A STRONG Hoylake side travelled to recently relegated Ormskirk expecting a close and testing encounter.
However, the ultimate margin of victory for the away side came as a surprise to both teams.
The Red, White and Greens began the game in impressive fashion, pinning Ormskirk firmly on the back foot.
It wasn't long before flying winger Kev Jones registered the first score of the match. Robinson then converted the try. Soon after, Robinson gratefully accepted a close range penalty extending Hoylake's lead to 10-0.
Wave after wave of Hoylake pressure led to Gleeson crashing over from short range following good work by Miller. Then Rich Young cut a great angle from a scrum and registered his first try of the match from 30 metres. The final try of the half went to Jones.
The first 15 minutes of the second period saw Ormskirk come back into the fixture. They scored a well-worked try in the corner but any thoughts of a comeback were short-lived.
Following a powerful rolling maul, Miller crashed over from five yards when it seemed that the move had lost its momentum. Robinson converted to extend Hoylake's lead to 32-5.
Credit to Ormskirk though, they again came back. Hoylake prop, Steve Butterworth was sin-binned for careless use of the boot. The home side took full advantage of the extra man and scored another good try as their winger crashed through full-back Stephen Young to touch down.
The final 10 minutes saw Hoylake run away with the fixture as their superior fitness and skill began to tell. Flanker Martin Williams scored before Mike Young charged down a desperate clearance attempt. His brother and cocentre Richard leapt the highest to secure the ball and touch down.
Then Ashcroft made a tremendous tackle on the Ormskirk winger which led to Richard Young who gratefully plunged over the line to complete his hat-trick.
Hoylake will be eager to main-tain their good form as they host promotion rivals Crewe and Nantwich in the league next week and then the following week they entertain Egremont from Cumbria in the third Round of the Powergen Junior Vase.
Anselmians 0, Wirral 36
ANSELMIANS vs Wirral fixtures at Paton Field have historically often been dour affairs, with early periods of extreme pressure from the home side.
Saturday's game, with Ansemians kicking off down the slope, looked, for the first five minutes, to be following the same pattern.
However, from then on Wirral took command, to win a decisive 36-0 victory.
Early pressure told and on the quarter hour Sean Kay was held up just short of the line and Andie Charvill went over for the first try, which Ian White failed to convert.
More good play by Wirral saw their second try on 25 minutes, when Ian White ran in a good try.
Wirral's try of this or any other season was started when Stu Hughes gathered the ball behind his own posts before a bewildering array of passes saw Sean Kay power over in the right wing corner. Again the kick was missed.
Half time came with everyone buzzing about the try and Wirral in a comfortable lead of 15-0, with the slope to come in the second half.
The scores continued to come after half time. Paul Donaldson crossed from a scrum and this time Ian White converted for 22-0.
Soon afterwards, Colin Davies scored a fine try, which was again converted by Ian White, 29-0.
Wirral continued to press and were rewarded by a fine try by Paul Dinwoodie under the posts, which
again, Ian White converted to make it 36-0.
Anselmians, despite bravely attempting to compete for the 80 minutes, had no answer to Wirral's fast, slick handling backs and equally, Wirral's forwards showed good ball skills and their usual superb defence.
nONCE one of the most successful rugby union clubs in Cheshire, Mid-Cheshire College are staging a comeback.
Based in Northwich, College RUFC has been re-formed after a lapse of 24 years and hope to arrange an attractive fixture list against other colleges in the Wirral and North-West.
The original College set-up founded in 1979 expanded quickly to comprise six teams and became so successful they outgrew their small ground on the Hartford Campus and moved to Moss Farm where they changed their name to Northwich RUFC. That club presently play in the Powergen League.
The newly-formed club is the brainchild of College Recreation Programme organiser Glen Hulse and will play under the captaincy of enthusiastic student Joe Ellis.
With only one training session behind them they have already made their mark, playing in the British Colleges North-West Sevens tournament at Blackburn where they won two of their five games.
Outstanding contributions were made by Chris Steele, Will Thompson and Joe Ellis himself and coach Trevor Rawling said this week: "I was delighted with the players' commitment and I think the team has a real future here at the college."
The remainder of the squad at Blackburn comprised Mitchell Platt, Adam Thomas, Tom Ventrie, Dick Jones, James Blunden, Ashley Dawson, Chris Hinde and Paul Eaves.
The College XV are aiming for regular Wednesday fixtures and Glen Hulse invites teams interested in arranging games to contact him on 01606 720505.
