Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 25 Feb 2023

Anselmians

26 - 23

(HT 17-10)

Birkenhead Park

Anselmians

Birkenhead Park

It was always going to be a tough day against Anselmians and so it proved on Saturday with park losing in the final minute. Straight from the kick off Park missed the catch and the ball bounced into touch inside the Park 22. From the resulting Park line out the ball was lost and Anselmians were on the attack fortunately the Park defence held out and the lines were cleared. Not for long though as Anselmians came back and with Park infringing in the midfield a penalty was kicked to the corner. The ball was caught and moved out to the half backs who fed the inside running forwards to crash through and score near the posts, 7-0. Anselmians were having all the possession and when Park were caught offside again the kick for posts was taken, 10-0. The signs were ominous for Park with Anselmians in the ascendancy but when a kick from Anselmians went dead Park had an opportunity in their half. A good attack took Park 5m out and from a dart from the breakdown Chidley thought he had scored only to be given as being short. From the resulting scrum the ball moved out and when Hall stepped inside the defence he found Chidley running a great supporting line to score, Hall converting 10-7. Anselmians were back in the Park half soon after and with problems at the lineout were unable to exit with any distance. Both defences were working hard and Park were unable with ball in hand to make any breaks but they had some decent possession and the forwards were carrying well with Cross to the fore. Anselmians moved into the Park 22 and with some strong defence after a number of pick and go’s by the Anselmians forwards got them to 15m out. Strong defence by Park kept them out and managed a turnover which was quickly reversed after Park gave away a sill penalty. The kick to the corner, lineout and catch and drive by Anselmians led to the hooker finishing off with the try which was converted, 17-7. Park had a decent spell of possession and were encamped in the Anselmians half when a couple of penalties gave them good field position. The latter was just outside the 22m and Hall elected to take the points, 17-10.

The second half started brightly for Park with a great run by Captain Mooney took them 10m out the attack was spoilt by Anselmians being offside. A quick tap and go took Park to 5m out but they were penalised for holding on and the ball was cleared. Park were having some decent possession and pushed into the Anselmians half with some probing runs eventually catching them offside, Hall 17-13. Park were looking the better team now and a good break by the backs took them 15m out only foiled by the final pass going to floor. Park kept attacking though and from a breakdown a quick pick up by Ashcroft saw him breach the defence and stretch out to the line to score, Hall converting 17-20. Anselmians were not done and spent time in the Park half but were unable to breach the defence despite being on the Park 5m line. Another penalty gave them the chance to level up in front of the posts, 20-20. It was now a really tight game with neither side able to breach the defensive set ups. When Anselmians attacked and got in the Park 22 further infringements led to penalties and in this form they were not being missed and Anselmians took the lead again, 23-20. It was now Park’s turn to attack and after a decent spell of possession and a number of short runs from the forwards Anselmians were caught offside Hall taking the points, 23-23. With time running out any mistake would be the decider and so it proved when Anslemians moved into the Park 22 and caught Park offside. The kick was good and it was the last play of the game.

For the neutral this was an entertaining game and from home supporters the best one they had seen at Anselmians all season. For Park though it was one of missed opportunities and ill-discipline again let the side down as it has done in close games this season. It was a shame to lose such a close encounter but with 3 games left Park need to put this behind them and finish the league season strongly ready for some serious cup exploits.