Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 9 Dec 2023, 14:15

Birkenhead Park

46 - 5

(HT 22-5)

Whitchurch

Birkenhead Park

Whitchurch

Birkenhead took on Whitchurch at a wet and muddy Upper Park looking for revenge after a defeat at Whitchurch earlier in the season and the weather couldn’t have been more different when the temperature was up to 25*. Park were straight out of the blocks and put Whitchurch under pressure just on their 5m line forcing a knock on. With a strong scrum from park Fox picked up fed Chidley whose neat off load to Du Randt saw him crash over unopposed, 5-0. Despite the conditions Park wanted to play their game and some strong runs in the midfield brought them to half way unfortunately a charged down kick from Baldwin put them back on their 5m line. Park’s defence however kept them out and forced the mistake out on the Park 10m line. After some decent play a kick by Rich and a good chase from Laing put Park in the Whitchurch 22 but unfortunately the ball went to ground. Neither side could really get control due to the conditions and the ball was the proverbial bar of soap and there were going to be lots of scrums. Park eventually found the gap with some good forward runs and Laing put on the burners to get into the 22 before he was brought down and knocked on. Park forced a penalty at the scrum and kicked to the corner but lost the lineout. They made amends though turning over the Whitchurch scrum and forcing their own scrum. This allowed Fox to pick up at the back and powered over to score Park’s second, 10-0. Despite the conditions Park were trying to play running rugby and with both Chidley and Baldwin using the forward runners to good effect. Park kept running back at park and when Chidley found Roscoe he waded into the space before putting in a crossfield kick. From the recovery Whitchurch cleared only to find Laing with space in front of him. He didn’t need a second invite and scorched through the mud to score under the posts, Baldwin converting, 17-0. Park were still trying to play but the conditions were certainly not helpful and when Park were caught offside Whitchurch kicked to the park 5m line. A catch and drive ensued and Whitchurch scored starting to make a game of it, 17-5. Park were riled then and fought at the kick off to turn the ball over on the Whitchurch 10m line. With a couple of good runs the ball fell to Chidley who skipped through the mud avoiding defenders then found Roscoe out wide who scampered over to score, 22-5.

Park now had a good wind behind them and Baldwin was willing to use it to put the pressure on Whitchurch. Park now spent some time in the Whitchurch half and they were unable to get out of their half. With the set piece working well and Fox dominant off the back of the scrums and mauls park were playing well in the conditions. A series of scrums on the Whitchurch 5m line were piling on the pressure and eventually it had to break. From one of these the ball was moved quickly from a penalty and found Bennett who stepped inside the cover to score, 27-5. From the kick off Park were back on the attack and when Whitchurch were penalised it was line out to Park 25m out. A 20m catch and drive by Park forwards set it up nicely and after a run by Wellington was stopped short it was moved quickly to Fox who powered over for his second, Baldwin converting, 34-5. When Fox was rested, a slim line Jones was on for his 250^th 1^st XV appearance in a Park shirt. Park were putting on more pressure and shunted back a scrum some 10m before the ball was moved wide. The defence held out on a couple of occasions but when Wellington stepped to make a break he was held but had his hands free to find the supporting Roscoe who crashed over to score again, 39-5. Park were back straight on the attack from the restart and from a ruck hooker White picked and went through the unguarded middle to run to the Whitchurch 22m line before he was tackled. Quick ball from Chidley found Laing who stepped the defender handed off another and then made the try line, Baldwin converting, 46-5. Park kept on attacking and but were unable to make any improvements on the score line and Whitchurch held out to the end.

An excellent result in terrible conditions and certainly avenged the defeat from earlier in the season. Park have another tough game to focus on next week with a trip to AK for the last game of the year.