Sluggish start so costly

RUGBY:

IN Division Three of the North-West Counties League, Hollinwood are still looking for a first win of the season after slumping to a 34-16 defeat at fellow strugglers Rylands Sharks ‘A’.

Fielding yet another patched-up side, they had conceded 30 points before Mike Richmond crashed over for a try which Peter Davies converted. Hollinwood were better after the break, going close on several occasions.

They added a second try when a chip-kick by man-of-the-match Paddy Jennings was collected by Davies, who raced away to score. He added the extras and, at this stage, Hollinwood were on top.

Davies had a fine game at full-back, linking up well in attack and also pulling off several try-saving tackles. Hollinwood also had a couple of tries chalked off, before Ryan Yates crossed to take their points tally to 16. The conversion was missed.

Rylands scored a try late on in the game, but the second half belonged to Hollinwood. Richmond, Kevin Collins and Pete Dobson performed well in the forwards, while Jennings and Phil Bell shone in the half-back positions. Hollinwood play host to third-bottom Wigan Bulldogs on Saturday.