Hawcoat Park 29 Fleetwood 20

THE new year brought an upturn in fortunes for Hawcoat Park as they started 2018 with a much-needed victory.

The Maroon and Whites’ 29-20 home win over Fleetwood gives them renewed confidence they can move away from the North Lancs/Cumbria League relegation places before the end of the season.

It was a hard-earned victory brought about by a grafting team effort against a Fleetwood side who always give Hawcoat a hard game.

The game could not have started any worse for Park, with Fleetwood taking the lead in the first minutes when their back rower caught the home defence napping by picking up and running straight through the breakdown to touch down wide out.

The conversion was missed, but the Fleetwood pressure continued and 10 minutes in, the visitors added a penalty goal to extend their lead.

Slowly but surely Park got a foot-hold in the game. Grady Slater was running strongly, and along with John Donnan was making ground every time with ball in hand and helping put Hawcoat on the front foot.

Midway through the half, Hawcoat got back into the game with a well-worked try. Hooker Adam Grainger made some good ground which the pack supported. Good hands from scrum-half James Howden moved the ball out wide, and centre Chris Burns made the incisive break before passing to winger Rodney Odondi to finish.

Howden’s kicking was featuring well and from one of his efforts, winger Will Coles went close, but soon after Hawcoat took the lead with a second try.

This time, after good work up front by skipper Brad Morrow and Ash Mowat, the ball was moved out wide and centre Ryan Clegg showed good strength and determination to force his way over near the posts. George Smith added the conversion for 12-8.

As usual this season, number eight Alfie White was having an outstanding game both in attack and defence and 30 minutes in he scored Park’s third try with a great individual effort.

Picking up from a maul, White burst through with some strong running and when in space showed good pace to go on a 40-metre run to the line, for 17-8.

Any thoughts the scoreboard was going to start quickly clicking over were dispelled though, as Fleetwood finished the half strongly.

Park showed some good defence, with full-back Blain Marwood in particular pulling off a couple of timely tackles. However, just before half-time Hawcoat worked a good move for their centre to come on a good line and burst through under the posts for a converted try and reduce the deficit to two points.

The first 20 minutes of the second half was a close battle and frustratingly from the home side’s perspective, Park struggled to earn a sustained spell with the ball to apply any pressure.

During the game there were three yellow cards – one for Hawcoat, two for Fleetwood – all for technical-related offences and not foul play.

These spells of being down to 14 men affected the continuity in play with all the reorganisation required.

Fleetwood were playing well and some good team play created the opportunity for their pacy centre to finish off. The conversion was missed, but the try put them back into the lead.

From this position, Hawcoat showed some great spirit to finish the game strongly. All the players lifted their game, but it took two great individual efforts for Park to get the tries needed to put them a winning position.

First some good work from vice-captain Andy Kent and Jonny Burrows created the opportunity to get the ball into Slater’s hand. He capped a great performance by showing good speed and determination to burst over on a 40-metre run to the line. Smith’s conversion attempt from wide hit the post.

With 10 minutes remaining, this time it was Marwood who capped another fine performance with the game-sealing try. Showing good pace to get on the outside, he drew the cover before showing a great dummy to finish a 40-metre run under the posts, much to the delight of his team-mates. Smith added the conversion for the final points of the game.