with a number of big lads akin to the current French side. Hoylake’s coaching staff were a man down as Kiwi James decided to put his feet up following his appendectomy earlier in the week but almost a full squad of players was available for the selection committee of Kev and Si.
Hoylake had a great start to the game as from the free pass Reece charged straight for the line through a shell-shocked Birkenhead Park side who still had the journey in their legs. He touched down for the first try of the day. From the following attack however, Hoylake’s defence was formidable as they managed to stop Park’s sizeable momentum on the seventh tackle to turn the ball over on Hoylake’s own try line. What’s this? Hoylake starting the stronger? A first for the 1st of March! It then got better as from the free-pass the ball found its way to James who managed to evade the Birkenhead tacklers to score a full length of the pitch try! Excellent stuff! Two tries up without reply and the Hoylake faithful were in full voice to rival any old Welsh Male Voice Choir!
Park however did wake up and managed to score despite Hoylake’s continued courage in the face of sizeable opponents of questionable age. Mid-week training is starting to manifest itself on a Sunday these days as passing is very much uppermost on the youngsters minds like never before. Occasionally it lands them in trouble but like the current French team, it is encouraging to see the willingness to throw the ball about to entertain a good crowd. And it stood them in good stead for the next try as the ball whizzed down the line to find Archie who set his sights on some space out wide. Instead of taking the tackle, Archie intelligently stepped inside to create the space for James to run into, the pass was perfect and James hared into the corner with Park’s defence unable to keep up. Champagne rugby! Or should it be Ribena Rugby at this age?
A try was scored by Birkenhead Park on their next attack as they started to bring their stronger, bigger players into the game but once again it was James who was keeping the score board ticking over as he made for the line and instead of racing straight for the corner with the big lad to beat he cleverly and nimbly stepped inside his foe and dotted down under the posts. If there were posts. Which there isn’t for Under 9s! More brave defence from Luca, Sam and Reece in particular as well as Leon who was catching the eye with some momentous runs. Some courageous (some might say suicidal) passing down the line in their own try zone landed the youngsters in hot water as Birkenhead Park capitalised on the pressure they created to score a well-deserved try but as the clock ticked down Hoylake moved up the pitch from the restart. Leon took it upon himself to collect the ball and charge like a rhino for the corner. However, like a charging rhino his field of vision may have been a little clouded because he aimed straight for the dead-ball line and sadly for him and for Hoylake was bundled into touch before he was able to score the try he richly deserved.
The game had been largely played in good spirit thus far although Coach Kev, who refereed the morning’s entertainment excellently, had to warn the Birkenhead Park players on numerous occasions to keep their tackles down and for one player to keep his temper down. Half time arrived with Hoylake comfortable but just a try ahead. “What would the second half bring?” I hear you ask. Well let me tell you…
Birkenhead Park scored straight from the kick off using their weighty talent to devastating effect. Hoylake dared to be different though and after wholesale changes of personnel an attacking move that would grace any Premiership training ground saw the ball move through the hands to end up with Reece who extravagantly put the ball down to cap a fine team try. Park couldn’t return the favour though despite playing to their strengths, as Hoylake’s defence stood firm and the seventh tackle was made on the Hoylake try line to frustrate their opponents. So much so that as Hoylake steadily moved up field another unsavoury incident from Birkenhead Park’s suspiciously large “under 9” gave the referee no option but to send the youngster off. In over 40 unblemished years of sports reporting I have never witnessed a “straight red” at this age group and it was to the club’s credit that the boy was royally ticked off for letting his team mates down. However, in a fine show of even-handedness, the referee requested a Hoylake player leave the field to keep the numbers even and the unfortunate boy was Leon who had been playing the game of his short rugby life. However, despite the lack of numerical advantage they deserved, Hoylake let their rugby do the talking. First Archie scored not one but two tries both straight from free passes and then after Charlie went on a darting amble he gave a trademark offload at the right time to Reece who was steaming up outside him and scored another great team try. Birkenhead Park had recovered from the shock of seeing a team mate leave the field and managed to stay in the game scoring tries in the face of stubborn resistance. However, Archie scored his hat-trick try to ensure the gap between the teams was wide enough to give the cheering Hoylake supporters a comfortable time.
The referee was obviously enjoying himself because the half seemed to go on longer than a Primal Scream track (ask your parents kids) but as it was drawing to a close another dangerous Birkenhead Park move looked certain to end in a try if it hadn’t been for George who tracked the runner like an MI5 operative before pouncing just before the try line to a hero’s ovation from all who witnessed it – and rightly so! Then, as if to announce his full bag of tricks George was at the end of a beautifully sweeping move as Hoylake finished the game in style scoring their tenth and final try. Birkenhead Park had managed to score eight and so the spoils went to Hoylake who overcame some big and aggressive opponents, some of whom strayed beyond the laws – so well done to the Under 9s who didn’t shrink from the intimidation!
I suggest a breather to you dear reader because my editor is away skiing in the Alps and there is another game to report upon!
Birkenhead Park were up to full strength for the second game having put their ill-disciplined youth through a rapid anger management programme and once the citing committee (Kev) had given him the green light it was full steam ahead!
There was great defence from both sides in the early exchanges and more importantly all within the law as the game returned to seven a-side meaning there was less room on the pitch for Hoylake to show off their silky skills. First blood was (luckily metaphorically) to Birkenhead Park though as they scored a couple of tries to put Hoylake under real pressure in the first half. James pulled one back for the youngsters before some backs-to-the-wall defence from Hoylake ensured Park couldn’t extend their lead and from the resulting Hoylake free-pass, Leon legged it through some startled Birkenhead Park tacklers and found himself with the whole pitch at his mercy. With an energy not seen before, Leon outpaced his pursuers like a demented Thompson’s gazelle outrunning a pack of salivating hyenas and this time he popped the ball down in the correct area of the pitch to score a fabulous try that will live long in this old hack’s memory! And whilst Park eventually scored again the joy was served up once more as a series of moves pushed Hoylake up the pitch and a wild pass was scooped up by Leon who really had the bit between his teeth. This time, instead of running through the Park defence he fancied his chances round the outside and set his sights on the corner. It was a long way to that corner from my position in the press box but after consulting with the TMO, Kev gave the try to Leon much to the chagrin of the Birkenhead Park supporters.
And so it was with that controversy that the teams chewed on their half time oranges mulling over the 4-3 scoreline in Birkenhead Park’s favour.
As darkness descended on Melrose Avenue (somebody needs to get Kev a new watch!) the second half began with the Hoylake faithful swelled by the ranks of the coaches and parents from the other age groups who had finished their matches. Would they witness an unlikely victory against the might and size of Birkenhead Park? Well John got them going as he went on a great, mazy run in and out and back in again of the Park defence to set up Reece who had been rested in the first half and was full of vigour to open the scoring for Hoylake! Even stevens: 4 all. Good start.
Then it was Birkenhead Park’s turn to attack and as the chastened and now impeccably behaved big lad bore down on the try line, James saved the day with an amazing tackle into touch! From the subsequent free pass Archie fooled everybody by nipping down the blind side when everybody thought he would pass it down the line. Great stuff! Hoylake 5-4 ahead.
Not for long. 5 all. Hoylake started to force the game but passes went to ground. A spot of mauling let go by the referee saw Park surge to the Hoylake line only for James to save the day again with a fine tackle. I felt my heart rate rise to a dangerous level, the intensity was growing. Archie had the ball in his hands, he was making good ground but a cracking tackle by Birkenhead Park’s villain turned angel stopped him. It was in vain though as the ball fell to James who collected the ball and crossed the line! Hoylake 6 – 5 ahead and the crowd were wondering how much injury time would be played. The light was fading, youngsters were getting tired (you know the feeling after this!) mistakes were halting the flow. Then an equalizer! Birkenhead Park found some reserves of strength to batter their way through Hoylake. Surely that must be it?
Nope. As I felt more light-headed with every nail-chewing second, the referee found enough time for Hoylake to mount one last challenge. Dangerous!? A dropped pass, a knock on, a misplaced offload could give Birkenhead Park a chance to win. My therapist says my pessimistic fatalism sometimes comes across in my journalism. Just as well Hoylake Under 9s don’t read my rubbish! Because from the minute George went on a scintillating run to beat most of the opposition before passing to Archie the result was never in doubt. Archie was not going to be stopped and he ran for the corner like a frenzied Haribo addict to score the seventh and match winning try for his team!
For that was the time for the referee to blow his whistle – Hoylake won 7 tries to 6!
And so, as the Under 9s trooped off to feast on Colin’s tasty chicken burgers, it was left to the happy Hoylake faithful to remember how John, Charlie, Paul and Jacob were terrific in their commitment to the cause, how brave George, Luca, Sam and Reece were in defence, how memorable Archie and James’s tireless running was and most of all praising Leon’s mum for sending him to bed at half seven on a Saturday night!