Horsfall helps Glossop to victory

North One West: Glossop 31-12 Wilmslow

A brace of tries from winger Max Horsfall helped Glossop overcome a tough Wilmslow outfit at Hargate Hill, with the hosts eventually running out 31-12 winners. 

Things couldn’t have started much better for Glossop, who scored after only three minutes when excellent work from the kick off saw them make deep inroads towards the Wilmslow try line, before Kieran Wain crashed over for a try which Tom Dearnaley converted for a 7-0 lead. 

Wilmslow reduced the deficit when they scored following a break in the midfield but the conversion was missed, leaving Glossop with a slender lead at 7-5. 

The Hillmen responded well when a number of penalties were kicked into the corner as the home forwards worked hard against their Cheshire counterparts. The initial drives were repelled but when the ball was released to the backs, a deft pass from Dearnaley saw winger Horsfall split the defence and cross under the posts. Dearnaley converted to give Glossop a 14-5 lead which they would carry into half time. 

Glossop kicked off the second half and for the next 20 minutes the visitors enjoyed their best spell. Glossop were lacking fluidity and the game became punctuated with unforced errors and penalties. Wilmslow’s efforts were rewarded with a converted try after sustained pressure saw their Number 8, Alex Taylor cross for a converted try, and at 14-12 it was all to play for. 

The next try would be pivotal and Wilmslow had Glossop on the ropes but the home defence held firm. 

Heading into the final quarter Glossop came into their own. 

Glossop’s Elliot Caine moved from wing to full back and when he fielded a high kick, he showed good footwork to find space and release Damien Chabas. The Frenchman carried the ball deep into the Wilmslow half, where he found the supporting Sam Gibson on his inside to canter in under the posts for a converted try bringing the score to 21-12. 

With ten minutes to play, Glossop had their tails up and had their sights set on the all important fourth ‘bonus point’ try. 

Chris Sonczak moved from scrum half and was now playing on the wing, he duly obliged with the fourth score when he finished off a break down the right flank to give Glossop some breathing space at 26-12. 

In the closing stages, Glossop won a scrum in the Wilmslow ‘22, and the backline linked up well to keep the ball alive, before Horsfall finished off the move in the left corner to complete the scoring for the day. Final score 32-12 for Glossop