First away win still eludes Hawcoat Park after Trafford defeat

HAWCOAT Park’s search for a first away win of the North Lancs/Cumbria League season continues after a disappointing result at Trafford.

In horrendous wet and windy conditions, the Maroon and Whites returned home with nothing to show from a committed performance, when they could, perhaps should, have won.

Trafford had first use of the wind advantage, with their fly-half pushing Hawcoat back into their 22 at every opportunity. Winger Rodney Odondi did well fielding the ball down his side.

The hosts applied pressure, and the Park defence had to be strong to keep them out. Callum Ramsay and Grady Slater were prominent up front, and centre Chris Burns showed up well with some big hits in the backs.

Fifteen minutes in and the pressure told as Trafford took the lead, their powerful second row forcing his way over near the posts for a converted try.

Even against the strong wind, it was not all Trafford and Hawcoat attempted to move the ball.

Lewis Sayle made a couple of good runs, as did full-back and man-of-the-match Blain Marwood.

Trafford were determined to extend their lead while having the wind in their favour, but both sides were making errors, understandably so in the wet conditions.

The Maroon and White defence was strong, and Marwood did particularly well to get his body under a much bigger opponent to hold him up over the line and prevent a certain try.

Hawcoat started the second half with a spring in their step, while Trafford had the look of a side disappointed to have scored only the one try.

For the first 10 minutes, Park were camped in the home 22 for a crucial period of the game.

They pounded away at the line, with Alfie White, Ash Mowat and scrum half Jonny Burrows all going close, denied by the blanket Trafford defence.

If Hawcoat had scored, they may well have gone on to win the game, however, Trafford broke and in their first spell in the visitors’ half created space for their centre to touch down and make it 12-0.

As the conditions worsened and the rain got harder, it was proving difficult to take advantage of the territorial benefit for Park.

But with 15 minutes remaining, they got back into the game.

The solid Trafford prop took a 10-minute break for a technical offence, and this gave the visitors a clear advantage at scrum time.

After going close on a couple of occasions, the referee awarded a penalty try, reward for the efforts of front-rower John Donnan, Adam Grainger and stand-in skipper Andy Kent, who once again put in a solid 80-minute shift.

The momentum was with Hawcoat, and young guns Will Coles and Joe Rea both went close.

The playing numbers were evened up when hard-grafting second-rower Mowat was also shown a yellow card for a technical infringement, and before the end Trafford sealed their victory when a back-row forward forced his way over.

There could be no questioning the commitment shown by the travelling team, however, they lacked a bit of guile to create the play to get over the try line.

The result leaves them still propping up the league table, and the games get no easier, with Aspatria next up at home on Saturday.