Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 4 Feb 2023

Birkenhead Park

38 - 0

(HT 0-0)

Altrincham Kersal

Birkenhead Park

Altrincham Kersal

Park came into this game knowing they had to be on form as AK had been on a 3 match unbeaten run having beaten two teams above them. Park started brightly enough making excursions into the AK half drawing a couple of early penalties. As a result Fly Half Hall was able to put Park into the AK 22 for a line out. Quick ball off No 8 Fox set Park and the ball was moved wide before it came back inside and AK were caught offside again. Hall took the 3pts on offer to open the scoring, 3-0. Park carried on with the bright start and were spending plenty of time in the AK half, defence was again excellent and was forcing AK into making errors. Some good carries by the forwards off the back of a dominant scrum set up good ball for the backs but the final telling pass couldn’t be found. AK were never out of it and a good break from the 2 nd row put them into the Park 22 but the defensive line from Park was enough to snuff out the attack. The first try came straight off the training ground when Hall kicked a penalty to 15m out. The line out catch and drive was good and when the ball was moved wide Tyrer looped round off his wing to be put through the gap and score to the left of the posts, Hall converting, 10-0. AK came back into the attack with the ball being moved to both sides of the field and eventually drew a penalty. With the line out 5m from the Park line AK tried to drive over but got nowhere and unfortunately Park were penalised twice more and AK went back to the 5m line out. Park managed to thwart the attack and snuff out the danger clearing their lines. A big tackle by R.Doolan allowed centre Morgan to steal the ball and Park went on the attack. When Park were dubiously awarded a lineout on the AK 22 a free take by Ashcroft set up a good attacking position when the ball went wide a number of pick and go’s from the forwards took park to 5m out.

 
The ball was moved swiftly wide again and the gap in the defence was exploited by wing Tyrer for his 2nd try of the afternoon out wide, Hall converting 17-0. From a mistake at the restart AK were back in Park’s half and attacking the try line. Unfortunately they were unable to breach the defence and time and again they were knocked back and eventually Park forced the mistakes and were able to clear the lines bring the half to a close.

AK started brightly and moved into the Park half but when it came to scrum time Park were dominant and set up such a good platform for the half backs the ball was able to be cleared to the AK 22. Park the launched a series of attacks and with fullback Majoribanks in the line, a neat hold and pass to Tyrer set him on his way. Despite being tackled 10m out as he was not held he got back to his feet and finished it off over the line, Hall converting, 24-0. The ball was spending a lot of time between the 2 10m lines with neither side able to make the breakthrough but park were getting penalised. After a kick into the 22 park were caught offside and Cross was chosen as the one to receive the yellow card. AK were unable to take advantage and Park cleared their lines with a couple of dominant scrums and some great positional kicking from fly half Hall. From a good scrum on the 22 centre Morgan was fed to make yards then No8 Fox took the next carry and was stopped inches short of the line. The next phase went to Wellington who was never passing and crashed over to score, Hall converting 31-0. AK never gave up and attacked the Park half but a great break by R. Doolan saw him make 50m before off-loading to substitute Jewell who was dragged down in the 22. A lax penalty at the lineout allowed AK to get out of their half but park were soon back after a high tackle on winger Amy-Smith allowed Hall to reach the 22. With line out won at the rear neat hand by R.Doolan and McLaughlin put centre Wellington on a rampaging 15m run to the line to score near the posts, Hall converting 38-0. After receiving a high tackle Amy-Smith committed one of his own for which he got a yellow card but AK were unable to take advantage kicking the ball dead. Park managed to spend the last 5minutes in the AK half and didn’t let them out to run down the clock and run out comfortable winners.

Another bonus point win and a clean sheet kept by Park but still plenty to work on.

Far too many penalties given away and we will need to improve for next week’s local derby at Waterloo.