Leigh RUFC 43 V Hoylake 34
1st half onslaught gives Leigh the win
Leigh RUFC 43 V Hoylake 34
Drake opened up the scoring with a simple penalty and then, minutes later was not afraid to put his boot to the ball to place a cross kick into the hands of the Leigh backs that lead to the first try.
A quick reply by Hoylake with a blustering forward run and offload exposed the Leigh defence and brought the score to 10-7
From the restart Leigh moved the ball through the forwards, sucking in the opposition defence, then moved the ball out wide to allow another score down the right wing. The game was played at a hectic pace and with the two kits so similar, at times it was a struggle to identify players who were on which side.
A penalty for Hoylake brought the score to 15-10, then with not much between the sides, Mayren took the ball from the scrum and went over to extend the lead.
A jinking run from Wood brought about the next Leigh score. This was soon followed by the most ridiculous dummy sold since Alan Blackburn last played, from captain David Penn to take Leigh to a 36-10 lead at half time
From the restart Hoylake were looking for Leigh compliancy and quickly exploited this with a driving score.
Not to be outdone Leigh replied with a Jonny Drake try but from then on, Hoylake dominated territorially, prompted by good forward play, and gave themselves an escape route when they realised that ball retention is paramount.
The visitors hit back with three unanswered trys to take the score to 43-34 at full time.
“To concede 4 tries against 1 in the second half was disappointing and there is a huge step up next week when we play Bowden. We know we have to ask more questions in the middle and defend more rigidly” the Leigh Director of Rugby, Karl Lawrinson, said.
“On a more positive note, it is our second consecutive bonus point win and it maintains us in mid-table of the RFU Level 7 Lancashire/Cheshire competition.”
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