Sat 30 Sep 2023
Birkenhead Park v WPRFC
30th September 2023 – Park lose away in miserable conditions
Birkenhead Park 41 – 20 WPRFC
This week Park travelled to the Wirral to face Birkenhead Park (BP) who have had a good start to the season and sitting in the top half of the table with three wins out of four. The conditions were not the best with the rain falling throughout the game.
The game started with Park kicking off and Birkenhead Park (BP) going through the phases but dropping the ball in the greasy conditions. The scrum was won by BP against the head with BP having a big pack, but Park used their kicking game to get us into the BP 22 but with the greasy conditions we struggled to get any advantage. BP used their scrum dominance to kick their way out of their own half and indiscipline by Park gave BP a penalty for offside and BP kicked for the corner but could not turn their field position into points. On 11 minutes BP were in for the first unconverted try from a scrum 30 metres out when they went to the blind side and scored in the corner (5-0). From the restart Park worked hard at the first breakdown and earned a penalty which unfortunately was pushed wide of the posts from the kick but a minute later further indiscipline by BP gave Benny Elliot another shot at goal from 42 metres which he struck well (5-3). The game was very much in the balance and on 20 minutes Benny Elliot was sat in the pocket and put Park ahead with a lovely drop goal (5-6).
With game very tight and a bit stop start due to the conditions both sides were working hard in attack and defence, but BP were showing their dominance in the scrum and caused Park problems and on 25 minutes indiscipline by Park gave BP a shot at goal which they took to take the lead again (8-6). BP started to get an edge and had a chance extend their lead but knocked on over the line but kept the pressure on and scored two converted tries in 5 minutes to extend their lead (22-6). Park had the final points of the first half when Charlie Hyde hounded the BP full back and charged down his clearance kick and picked up the ball with a bit of a juggle and ran in from 30 metres for a great converted try (22-13).
Half time score 22 - 13
The second half started with the conditions still very poor, and it was going to be an uphill battle for Park to close the gap on the scoreboard. Park were working really hard in defence and attack with some great work, but BP seemed to ride the pressure but failed to turn the pressure into points with an early penalty on 44 minutes. The first points of the second half went to BP on 51 minutes when they pinned Park in our own and scored an unconverted try in the corner from sustained pressure (27-13). BP kept the pressure on Park and 10 minutes later they were in with another converted try when the scum half broke a couple of tackles to score a solo try in close quarters (34-13).
The game was running away from Park, and we needed to score next, and Park dug deep with a dominant scrum 10 metres out and with territory came our second try from close range with Luke Westgate driving through the BP defence with a great score and Benny Elliot adding the extras (34-20). Park were working hard in all areas of the game, but the conditions were still very poor, but we could not quite get a third try and with only minutes left on the clock BP scored their sixth try to seal the win (41-20). It was tough encounter in very poor conditions, but Park stepped up their performance from last week and there were some real positives from the game especially from some of our younger players who showed what they are capable of and the whole team had to work hard under the circumstances with players playing out of position.
Final score Birkenhead Park 41 – 20 WPRFC
Team: Chris Twigg, Charlie Hyde, Tom Merrick, James Weeks, Nathan Taylor, Benny Elliot, Cameron Flanagan, James Johnson, Luke Westgate, Ben Lilley, Matt Treacy, Frank Gibbons, Ross Morrin, Tom King, Sam Blears, Jordan France and Bradley Marshall
