Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 16 Sep 2023

Birkenhead Park

33 - 31

(HT 0-0)

Altrincham Kersal

Birkenhead Park

Altrincham Kersal

Birkenhead Park 33 Altrincham Kersal 31

After last week’s reversal, Park’s home match against AK would prove to be another tough encounter with AK having beaten Whitchurch and drew against Winnington Park I their opening fixtures. Park were defending the clubhouse in the first half and had made changes with Fox back, Latu on the bench and Ibbotson into the front row. Park’s set piece set the standard from the off shoving AK back in the scrum and putting them under pressure in the lineout. Park were moving the ball well and only the efforts of the touch judge kept the points level when Walls was adjudged in touch before he dotted down. Park were in the ascendancy in the opening ten minutes and only some lax handling stopped them from crossing the whitewash. When AK did attack the Park defence was well organised and forced the turnovers allowing Baldwin to clear the lines. After a good carry into the midfield by Hughes AK were caught offside and Baldwin took the points from their 10m line, 3-0. From a midfield penalty a quick tap by Morgan set the backs in motion with Roscoe making 30m before being brought down from the recycle though a dropped ball let AK off the hook. Park however shoved AK off the ball and when it went wide this time Roscoe made no mistake scoring in the corner, 8-0. Park were dominating territory and possession eventually forced a knock on 5m out near the AK posts. With a dominant scrum there was only one result with Fox steering the ship as he dotted down behind the powerful scrum Baldwin converting, 15-0. AK were showing attacking intent but were unable to make any meaningful breaks and continuously turned the ball over. Baldwin kept Park moving and from a Park lineout on the AK 22 a neat move saw the ball dropped onto the onrushing Fox to trundle over for his second try of the game, 20-0. Park were completely in control and AK were looking almost down and out. As this team has a habit however they let them back in and a simple pass from P. Doolan found only the AK centre who ran in 30m unopposed to score, converted 20-7. To compound matter then straight from the kick off some poor tackling and organisation again allowed AK back in for the winger to run 50m untouched for another converted try, 20-14. From looking untouchable Park suddenly had a game on and AK were definitely back in the game. Park got some control back when after being camped in the AK 22 the ball was moved to both sides and eventually AK ran out of defenders and when Roscoe was found he crashed over for his second of the game and the bonus point try, 25-14 and HT.

AK started the 2^nd half strongly and with Park making mistakes it allowed them to spend time in the Park 22. After a couple of attacking lineouts pressure was telling and after a penalty on the 5m line, a quick tap by the AK 2^nd row saw him crash over to score, 25-19. Park spent time now in the AK 22 with a number of scrums and penalties only 5m out but this time try as they might they could not cross the line, Fix being denied his hatrick by an unsighted referee and eventually AK cleared their lines. After a long period of pressure AK got to the half way line and with a scrum they moved the ball and the centre found a gap in the defence to exploit and found his teammate to beat the last defender and score under the posts, easily converted 25-26. Park were now behind and making mistakes all over the pitch but eventually became camped in the AK 22. When another dominant scrum gave Park the penalty Baldwin took the points to regain the lead, 28-26. From a scrum going backwards on the half way line the AK 8 picked and made space to put his backs into space and eventually the ball found the speedy AK wing who scorched free and despite the cover tackle managed to touch down and AK were back in the lead, 28-31. With the clock running out Morgan broke free and when he was tackled 1m short, the back-up was held up over the line and AK had a goal line drop out. Park regathered and forced the mistake from AK to gain the penalty, a kick to level the scores but Baldwin opted for the corner. A good catch and drive from the park 8 set the ball nicely and McLaughlin was tucked in the pocket and broke off to dive over to score. 33-31. There was still time for a restart but Park managed it well and gained a scrum after a knock on from AK. With the ball won it was kicked off for FT, final score 33-31.

What looked in the first 30minutes to be a well-disciplined performance from Park, who would blow AK away turned into a last minute 2 point victory. Again there were errors and missed opportunities and the Park way of giving the opposition as much help as possible to ensure the DOR gets more grey hair each week but at least this week it ended in victory. The penalty count was, for once, excellent but there is plenty to work on in the week ready for another step up away at Burnage on their 4G pitch.