when Andrew Wood made a great break. He passed to Rhys Pritchard to score. Lockett added the conversion. Hoylake, in all fairness, had some good ball at this late stage of the half and scored a well-worked try just before half-time.
Half-time score: Bolton 42 Hoylake 5
Hoylake started the second half with commitment, they drove the ball well and the Bolton defence had to work hard to keep them from scoring. In the sixty-second minute Rhys Pritchard broke through the Hoylake defence and off-loaded the ball to Kieran Shacklock to score. Lewis Lockett added the conversion. Bolton were back on the score sheet when Will Bate crashed through a few tackles. He made a sublime one-handed pass to Rhys Pritchard. He gained yards, drew the fullback and passed to a supporting Josh Holmes to score. Lewis Lockett added the conversion. Whilst attacking again, in the sixty seventh minute, the Hoylake winger intercepted a Bolton pass and ran forty metres to score. Jack Robinson got on the score sheet after a break from Louis Critchlow, who drew the fullback and passed to Jack on his outside who scooted under the posts giving Lockett an easy conversion. The last try of the game came when Andy Wood made another surging run to break through the defence. Will Bate was on hand to receive Andy’s pass. Will ran hard and was just tackled before the line. Jack Robinson was on hand to pick up the ball and score his second try. Andrew Wood added the conversion.
Final score: Bolton 70 Hoylake 12
It was an excellent performance from the whole team. It ended the season at home in fine style. There was some great handling and support play. Hoylake were rather overwhelmed with the speed of Bolton’s game. It was the last game for Andrew Wood as he moves South to begin a new job. He has been a great member of the team and we wish him every success.
Man of the Match: Andrew Wood.