Northwich 43 Hoylake 7

WEEK by week Northwich seem to get stronger than before.

Blacks made sure their results record for the calendar year remains unblemished after extending a winning sequence to 13 matches.

Their reward, should they beat Bolton in a winner-takes-all play-off next week, will be promotion.

In the end Sam Naylor’s men manoeuvred themselves into second spot in South Lancs/Cheshire Division One with ease, finishing 13 points better off than Anselmians.

Richard Dale was a star turn against Hoylake, helping himself to three of the home team’s seven tries during an encounter that was less one-sided than the score suggests.

A breakthrough came on 12 minutes when Chris Dale, after picking up the ball at the base of a scrum, went on a charge that led to player coach Sam Naylor receiving possession.

He weaved his way through the visitors’ defence to touch down close to the posts, presenting recalled Chris Dutoy with a simple conversion.

There was to be no landslide, for Hoylake’s stubborn defence resisted for a further 25 minutes.
Richard Dale ended that period without points following Naylor’s break, again leaving Dutoy to add the extras.

From the restart, Chris Dale’s burst forward ended with a looping pass to Andy Chubb who crossed the whitewash. Dutoy’s kick made it 21-0 at the interval.

Hoylake’s organised defence continued to resist pressure in the second period, though they could not prevent Naylor from starting a move that ended with Rick Smith holding off would-be tacklers to notch the hosts’ fourth try.

When Chris Dale darted forward again, bringing replacement Joel Barber into play, it was a catalyst for full back Dorian Simes to score out wide.

Naylor and Chris Dale combined to send over Richard Dale in the corner as Northwich turned on the style.

The visitors avoided a whitewash, a fate saved for three previous guests earlier this season, when from an attacking lineout they drove successfully for the line.

A conversion duly followed.

Northwich completed the scoring with time running out, Naylor once more tempting out a defender before off-loading for Richard Dale to complete a personal treble.

Northwich Cartman, James, Kingi, Heywood, Smith, Watts, Chris Dale, McKibbin, Houghton, Dutoy, Naylor, Richard Dale, Chubb, Davies, Simes. Replacements Underhill, Barber, Cairns. Tries Richard Dale (3), Naylor, Chubb, Smith, Simes. Cons Dutoy (4).