Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 6 Jan 2024, 14:15

Birkenhead Park

36 - 22

(HT 0-0)

Burnage

Birkenhead Park

Burnage

Park made their first appearance of the New Year on a cold but sunny day at the Upper Park against Burnage. With park kicking off park were quickly on the back foot with an early penalty against them giving Burnage the opportunity to get to the Park 22. From the resulting line out Park were caught offside in the midfield and Burnage took the opportunity to slot the points 0-3. This seemed t wake Park and they were quickly back on the attack and causing Burnage problems up front and out wide with Montgomery having a couple of good runs on the wing. Park were camped in the Burnage 22 and when Park were awarded a penalty 15m out from the Burnage line a quick tap was stopped illegally by Burnage who received a yellow card. Park opted for the scrum and shoved Burnage back 10m with Fox controlling it at the back before releasing the ball. Despite the ball going to ground Tyrer collected and made yards with defenders on his back and managed to slip the pass inside to the supporting Wellington to crash over the line, Baldwin converting, 7-3. Park came back from the restart with the outside backs linking well before finding Bennett who stepped out of a couple of tackles to make 20m. Quick ball to Du Randt then inside to Wellington took Park 5m out before the ball was unfortunately dropped. Park had the Burnage scrum under pressure and sent them backwards before they were able to clear their lines. A shortened line out found Fox in the midfield who having bumped a couple of would be tacklers set the ball up nicely for Chidley. The ball went to Baldwin who with a miss pass found the onrushing Montgomery who when being tackled slipped the ball neatly to the covering Du Randt who outpaced the defence to score, Baldwin converting, 14-3. Some mistakes from Park allowed Burnage back into it and they pressured the Park 22 but were held out when a covering Chidley intercepted a pass to give the ball back to Park. Good hands by Park put them quickly on the attack and a quick tap by Wellington and a neat interchange with fellow centre Davidson took them into the 22. Burnage were caught offside and park opted for the scrum some 10m out. A stolen line out by Park put them camped in the Burnage 22 and followed by a knock on gave Park an attacking scrum some 10m out. With the Burnage pack going backwards and the ball under control with Fox, playing like Ronaldo, it was a simple pick up for him to dot down, 19-3. Park however allowed Burnage back in with a mistake at the restart. Burnage had the scrum and despite the fact that Park pushed them off it the ball squirmed out and no one from Park reacted quickly enough. The Burnage scrum half picked up found the fly half whose inside pass allowed the Burnage centre to scamper through a gap to score, 19-8. The ball was now being played between the 22’s with neither side just being able to find that gap. Burnage were still in the game and when a kick in to the Park 22 found Du Randt scrambling to cover knocking the ball in to touch Burnage had a line out 5m out. A neat throw to the front and Burnage worked it inside for the supporting forward to touch down, converted, 19-15. From Park looking comfortable in the early stages silly mistakes had allowed Burnage back in to the game and they were taking advantage of the opportunity. Neither side however were able to improve on their points tally. HT 19-15.

The second half started quite brightly for Park with a number of runs finding space with Montgomery, Davidson and Wellington to the fore. Some neat interplay between WDR< Montgomery and White took Park to the Burnage 22 and when recycled a slap down by Burnage gave Park the penalty. The ensuing line out was won and the ball was moved wide but went to floor, this was gathered by Tyrer who fended off attackers left and right and drawing the defence slipped the ball inside to WDR to score under the posts, Baldwin converted, 26-15. Park were back looking comfortable with Fox knocking over defenders like bowling pins and Baldwin controlling the plays. The Park scrum was in full flow with Doolan and Grant punishing Burnage at every opportunity allowing Chidley extra ball. Park were beginning to be able to put phases together and when Burnage dropped the ball in their 22 Davidson was quick to pounce on and put Park on the attack. A missed clearance by Burnage gave WDR the opportunity to run it back. With a recycled ball and a good carry by Grant the ball was moved wide and neat hands along the backline from Baldwin, Wellington, hall and eventually Tyrer who had the space to score, Hall converting, 33-15. Park were looking comfortable again and were camped in the Burnage 22 but this is never a team to allow spectators to breathe easily. When they were caught offside 10m out from the Burnage line a quick tap by the scrum half and some poor tackling allowed him to run through defenders and find support in the winger who was then able to run the next 50m unchallenged to score, converted, 33-22. Burnage now had their tails up and were putting park under pressure urged on by a vocal Burnage bench. Park however managed to step up their game again assisted by a dominant pack and some good lines of running in the backs. Park were hampered again when White took an inside pass and motored into the defending Burnage N0.3 and a clash of heads occurred. The referee deemed this to be a head butt by White and he was subsequently showed a red card. Park were still in possession though and continued attacking and eventually Burnage were caught offside in front of the posts. Mooney opted for the kick at goal and up stepped up Dave Hall to take his personal tally to over 3000 points for the Park 1^st XV since he first made his debut back in 2008. Since then he has made over 400 appearances and has been a fantastic ambassador for the club and rugby union. Burnage did not give up and tried to gain that extra score that would give them some reward for their efforts but they were unable to worry the Park line and the score finished 36-22.

Eventually a good victory for Park but there was some rustiness after a 4 week Xmas lay off for the festive period. Hopefully Park can build on this and improve for the trip to Winnington Park next week. Special mention to club legend Dave Hall, after completing over 400 1^st team games for Park he has now notched up over 3000 points for the club in those appearance, a feat that is unlikely to be beaten. Well done Dave, the whole club is thankful for the service you have given over the past 16 years.