Hoppers senior colts turned up at Southport for their final away league match with the luxury of having 17 players.
The opening exchanges of the game saw hoppers on top, playing some creative running rugby.
With the hoppers pack playing at a high tempo, good work from half backs Tom Lyth & Lewis Allen enabled the centres Sam Madden and Greg Horsfield to create chances for winger Tom Davies and fullback Adam Atkinson who was tackled ten metres short when possibly a pass may have seen James Barnes go over. From a series of midfield phases Luke Procter broke free to score a solo try.
Hoppers then eased off allowing the home team a penalty and a try under the posts after being within 5 metres of the hoppers try line for what seemed like an eternity. It could have been worse but for an off the ball tackle from Oliver Hamilton which saved a certain home try surprisingly on this occasion for Oliver no card (Dad must know the ref) . Hoppers continued to press and just on the stroke of half time the hoppers pack camped inside the Southport 22 and after several powerful drives from Ben Jackson, Darren Spencer & captain James Coultard a well driven maul was driven over for Luke to score his second. Converted by Lewis.
(ht 14-10)
Josh Keay making a guest appearance from the bench nad was making some great inroads into the home defence. However an interception from James Barnes put hoppers into the Southport 22 & from the ensuing quick ball Antony Elliott scored. Hoppers were now playing some good rugby and the backs looked like scoring more. After some good forward play from Jake Shepherd & Burnsy, James Coultard got hoppers fourth try, Lewis slotting his third conversion of the day.
Hoppers senior colts played some positive rugby today lets carry on like this for the remainder of the season.
FINAL SCORE
SOUTHPORT 15 Hoppers 26
Report by Mike Lyth
