Hoylake 0, Northwich 37: A MASS brawl spelt a premature end of this one-sided clash on the Wirral - but the result will stand.
The referee called time when the fight broke out with 71 minutes on the clock after he failed to spot a kick to the head of Northwich hooker Vuyol Pasiya. Northwich prop Ges Gough pounced on the alleged culprit and the mother of all punch ups ensued.
Northwich chairman Sam Naylor said: 'Typically these outbreaks are frenzied and spontaneous and as usual the hundreds of punches thrown missed their targets and no injuries were sustained.
'The referee though, quite rightly, considered that to continue would have put the players in danger.
'League secretary Mike Massey was contacted and confirmed the rule that if 60 minutes has been played the result stands.'
It was a real pity that the game ended in an unsavoury manner as Northwich, particularly in the first half, were on fire, playing their best rugby of the season to date. Time after time they ripped apart the opposition and led 29-0 at the break.
The Northwich pack were in awesome form with Graham Robinson scoring two early tries which Lohane Kiewiet converted. He then kicked a penalty before firstly Steve Campbell and then Chris Dale went over. Kiewiet converted the second and the game was sewn up.
The visitors relaxed their grip in the second half but a further Kiewiet penalty and a Chris James try kept the scoreboard ticking. Northwich were once again threatening the Hoylake line when the brawl broke out. The kick which sparked it all off drew blood but fortunately the injury was superficial and Vuyol has decided not to pursue the issue.
Coach Chris Chudleigh has set an objective that would have been laughable six weeks ago of finishing in fourth place - but on this form there is no reason why Northwich cannot win all their remaining games.
Northwich's 1st XV sit out the cup weekend this Saturday but return to league action when they entertain Aspull at Moss Farm on March 4.
The 2nd XV beat Chester 3rds at Hare Lane 25-19. Tries came from Donny Phillips, Andy Lawler, Jamie Brunlees and Andy Cornes. Brett Stanley kicked a penalty and conversion. But the 3rd XV lost 50-0 in a mismatch at Buxton. nWinnington Park went down 22-19 at mid-table Tyldesley.
Winnington were second best in terms of commitment, and only had a try from Matthew Dodds, converted by Gary Bell, and three Bell penalties and a drop goal to show for their endeavours.
They nearly snatched victory with the last kick of the game but Bell just fired the difficult penalty wide.
