Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 13 Jan 2024

Winnington Park

43 - 51

(HT 29-29)

Birkenhead Park

Winnington Park

Birkenhead Park

Winnington Park 43 Birkenhead Park 51

A cold but dry day at Burrows Hill saw Park make the journey to WP and what should have been a comfortable game, however as has been state before there are no easy games in this league and this was to prove the case. WP kicked off to start and looked to go through the phases which saw fullback Hall move into the WP half. Quick hands went wide but the ball didn’t stick and park had to start again. Good running by Bennett was making inroads into the WP but a sit down by White brought about the first injury to WP with the WP winger leaving the field. From the resulting scrum Fox was off and running and when hauled down 10m short the quick ruck gave Chidley an easy off load to Perkins who stretched and scored under the posts. Perkins however dislocated his shoulder in the process and was off to the Countess of Chester hospital, Hall converting, 0-7. Park were unable to gather the restart and WP were on the attack straight away. Park were caught offside and WP opted for the tap and set off and after a couple of phases with the ball spread wide the WP centre found an easy gap to score, 5-7. From a scrum on the WP 10m line the ball was moved blind from Chidley to Tyrer and into the WP 22 and it was quickly recycled. Simple hands after a good carry by White saw Hall canter over to score, 5-12. During this another WP had a knock and he left the field too. Bennett tidied up the kick off and Park set off again with a great 20m run by skipper Mooney. Quick recycling by park and a deft chip by Baldwin saw the ball collected and moved wides when simple hands again found the overlap for Montgomery to score, 5-17. Park were looking very comfortable. This was to change very quickly when looking to get out of their 22 Baldwin threw an interception pass which was gathered by the WP 14 who scampered in unopposed to score, converted, 12-17. Park were penalised just on the WP 22 and a quick tap set them off upfield, the ball quickly found the WP fly half who dummied and scampered off into the Park half and somehow over the try line, converted 19-17. WP were now tails up and well into the game whilst Park were looking decidedly off the pace. WP were in the ascendency and attacking at all stages until they drew the penalty for a high tackle in the Park 22, converted 22-17. A mistake from a high kick gave WP the opportunity and they pressed to the Park 5m line. A short clearance gave the ball to the WP full back who noted his winger in acres of space and launched a pin point kick which was gathered and scored under the posts, converted, 29-17. Park were looking and playing like a different team to their usual selves and WP were taking full advantage. Mistakes were being made and Park were allowing WP to play their own game. A long clearance by Baldwin put pressure on WP and a take by Chidley allowed Hall the inside line to make progress. When Bennett made a break down the wing the ball was almost collected out wide but went to ground with the line begging. A pressure WP scrum kept Park in the red zone and after a number of forward carries the ball was moved wide to find Tyrer in space to score, 29-22. A couple of penalties to park took them into the WP 22 and when the ball came to the backs again simple hands following a delay by Baldwin found Wellington who held the defenders allowing the pass to Montgomery who scored in the corner 29-29, and HT.

Park started the half brightly attacking the WP line but WP were holding firm. Eventually the ball went from one side to the other and after Roscoe was denied with his first touch a neat switch pass from Fox put Roscoe in to score, 29-34. A mistake from the restart let WP attack and a penalty gave them a kick to the corner and from the lineout a number of pick and go’ forced them over the line, converted, 36-34. Park came back at it and a couple of penalties for them allowed the kick to the corner for an attacking line out. The ball went across the field and Roscoe was held up short but when it was recycled and came the other way a long pass from Baldwin found Bennett in acres of space and he trotted over to score, 36-39. Another fumble kick off allowed WP to attack and this they did finding the winger who made 20m down the line. When the ball went the other way Park ran out of defenders and WP scored next to the posts, converted, 43-39. Park pressure at the restart allowed them to recover the ball and they pressed hard but the WP held firm on their line. WP were unable to clear their lines and Park kept pressing. They thought they had opened the defence when a neat chip from Fox behind the defence with Roscoe running through and touching down only to be denied by the referee’s call. Park were camped now in the WP 22 but it looked like they were unable to open the door for another score and the WP turned the ball over. Eventually the pressure had to tell and despite having to pick up a bobbling ball and fend off one defender Roscoe then took on another two carrying one of them over the line as he scored again, 43-44. WP however did not give up but for once the Park defence was not giving up ground or penalties. Back in the WP 22 Wellington thought he had won it with an interception only to be called back for offside. With the scrum working better Park were staying on top and putting a lot of pressure on the WP pack allowing Chidley to pressurise the WP 9 to great effect eventually their 9 had to withdraw from the game. WP were having to attack from their own 22 and were unable to really get into the Park half. Another penalty to Park got them a lineout some 15m out form the WP line. A good catch by Mooney set up the drive and when the ball was fed out Davidson took the short ball to crash over, Baldwin converting, 43-51.

As reflected in the score line an exciting end to end game which for the neutral was no doubt an enthralling contest. However we cannot get away from the fact that this was a poor performance by the Park team, where tackling appeared to be optional and structure was something that we speak about but don’t bother with. However it does show the character of the squad that the team did not give up and had a belief in themselves and managed to snatch the victory from the jaws of defeat. I hope this is a wakeup call for the whole squad, that as stated there are no easy games here and next week is another tough fixture to overcome away at LSH. Credit to WP who played a fantastic game and will no doubt feel robbed of not getting at least another losing bonus point which they thoroughly deserved.