Higgy recover to bag derby points

RUGBY: HOLLINWOOD made a rapid start against Higginshaw in Division Three West of the Pennine League — but it was the visitors to Fields New Road who eventually emerged victorious courtesy of a 26-22 scoreline.

Despite starting with only 11 players because of injuries and work commitments, the home side forged an early lead Luke Skilling made a fine break before touching down under the posts in the 13th minute. He added the conversion.

Hollinwood belied their numbers with a second try, this time from Danny Ryan out wide, five minutes later. Though the conversion attempt was missed, Skilling kicked a penalty for a 12-0 advantage.

Higgy got a foothold thanks to Lee Forsyth, who broke from the scrum before sending Gareth Brindley for a Jamie Mayall-goaled try.

With the trio of Paul Turner, Mayall and Forsyth dictating the game in centre field, Matthew Bottom burst clear up the middle.

Player-coach Emmerson Jackman was in support and he ran in from 40 metres to reduce the deficit to a couple of points at the break.

Higgy kept up the pressure in the early stages of the second period, with new signing Danny Turner making big inroads into the hosts’ half. A Danny Turner try and Mayall goal put Higgy in front for the first time in the game at 16-12.

He added a second touchdown after a 40-yard break on the hour mark — Chris Yarwood and Ian Sutton were unstrumental in the move — to put his side 22-12 ahead with Mayall goaling.

Hollinwood would not lie down, though, with Jim Hamilton setting a fine example by never taking a backward step.

Hamilton was rewarded with a converted try, and at 22-18 the game was in the balance. But Emmerson went in for his second try and the points and local bragging rights were in Higgy’s grasp.