Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 17 Jan 2026

Altrincham Kersal

33 - 34

(HT 0-0)

Birkenhead Park

Altrincham Kersal

Birkenhead Park

Grit and determination was the deciding factor in a remarkable comeback

Birkenhead Park enjoyed a clean sweep of results for the men just at the right time of the season with the first team clawing back a 27-0 deficit to win 34-33 at the death away against Altrincham Kersal.

Park’s return to form continued with three wins in the last four games but it would be churlish to suggest that the result was “never in doubt.”

The ever-improving Altrincham Kersal who only recently beat promotion contenders Douglas IOM  came out of the blocks with aplomb achieving a bonus point for four tries after 20 minutes. Park were clearly not at the races, but managed to keep the roving backs at bay for the remainder of half time.

Eventually, after 27 minutes Par,  managed their first try of the game after Matt Waddington, who had moved from full back to wing, with a well worked move.

Park had settled into a rhythm at this stage with Liam Isaacs kicking accurately for distance and space. However, a penalty just before half time took us to 7-30 and the consequences looked ominous.

Nevertheless, the grit and determination showed the week before in the 24-10 defeat of Sandbach was again evident with second row Niall Cavanagh reaching over for a more respectable look on the busy scoreboard which showed 14-30 to the home side, Liam Isaacs once again adding those much-needed points.

Hope sprang eternal and clearly the half time team talk worked a treat, Park marauding forth and forcing a penalty which Isaacs kicked. Suddenly Park were within a couple of tries from parity. Isaacs was back on duty only three minutes later and consequently halfway through the second half it was “game on,”

The unthinkable became the entirely plausible with Sam Tyrer continuing his recent form with a powerful run from the wing for 27-30. Once again, the ubiquitous Liam Isaacs was accurate with the conversion.

Naturally, AK sought to stem the turning tide and defended well in a bid to maintain their lead and earned a penalty of their own, opting to take the points. Who could blame them with only a few minutes left to hold on to a result which would keep them in touch with the other teams in the congested bottom four of Regional 2 North West?

However, Park had other ideas. Heads might well have gone down after this setback, but instead the Park pack sensed that one last push might be sufficient to beat a tiring AK team. A penalty would not be sufficient. So, what better way to end this contest than another try this time by Laurence Bowen, who had switched to outside centre due to an Dan Morgan? His powerful run mean Park had achieved what seemed to be impossible at 0-27.

It was difficult to find the words, at least not publishable on a public site to express the joy, tinged with some relief as Park continued their campaign to escape from relegation. Park climbed one place above Firwood Waterloo on points difference after earning the maximum five league points.

The final word must go to Man of the Match Liam Isaacs who kicked 14 of Park’s points with four conversions and two penalties. It wasn’t just the points haul however. Good decision making on the field and confidence in the players around him to do a job prevailed. Burnage at home is next on 31 January next week being blank for Regional 2 North West.

The fun never stopped for a strong Wanderers side either with a 62-0 win at home over Aldwinians which confirmed Wanderers’  7^th position in the Baines Plumbing Division One league. Competition for places is clearly hotting up at the right time in the season. Park Thirds also chalked up over 60 points in an excellent 64-17 victory away to Sefton.