Hawcoat Park 7 De La Salle 24

A PATCHED-UP up maroon and whites side turned in a spirited and committed performance against North Lancs/Cumbria League outfit De La Salle.

Despite the 24-7 defeat, it was a good performance by Park in a game played on a bitterly cold day but on a perfect playing surface, thanks to the efforts of Nobby Clarke and his small team of volunteers, plus groundsman Lee Shuttleworth.

The wind and cold made for difficult playing conditions and it was a hard, physical battle, as usual between these two sides.

De La Salle started the brighter, but Hawcoat’s commitment to the cause was evident from the off as strong defence kept the Salford side at bay.

Callum Ramsay and Adam Grainger were working hard as ever, and second team graduates Ryan Brown and Matt Robson were also giving their all.

Ten minutes in, the pressure told as the powerful De La Salle number eight forced his way over in the clubhouse corner.

The game followed an even pattern, with both teams testing each other out and playing some good rugby.

Midway through the half, De La Salle extended their lead.

After stretching the play in both directions, their fly-half spotted a gap in the defensive line to shoot over wide out, with a superb conversion making it 12-0.

With second row Ash Mowat having an outstanding game and prop Paul Woodburn making hard yards, Park had a good spell in the De La Salle half.

Following a strong run by outstanding back row Alfie White, backed up by skipper Brad Morrow, Hawcoat scored a deserved try.

Lively stand-off George Smith caught the defence napping in running a good line to touch down under the posts and convert his own try.

Scrum-half Scott Garnett was having a good battle with this opposite number, and good work from him involving Callum Ramsay and the elusive Lewis Sayle nearly created another try, but half-time came with the score 12-7 and a shock looked very much on the cards.

It was a good, even tussle in the early exchanges of the second half, before the turning point came midway through the half, when the hard working Ramsay was sin-binned after a series of penalties.

It was not long before De La Salle took advantage as their back row forced his way over near the posts for a converted try.

Not long before the final whistle, the visitors went over for a fourth try to collect the all-important bonus point in their quest for promotion.