Hoppers back to winning ways in impressive style

Hoppers pulled off their third away win of the season with this workmanlike performance in a close encounter at Caldy who sit two places above them in the table.

Coach Dave Baldwin said: “It was an error-strewn game with both sides looking rusty after the two-week lay off. But we defended well and kept going and coming back to win with the last score of the game showed good spirit. At the end of the day, running in three tries to none at Caldy has to be a good result.”

In truth, the game could have gone either way but, whereas the home side squandered their chances, Hoppers capitalised on theirs and thoroughly deserved the win.

Caldy came close in the opening minutes and, despite crossing the line, failed to touch down and Hoppers turned over the ball and cleared. Next, Mark Edwards’ cross kick just eluded lively winger Matt Hughes but the pack then lost their own lineout, a weakness throughout the match.

The deadlock was broken when first Edwards and then Richard Vasey exchanged penalties and for once it was the opposition that failed to secure the kick off. From the ensuing possession, Edwards’ perfectly weighted grubber, fast becoming his party-piece, was touched down by Alex Zavallis-Roebuck and the provider converted on 19 minutes.

Some strong running from the home side was punching some holes and a forward pass denied them a touchdown but Hoppers defended in depth and the only return for the hosts was two more penalties from Vasey to put his side 9-10 down at the break.

At the restart, Dominic Moon, making his season’s debut, received kick off to go on the charge and when the ball was released from the ruck Tom Hughes made the half break to release his namesake Matt on half way who backed his speed to outstrip the defence and Edwards added the extras to make it 17-9.

Worryingly, Hoppers continued to offend at the ruck allowing Vasey to kick two more penalties to reduce the deficit to just two points. Some indecision in the backs spoiled some Hoppers’ possession although Tom Ball, was a continual threat at the base of the scrum.

With 10 minutes left on the clock, another ruck offence gave Vasey his sixth penalty to ease his side one point ahead and Hoppers were behind for the first time in the game and looking at just a losing bonus point.

But replacements Mark Murray and Luke Cunningham combined to set up an attacking platform and Ball used his pace off the mark to exploit the blindside for an excellent individual try. The kick failed but Hoppers were able to run down the clock to secure the win.

This puts Hoppers in good heart for the ‘big one’ next Saturday at Lightfoot Green when local rivals Fylde are the visitors.