Hoylake 18 Northwich 20

NORTHWICH remain on course to finish third in the table after edging a close encounter at relegation-haunted Hoylake on Saturday.

Blacks, forced by absences to make five changes to a side that started the previous game, did not settle the outcome until late in the second half when recent recruit Jonathan Davies touched down his second try of the afternoon.

Beforehand, there had been little to choose between the teams.

Ben Sparke kicked an early penalty to put the hosts ahead after a Northwich player had strayed into an offside position.

The visitors’ reply was instant, John Harrison tapping back for Sione Tangi – playing in an unfamiliar role at number eight – held off a series of attempted tackles on his charge to the line.

Joel Barber could not add the extras.

Hoylake scored next, Liam Rushworth crossing the whitewash after the hosts’ forwards had forced Blacks to retreat with a driving maul.

In keeping with a topsy-turvy encounter, Northwich responded after Robin Houghton carried the ball from a scrum.

He passed to Barber, whose burst ended with an assist for Davies to touch down out wide.

The men from Moss Farm added to their advantage shortly afterwards, this time after Harrison stole the ball at a lineout.

This time Michael Gallimore led a break, supplying Davies who was tackled short of the line only for Houghton to dive over after possession had been recycled.

Barber’s missed conversion left Blacks ahead at 15-8 by the break.

Hoylake’s recovery started shortly after the interval with a catch and drive from a lineout, Jake Wood making the most of an advantage given by the match official to score.

They took the lead while Northwich had two players, Sam Jones and Liam Gavin, in the sin bin.

From an attacking scrum, Matt O’Hanlon scooped up the ball before spinning away to make it 18-15.

After the referee had sent a pair of Hoylake’s players to the sin bin, Blacks made the most of their numerical advantage to score the game’s decisive try.

James passed to Houghton following a five-metre scrum, and he in turn fed Davies to touch down. 

Northwich Thompson, Brotherton, Hulbert, Harrison, Gavin, James, Vaughan, Tangi, Houghton, Barber, Jones, Davies, Purbrick, Gallimore, Aston Replacements Cairns, Naylor Tries Davies (2), Tangi, Houghton

Additional reporting by Steve Wood