Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 23 Sep 2023

Burnage

36 - 41

(HT 24-20)

Birkenhead Park

Burnage

Birkenhead Park

Burnage 36 Birkenhead Park FC 41

Park turned up at Burnage with a number of enforced changes both in the forwards and backs to play Burnage on their 4g pitch. Lawrence Thomas came into the pack at 8 for the first time in 9 months and Olly Mabbott was on the bench for the first time in 12 months. Owen smith came in on the wing with new boy Scott Davidson partnering Adam Wellington in the centre. Park were always going to be up against and it was not going to be any easier when within 2 minutes of the kick off with Burnage attacking, prop Witte was guilty of a tip tackle and the referee immediately brandished a red card. Park down to 14 men with 78 minutes to play. Park compounded their errors when they gave away another penalty from the resulting lineout. Following another line out 5m out the ball was moved to the Burnage scrum half who simply ran through the Park defence to score, converted 7-0. A kick that went straight out gave Park an opportunity to attack and the ball was nicely moved around and drew the penalty from Burnage. Baldwin took the 3 points on offer slotting over from the 22, 7-3. Park despite being a man down continued in the game and had possession in the Burnage 22 with a number of attacks but were just unable to breach the home defence. Park were doing well and competing with Burnage in all aspects but with the extra man after a series of attacks Burnage eventually got a break through the midfield and went into the Park 22 and the Park defence was outnumbered and the Burnage centre crashed over the line, converted 14-3. Park were staying in touch though and with good runs in the midfield led by the back row of Mooney and Bennett gave Park opportunities but they just couldn’t cross the line. Eventually park drew the penalty just inside the 22m and Baldwin slotted the kick, 14-6. Park weren’t helped when on 25minutes 2^nd row Perkins took a blow to the knee which meant him coming off to be replaced by ex-Park Captain Mabbott. Park were under pressure now in the scrum and were penalised giving Burnage the opportunity to extend their lead, 17-6. A mistake fielding the high ball inside the Park half gave Burnage an attacking scrum which they used to create a pre panned backs move. The inside centre found the gap and was able to off load to the supporting right winger who gassed the defence to score, converted, 24-3. The omens were not looking good for Park at this point and the travelling support were extremely anxious as to the final score line. When given another penalty Baldwin went for the corner and the Burnage defence managed to knock the kick dead giving Park a 5m scrum. Although under pressure Mooney picked up at 8 and went forward, when he was brought down 1m short Wellington having stepped in at blindside flanker was in support to pick up and crash over, Baldwin converting, 24-13. Burnage came back and were on the park 22 but with a wayward lineout Park were awarded the scrum. From the resulting ball it was moved wide and Davidson found the supporting Bennett who used his pace to make 30m into the Burnage half and only stopped by a high tackle, resulting in a yellow card for the tackler. From the resulting penalty Park became encamped in the Burnage 22 and after a series of moves across the line the ball eventually found Davidson whose neat hands found the supporting Mabbott to run through the gap to score, Baldwin converting 24-20. This was the last play of the half and despite the worries they were still in this game.

The 2^nd half was under way and Burnage were throwing everything at park but for the time being the defence was resolute with a number of big hits from Doolan and others to keep them out. Baldwin was pulling the strings at 10 and a great 50/22 gave Park a lineout 15m out form the Burnage line. With a good catch and drive the pack edged towards the line and when skipper Mooney broke free there was no stopping him as he crashed over, Baldwin converting 24-27. Burnage were galvanised by this and immediately were on the attack in the Park 22. After a number of efforts from the Park 5m line they eventually forced their way over to score near the posts, converted 31-27. There was still 25 minutes left and the thoughts were that the extra man would tell in Burnage’s favour as Park got tired. Park however had other ideas and having turned a ball over in the Burnage half began attacking with intent. A ball to the dominating Davidson saw him draw the tacklers in and he managed to free his arms to feed the supporting Thomas to run through the gap to score, Baldwin converting 34-31. Burnage were back on the attack with a lineout 5m out, Park turned it over and cleared their lines. Pressure on the Burnage lineout gave Park more ball with a scrum just inside their half. Pressure then got park a lineout just outside the Burnage 22, quick ball off the top found Baldwin who then just off loaded to the onrushing Mabbott. The Burnage defence obviously didn’t fancy the tackle and he motored in from 20m out to score, Baldwin converting 41-31. The travelling support from Park were for once hopeful but when Wellington received a yellow card and Park were down to 13 men it did not look good. The cause wasn’t helped when Burnage managed to move the ball wide a number of times and eventually park ran out of defenders and the Burnage centre had an easy run in, 41-36. There was still 10 minutes left in the game and there was one score between the teams. Both teams were trying to gain that elusive score that would probably win the game but it just didn’t seem to fall right for either and the game was being contested between the two 10m lines. Burnage then got their tails up and got to the Park 5m line and defence was outstanding but after a number of penalties substitute Rich was sent to the bin, Park down to 13 men. Try as they might Burnage could not cross the line and eventually after one pick and go too many Park turned the ball over with time up. Baldwin tapped and cleared the ball for the final whistle to sound FT 36-41.

When the red card was issued with barely 2 minutes on the clock it looked ominous, when Burnage were 24-6 up it looked as though it could have been a cricket score. This Park team showed grit and determination to stay in the fight and when they executed their plans correctly and played the system they were scoring. A hard fought but well deserved victory in a tough fixture on the 4G pitch.