Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 18 Nov 2023, 14:15

Birkenhead Park

50 - 3

(HT 0-0)

Kirkby Lonsdale

Birkenhead Park

Kirkby Lonsdale

Birkenhead Park 50 Kirby Lonsdale 5

It was a crisp autumnal day when Park took on the visitors Kirby Lonsdale and made their intentions clear from the off with an attack in the opening minutes. The ball was moved out wide to winger Laing who beat off the defenders to score within 2 minutes, Hall converting 7-0. From the restart Park slipped up allowing KL to retrieve the ball and after a couple of moves forced a penalty which was converted, 7-3. Park immediately kept on the pressure from the restart getting into the KL 10m line but a knock on gave KL the scrum. Park pressure turned this into a penalty which Baldwin put into the corner. The ball was lost and KL cleared only to find Laing who made it to the 22m line. From the ruck Chidley found Witte who swatted off would be tacklers to power over the line with a couple of defenders on his back, Hall converting 14-3. Park then withstood some KL pressure but with a dominant scrum always had them under pressure. When Chidley won a turnover at a KL scrum the ball found Baldwin who put it into the KL 22. From the returned kick good carries from Witte and Bennett set park up well and when Wellington picked up at the ruck he found 22m of open space and the supporting Ashcroft. Now in the KL 22 the ball went wide and simple hands found Laing in space to canter over for his 2^nd, 19-3. The ball was being played between the two 22m lines and Park had opportunities but failed to get it right in key locations. From a 5m lineout Park went wide but were unable to cross the whitewash with Laing held up. From the resulting drop out Park kept the pressure on and from a lineout drive from the KL 22 Park made inroads. Eventually after a series of rucks White ran a strong line against the flow and crashed over, Hall converting 26-3. With a KL scrum on park’s 22 Bennett stole the ball as it squirted out and galloped off 2m before off-loading inside to the supporting Ashcroft onto Rich and a great pick up from Baldwin put Park in the KL 22. Park won a series of breakdowns with Bennett finding holes all over the park. From a ruck 10m out Chidley took the ball stepped inside to draw the defence and popped off to Laing in the gap to bring up his hat-trick, Hall converting 33-3. Park were looking imperious at this point and everything they were trying was working. KL were unable to compete at the set piece and Park took full advantage with the next try straight off the training ground. From a scrum midfield Chidley moved it to Baldwin, who with an inside pass to Du Randt, put him in acres of space and he went through the gap. A simple 2 on 1 found the supporting Hall to score under the posts, converting it too 40-3. It was an excellent first half for Park.

The second half could not have started better for Park having turned over a KL lineout on the Park 22 the ball went quickly through the backs with a lovely miss pass from Baldwin to the incoming Hall who then put wing Laing away into space. A lovely chip from Laing bounced back into his arms and although he was tackled just short of the line his momentum allowed him to reach out and score a great 4^th try for him, 45-3. It was looking ominous for KL but to be fair to the young team they never gave up the fight and although Park were having decent amounts of possession they were finding it difficult to break through. KL kept trying to break out but Park were comfortable in their defensive system’s and were having the majority of possession. When KL did try and attack Park were quick off the line and were able to snub out the threat. From a lineout off the top Baldwin found Rich who burst through the defensive line and into the 22. Quick recycling sent the ball wide and eventually the space on the outside was exploited by Du Randt who crashed over out wide, 50-3. KL still didn’t throw in the towel and kept on trying everything they could to cross the park line and in spite on numerous efforts were unable to break through the organised defence. Breaking out from their own 22 KL made it into the Park 22 but a scrambling defence thwarted their attack and an excellent clearing kick from Rich relieved the pressure. Park then had a sustained attack but try as they might they couldn’t add to their tally with a strong defensive shift being put in by KL.

Still a comprehensive victory for Park but well done to KL for not throwing in the towel and making park work for the victory. Another 5 points keeps Park on target for the end of the season.