Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 27 Jan 2024

Bowdon

31 - 26

(HT 7-7)

Birkenhead Park

Bowdon

Birkenhead Park

Bowdon 31 Birkenhead park 26

Park travelled to Bowdon for a much anticipated 1^st v 2^nd clash and it did not disappoint for the home side. Park started brightly turning the kick off over and attacking the Bowdon line but were unable to find that final pass that would put them on the scoresheet. Bowdon were able to clear and with a strong wind across the pitch went into the Park 22. From a Bowdon scrum the Park forwards seemingly set out their stall shoving Bowdon back and winning the penalty to clear to the 10m line, but they lost the lineout. Bowdon were unable to capitalise and when Park attacked their scrum and won another penalty Park were back on the attack but again a line out was turned over thwarting the attack. With ball in their own half it was moved wide with WDR making yard and finding winger Roscoe who powered into the 22. Park forced a penalty at the breakdown and opted for the scrum, Fox picked and went but was brought down short. The ball moved to Roscoe who again was stopped but another infringement gave Park another scrum. Going forward Fox picked early and fed Chidley who was stopped short but with supporting forwards following up Hellier was able to pick and crash through the bodies to score, Hall converting 0-7. Park were looking good but it was always a worry when with so much possession they just couldn’t add to their points. The Bowdon defence was holding firm and thwarting each attack whilst having a go themselves. Whilst they had sustained possession Bowdon never looked like they were going to breach the Park line but Park were unable to add to their tally. A break by the Bowdon 2^nd row saw him brought down by Chidley under the posts and a great jackal by Roscoe turned it into a Park penalty. A missed kick to touch though kept Bowdon on the attack and they were now putting Park under pressure. A break by the Bowdon centre took them to the 5m line and when Park were penalised the kick put them in the corner. Park thought they had escaped with a 50m clearing kick by Laing, but when the follow up tackles were missed Bowdon were in full flight attack mode. Eventually with the ball moved wide Park ran out of tacklers and Bowdon went over, converted, 7-7, HT.

Bowdon’s tails were up now and straight from the kick off they were attacking park and were camped in the Park 22. A couple of attempts to get over the Park line were not seen by the referee but it appeared only a matter of time and eventually the Bowdon 2^nd row crashed over under the posts, Converted 14-7. Park though were still in the game and straight from the kick off recovered the ball and were able to kick to the corner. With the lineout gathered a solid drive saw White tucked in to score, 14-12. Bowdon came straight back at Park and with our inability to clear our lines they were able to maintain the pressure. Eventually after moving the ball from side to side the 2^nd row straightened the line to find the gap and off loaded to the supporting back row to score, 19-12. The ball now stayed between the two 10m lines and neither side could quite make that breakthrough. That was until Bowdon got a lineout on their 10m and went off the top and wide to the wing. With a neat chip over the Park defence the ball bounced back into his hands and he scored, 24-12. Bowdon were dominant now and despite some fierce Park tackling they were definitely on top in the game. They were in the Park 22 and moving the ball from side to side with good carries in the midfield by the forwards retaining possession. Eventually they found the gap with a miss pass picking out the Bowdon 9 who scampered past the Park defence to score, converted, 31-12. Park were looking shell shocked and at this point were coming away with nothing to show for it. A number of enforced changes saw R. Doolan go to 9, Fox was off as was Chidley and Hall, 3 of Park’s most influential players. With the reorganised team park needed to step up and fortunately for the travelling spectators they did so to restore some pride. With a lineout some 10m out from the Bowdon line park kept the ball well and eventually was recycled finding captain Mooney who barrelled his way through 4 defenders to score, converted by Baldwin, 31-19. Park continued to press and were looking for that elusive next try to give them the chance of a losing bonus point and also a try bonus point. From a scrum some 15m out park attacked but were getting thwarted by some stout Bowdon defence. Eventually though Park found the grit and determination to force their way over when Witte drove the final meter to touch down, Baldwin converting 31-26. FT

Bowdon deserved their victory and Park will hopefully take notice and show improvements over the coming weeks with tough fixtures coming thick and fast. This league is by no means sorted and the team that wins it will have to deserve it with better performances than Park showed today. The positive is that the team kept at it for the full 80 minute and gained a vital 2 bonus points which may prove crucial in the weeks ahead.