Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 16 Mar 2024

Kirkby Lonsdale

29 - 30

(HT 0-0)

Birkenhead Park

Kirkby Lonsdale

Birkenhead Park

Park made the trip up to Underley Park for this fixture which was 1^st against 2^nd from bottom and should according to records be a formality. Someone however forgot to tell the two teams who provided nail biting excitement for the neutral but ecstasy and heartbreak for the supporters of the two teams. It was a nice day and a full club house at KL and a vocal crowd supporting the home team as Park kicked off with the rain just beginning to fall. KL started brightly and were soon into the Park half with a series of drives and gained the first chance at points but the penalty kick sailed wide. The KL defence was strong and committed and the team was certainly up for the fight. A cheeky steal by Chidley at the scrum put Park on the attack and when the ball went to Waterfield he was able to make serious yards. When park spoilt the KL lineout on the 22 they moved the ball wide but were held up short. Recycled ball however went the other side of the field and R. Doolan found the space in front of him and crashed over out wide, 0-5. From the restart Park exited well with a good kick from Baldwin taking them to the KL 22 and when the ball found Roscoe a great 50/22 gave Park an attacking line out. A strong burst by Cross was supported by Witte but they were held up and the ball was recycled from one side to the other. Again Cross made yards and was held up inches short but the ball was fed quickly out wide and with neat hands found Waterfield who dotted down. KL did not roll over and were straight back on the attack and were now camped in the Park 22 with a series of ick and go’s that made them excellent ground but for a time Park were able to keep them stuck on their 5m line. However the dam had to break and from a scrum KL had a couple of drives and eventually crossed near the posts, converted, 7-10. Park went back on the attack forcing a goal line drop out from a touch down by KL. A great scrum on the KL ball gave Park a penalty which they took quickly but were held up. Pressure was on the KL line and although they tried Park could not quite finish. That was until with the ball moved again WDR stepped inside the cover and despite being held on to by a defender managed to get the ball down over the line, 7-15. Park exited from the restart and were comfortable in the KL half and from a penalty on their 10m line Baldwin put them in the 22. With good runs from Mooney, Ashcroft and Witte the KL defence was always tied in and when the ball was released good hands from Chidley and Wellington found Waterfield in space to touch down for his 2^nd try, 7-20. Park were looking in charge and with a supposed bonus point in the bag it had been a good first half but an injury to Baldwin had meant they had not his a conversion which was to crucial going forward. HT.

Park should have now saw the 2^nd half out but unfortunately for them KL had not read the script and were determined to make this a difficult day for Park. They started brightly making inroads into the Park half with a series of breaks and pick and go’s close to the breakdown. With a decent wind behind them too KL made good use of it too. When they had scrum on the Park 22 there didn’t appear to be much danger that was until the No8 picked up stepped inside the cover and cantered unopposed under the posts, converted, 14-20. Park got straight back into the game when they were given a penalty on the KL 10m line which Dave Hall coolly slotted, 14-23. KL responded almost immediately when they had a penalty on the Park 22 which was also converted, 17-23. KL were on the up and decisions were starting to go against Park as they struggled to contain the KL team. Neat hands from KL sent the ball wide and they made ground into the Park 22 catching Park offside. KL opted for the scrum but this was disrupted by park however they kept the ball. Time and again they attacked then from one ruck the Park defence were lacking and the KL 2^nd row picked and went over the ruck to score unopposed, converted, 24-23. KL were in front and were also in the ascendency in the game with 50/50 decisions going with the attacking team. Park had the opportunity to regain the lead but Hall just slipped when taking a kick and it went wide. The KL faithful were in full voice and often questioning Park’s right to be top of the table when watching this display. After a brief sojourn into the KL 22 Park were soon back on defensive duties as KL moved upfield. From a Park clearance kick KL were straight back in the park 22 and on the attack. KL tried time and again but were rebuffed each time until eventually the extra shove took the KL forward over the line near the posts, surprisingly missed conversion, 29-33. Time was not on Park’s side but they were not a side to give up and they went back on the attack. The KL defence however was intense and Park were not able to find the breakthrough. KL were eventually penalised at one of the many breakdowns with only seconds remaining. Park opted for the scrum 5m out from the KL line, the ball was won and they thought they were going over the KL side collapsed another penalty, scrum again last play of the game. Another penalty but this time Chidley picked and shipped it to Wellington who crashed through the defence to score, hall hit the conversion and Park had snatched the victory.

This bonus point victory brought Park the league title they had fought all season for and epitomised the never say die attitude of this squad of players. KL will feel aggrieved at the loss but Park should have had this game out of sight after the first half. The season still has 3 league games to go and then the possibility of a cup run to finish off so still a lot to pay for. My congratulations go to the players, coaches and supporters who have made this already one of the most successful season for Park.