A TERRIFIC come back by Hoylake counted for nothing as they handed local rivals Anselmians victory with a late, late error in the South Lancashire/Cheshire One League derby at Melrose Avenue.

It finished 20-21 to the Eastham outfit thanks to an added time penalty by Simon Mason which, not surprisingly, left Hoylake utterly deflated.

Two delightful tries by Nick Lytollis plus a conversion and a penalty by Mason gave Anselmians a 15-0 interval advantage and when Mason truck again five minutes after the re-start it looked all over.

Hoylake, however, had other ideas and the pressure told as the visitors collected yellow cards.

Joe Lavin hit a penalty for Hoylake and then Jack Woods was credited with the touch down as the home forwards drove over from a line-out.

Lavin took advantage of depleted numbers in the visiting ranks for the next score and then Matt McClaren won the race for try number three after a kick through.

Lavin's conversion on 68 minutes made it 20-18 to Hoylake and they looked totally on top.

Anselmians drew on their last reserves of energy to make rare progress into the home half.

Hoylake erred in the maul and Mason accepted the penalty gift as he has done many times before in a long playing career.

It was heartbreak for Hoylake just, if my memory serves me right, as it had been in the corresponding fixture last season when the last kick tilted the balance in favour of the Saints.

Caldy produced a commendable performance in National Two North to edge the verdict 30-29 at Stourbridge who have stuttered a little this campaign Wirral found little going right against Lymm and fell 17-46 at Clatterbridge in National Three North.

Lymm were 22-0 to the good by half-time and extended their advantage later before the Wirralforwards drove over tomake the scoreline a littlemore respectable.

There was a try in each half for the losers plus both conversions and a penalty by Craig Harvey.

Mainly it was a day of close results. Birkenhead Park came away 37-36 winners from Widnes in North One West.

Dave Ibbotson played a key role with three tries.

Joe Spencer and Ollie Mabbutt also went in to ensure a bonus point and Dave Hall landed three of the conversions and a brace of penalties.

New Brighton put up a bright show at Kendal but were beaten 20-26 by the table toppers.

Kendal dominated the first period to build up a 26-3 advantage. There was only a Joe Silcock penalty to show for the efforts of the Blues but it was a different story later.

A first Brighton try from winger Jones in the third quarter was converted by Silcock who then struck another penalty.

Ned Brooks breached the home defence for a second touch down after a concerted move. Silcock added the extras and it was the Cumbrians who were hanging on at the death. A bonus point was scant reward for the Hartsfield outfit.

There were defeats for Port Sunlight and Prenton in South Lancashire / Cheshire Two. Sunlight finished 33-37 at home to Isle of Man outfit Vagabonds and Prenton 15-22 against visiting Dukinfield.

It was a blank Saturday for Division Three sides Caldy welcome Huddersfield this Saturday with Wirral journeying to Burnage.

Birkenhead Park have Warrington as visitors and New Brighton take on Carlisle at Hartsfield.

Other fixtures on a full league Saturday include Hoylake at Altrincham Kersal, Anselmians v Glossop. Port Sunlight at Dukinfield, Prenton at Collegiate, Ellesmere Port at Capenhurst, Oldershaw v Liverpool University, Oxton Parkonians v Linley and Wallasey v Congleton.