Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 30 Sep 2023

Birkenhead Park

41 - 20

(HT 0-0)

Winnington Park

Birkenhead Park

Winnington Park

Birkenhead Park 40 Winnington Park 20

After a minutes silence immaculately respected by the teams and the spectators the game against WP got under way with the rain pouring down, this was a downpour that would last the whole game and affect both sides. In the opening exchanges neither side was able to get a good foothold as the ball was like a bar of soap and often fell out of players grasp. The Park scrum set its stall out early dominating the initial exchanges and giving WP no good ball from the platform. Park were dominating the early exchanges and with a solid platform in both lineout and scrum it boded well. When Bennett forced the error just inside the WP half a nice drive by the forwards gave scrum half Chidley the opportunity to break down the blind side. When he drew the defence to find Du Randt on the outside who managed to power through the covering defenders to score in the corner, 5-0. WP came straight back into it forcing a penalty from the kick off and then another which the WP fly half slotted, 5-3. Park had the ball but in the weather it all too often went to ground allowing WP to exit and clear up field. From a Park drop kick from under their own posts the ball fell to the WP fly half who took the opportunity to try a drop goal from the Park 10m which sailed over the posts, 5-6. Park were soon back on the attack and only stubborn defence were keeping them out, after a couple of forward runs in the midfield WP were penalised and Baldwin took the opportunity to regain the lead, 8-6. A mistake by WP at the restart put Park back on the attack and from a lineout on the WP 10m line White made a break that took him 2m short of the WP line. A couple of pick and go’s were thwarted but eventually Wellington forced his way over near the posts, Baldwin converting 15-6. Another error from the kick off saw park back in the WP half and when they were penalised. Baldwin put Park into the corner and from a nice catch by Ashcroft the maul was set and White finished it off from the back, Baldwin converting, 22-6. Park were in control but as is often the was with this team we like to give the opposition some assistance and a charge down from the WP centre allowed him to collect the ball and cross unopposed, converted, 22-13, HT.

Park had been in control but the pouring rain was making life difficult for both teams, an early penalty from Park went astray and WP made it into the Park half. With a dominant scrum any ball that went to floor was odds on coming back to Park. After a scrum in centre field the ref finally handed a yellow card to the WP prop to put them at 14. From the reset scrum Park moved forward and then released the ball and a series of attacks close to the ruck by the forwards. Eventually the ball was moved wide and slid along the floor but was snapped up by Bennett who handed off the defender to score, 27-13. WP did not give up though and pressurised park in their own half. A neat chip through was unlucky for the onrushing WP winger who just couldn’t hold onto the ball and dropped it forward, allowing park to clear their lines. Park moved into the WP half but spilled the ball when looking promising. However with the park pack dominant pressure disrupted their scrum and Park were back in possession. A couple of powerful runs from Bennett and Davidson saw Park within 10m of the WP line. When Chidley picked up at the ruck a diagonal run saw him find the gap between covering defenders ad he managed to reach for the line despite being tackled, Baldwin converting, 34-13. WP did not give up the fight and came back at Park, helped by yellow card given to Bennett WP attacked the Park line. From a couple of penalties just inside their 22 WP kept on the pressure and eventually managed to force their way over the line, converted, 34-20. With a couple of changes in the front row park actually were under pressure in the scrum which forced them into some quick changes to rectify the problem. WP had their tails up and were having their time in possession but Park were able to keep them at bay and normal service was resumed at scrum time. Park battled back into the WP half and when they were offside at a breakdown, Baldwin put the ball in the corner. Following a good lineout the ball went into the middle and after a couple of attempts WP managed to keep them out. Eventually the dam was due to burst and when the ball moved out again White collected to crash over for his second try of the game, Baldwin converted, 41-20. This ended up being the last play of the game and Park had eventually ran out comfortable winners. This was a difficult game in terrible conditions with non-stop rain all game making continued possession difficult. A series of games against the top teams in the league in the next month will set out Park’s season going forward but the players are ready for the challenge. With injured players due back over the next week Park are hoping to be at full strength with a problem for the coaching staff in selection which is always a nice position to be in.