Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 2 Mar 2024, 15:00

Birkenhead Park

17 - 14

(HT 0-0)

Firwood Waterloo

Birkenhead Park

Firwood Waterloo

It was a top of the table clash at the Upper Park with Waterloo the visitors and with a packed club house for lunch with diners even eating in the bar area the scene was set for an exciting encounter. The weather over the past 4 weeks had been atrocious and the pitch itself was not looking like a bowling green unless the bowling green was made of mud, pure mud. There were plenty of discussions about whether the game would take place with the Waterloo back room staff vehement in their protestations that it shouldn’t be played. However after discussions between coaches and Captains the game went ahead. Loo kicked off the game and were quickly on the attack with a neat quick tap by the centre taking them to the park 22, unfortunately the ball was turned over and Park exited. The conditions were certainly going to be a leveller with neither side being able to go through numerous phases. A steal by Fox in the midfield set Park up for an attack early on and WDR took the ball into the Loo half. With the quick recycle Bennett made the break through some weak tackling and his inside pass gave Roscoe an unopposed run in under the posts, Baldwin converting, 7-0. With the ball like a bar of soap there were plenty of mistakes creeping in and the kick option was being used on a lot of occasions by both sides. Loo tried to attack but again a strong Park defence was keeping them out and were turning balls over at the breakdown. With a kick to Loo’s 22 Park had a drive with a number of drives eventually catching the Loo defence offside. Baldwin stepped up and slotted the kick to increase the lead, 10-0. Loo came straight back on the attack but time and again were thwarted by the Park defence and when they made mistakes they were put back in their own half. Each time however Loo got inside the Park 22 the pressure put on by Park forced the error by LOO or Park were able to turn the ball over and relieve the pressure. Neither side were able to have controlled sustained possession and one way or another after a couple of phases the ball was dropped or turned over. Even the scrums usually a major attacking factor for Park were nullified with neither Pack able to get any grip on the pitch and after a scrappy 40 minutes the half closed.

Park kicked off the 2^nd half and were quickly on the attack with some neat chips by Baldwin putting Park behind the Loo defence. Park had a good attack and spreading the ball wide and when Laing chipped through WD was just outpaced for a defence touchdown. The clearing drop out under the posts did not go far and Park started to turn the screw with more possession. From pressure on the LOO scrum Mooney scragged the scrum half and dragged him back but Loo were able to clear. Park however had spent 10 minutes in the Loo half with nothing to show for it. Park kept on attacking and when the ball was moved out the Park back row working together powered forward and when Cross off loaded to Fox there was no stopping him form 5m out, Baldwin converting 17-0. It was looking good for Park but this isn’t a team to allow their supporters a comfortable ride and Loo were a team that would not throw in the towel at any stage. Back came Loo and when Park were penalised at the breakdown on Park 10m line the ball was kicked to the corner. A good catch set up the drive and the Loo prop was tucked in the pocket and trundled over, converted 17-7. There were still 20 minutes left on the clock and it was tense now. A kick by Loo found Chidley underneath it with safe hands however his inside pass to Hall led to Loo getting into the attack and only a mistake by Loo let them off the hook. Loo were not done and were back on the attack and when Park were penalised centre field on the 22m line Loo opted for the easy kick at goal. Fortunately the kick sailed wide and Park had a 22 drop out to clear their lines. Park made their way down field and looked in control forcing Loo to kick out. With the ball fielded again by Chidley and inside to Hall the ball went amiss again and Loo capitalised on the error hacking through and winning the chase to the line, converted 17-14. With 4 minutes left it was anyone’s game and the Park faithful were biting their nails in worry. Park took the ball into the Loo half and forced a penalty taking them into the 22 for a line out. With the ball won and the time up on the clock the ball was won and came down to Cross who simply kicked to touch knowing the game was won.

All in all an excellent result from Park in such atrocious conditions and it was a credit to both teams to play a game of rugby that was exciting to the end. Park deserved the victory and the pitch was certainly a leveller not allowing either side to dominate. This has Park back in the driving seat with the League in their own hands with two more wins looking to cement their promotion ambitions.