Wilmslow 36 Hoylake 7: WILMSLOW made a cautious return to winning ways with a scoreline that flatters to deceive.

This was no five-try thumping of a poor side lying mid-table a division below.

For while Hoylake lost heavily, Wilmslow spent a disturbing amount of time in their own 22.

But equally it could have been a cricket score for Wilmslow. Saturday’s frustration fairly summed up the Lexus Stockport-sponsored Wolves season.

There was, on occasion, careful construction of plays and territory claimed.

There were not, however, enough chances put away. It’s not that these committed players lack the killer instinct - no side gets to third in this league without it.

It’s getting all the pieces to fall into place at the right time.

It will come. The tries they did score proved that. It just needs to come in the last three matches of the North Two West campaign against keen opposition like Blackburn, Altrincham-Kersal and New Brighton.

That will justify the healthy, upper mid-table position they deserve, instead of eighth, where they currently lie.

Saturday’s win and a place in a cup final, albeit a minor cup final, boosted the Wolves confidence no end.

Two tries from man-of-the-match Luke Bennett, filling in again for the injured Ben Day, were among the highlights of a patchy performance all round.

There were tries too for winger Ross Hunter, flanker Craig Stewart and fly-half Bob MacCallum, whose trusty boot also supplied a penalty and four conversions.

Wilmslow camped in Hoylake territory for most of the first half, but could only deliver a Hunter try, finished off after strong play midfield and forward charges from flankers Rich Williams and the hard-working Charlie Levings, on as a blood replacement for Danny Jones.

MacCallum converted and Hoylake held out until half-time.

MacCallum slotted a penalty just a minute into the second half, but the Wolves gifted Hoylake their only score from the restart. Wilmslow caught but were turned over in the ruck and Hoylake kicked high into the Wolves 22, where Bennett fumbled the catch.

He recovered to pass to scrum-half Charlie Mulchrone on his own line, but his clearance kick was charged down and the visitors were back in it at 10-7.

Wilmslow’s encouraging response showed the green shoots of a springtime recovery at Pownall Park. MacCallum, now sporting a bandaged head from a cut eye in the first half, pierced the Hoylake line to feed Bennett in midfield. The full-back made amends for his earlier blunder by racing 50 metres to touch down under the posts, MacCallum converting.

Towards the hour mark, Wilmslow spent too much time letting Hoylake run at them, a period shattered by flanker Craig Stewart’s audacious interception and 65-metre race for the line, again for MacCallum to convert.

Another deft MacCallum break in midfield supplied Bennett with his second try of the day, but only after he beat a despairing Hoylake cover tackle to touch down in the corner.

The Wolves saved the best to last. This time it was skipper Steve Braddock who broke from defence and powered upfield. He fed Mulchrone in support who was pulled down yards short. Bennett piled in to grab the ball and flip it delightfully to MacCallum in support who crossed wide out and cruised under the posts to make his conversion a formality.

Assistant coach Giles Hegarty welcomed the marked improvement in Wilmslow’s form, following league defeats against Leigh and Broughton Park.

But he added: "There is still work to be done. We worked well with the ball and got the tries that mattered.

"We have worked hard in training, particularly on our defensive organisation.

"But we all know there is work to be done to finish the season well."

The club’s second XV lost 28-15 against Vale of Lune and the thirds lost 25-24 at Aldwinians.