Orrell's home pitch at St. John Rigby was unfit due to the wet February and the game was played at Edge Hill University. The wind was blowing from touch line to touch line which made kicking difficult.
Orrell started well and were soon in their opponents half and from a ruck just outside Hoylakes 22 they got possession of the ball. Centre James Radciffe took a good pass from Brad Roden, and then wronged footed the defense to run in the first try of the game after just 2 minutes play. In difficult wind condition the conversion was missed, but giving Orrell a 5 points lead.
Just under 10 minutes later Orrell are awarded a penalty at a Hoylake throw in at a lineout. They kick for touch and form an Orrell line out 10m out from the try line. Orrell won the the line out and drop the ball down to Prop Brad Roden peeling round from the front of the line, who then drives forward to score Orrell's 2nd try. The conversion was missed, leave the score Orrell 10 Hoylake 0.
Hoylake then got possession of the ball and Orrell had to defend ruck after ruck close to their try line and eventually Hoylake were awarded a penalty which they converted to narrow Orrells lead to 7 points.
With less than 10 minutes before the break Orrell were again attacking close to the visitors try line and from a ruck Max Huxley picked the ball up and with the help of several team mates was driven over the line to score Orrell's 3rd try which was converted by James Ratcliffe making the score Orrell 17 Hoylake 3 at Half Time.
In the second half Hoyiake had most of the possession of the ball and Orrell spent a good percentage of play defending. Eventually Hoylakes possession result in an unconverted try to make the score 17 – 8 after about 15 minutes play.
Some poor kicking and handling continued to give the visitors most of the possession and with just over 10 minutes left in the game Orrell defense was again breached and Hoylake touched down for their second unconverted try to put them just 4 points behind.
With just over a minute left in the game Hoylake got a line out under 10 m from the Orrell try line. They got possession of the ball from the throw in and the ball was moved across the field to their right and after a series of rucks close to the Orrell line they eventually drove over to score their 3rd try to give them he lead by just 1 point. Immediately the conversion attempt was missed the referee blow his whistle for the end of the game making the Final Score Orrell 17 Hoylake 18.

This was Orrell's 1st defeat of the season, but they still remain top of their league by 10 points with just 4 games left to play.

Next Saturday 14th March Orrell are at Home in the North Divisional Final of the RFU National Vase against Wetherby at St John Rigby College. Kick Off 3pm.