Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 17 Sep 2022

Altrincham Kersal

17 - 34

(HT 0-0)

Birkenhead Park

Altrincham Kersal

Birkenhead Park

Altrincham Kersal 17 Birkenhead Park 34

With another well respected minutes silence to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II the game at Kersal got under way with Park attacking the clubhouse with the wind at their backs. Park started brightly and were camped in the Kersal 22 in the opening exchanges. They thought they had points on the board but a last ditch tackle on prop Davies dislodge the ball as he went to crash over from 2m out. Kersal had their chances and an early penalty attempt was put wide by the Kersal fly half. Park continued to press but it took a full 20 minutes before they went across the try line. Some good yards by Wellington and Fox set the next phase up nicely for P. Doolan to take the ball 5m out and there was no stopping him, Hall converting 0-7. A tackle by Perkins on the Kersal 22 allowed Fox to get hands on the ball and the referee penalised Kersal for holding on. Hall slotted the penalty 0-10.

Kersal however were quickly back into the game with a 20m break by the big loosehead who ffed the   ball wide for a score in the corner, 5-10. Some broken field play from Kersal took them into the park 22 and quick hands saw the Kersal centre break through a gap to score, 10-10. Park kept their heads up and were soon back on the attack when a break by Roberts fed Wellington who when tackled found Perkins who burst through 4 would be tacklers to crash over, Hall converting, 10-17.

In the second half playing onto a stiff breeze Park needed to keep ball in hand which they did to good effect. Getting on top in the scrums led to a park penalty and when there was back chat from Kersal players it led to an extra 10m bringing it into Hall’s range. He made no mistake, 10-20. Park continued to press and after several incursions into the Kersal half a break by Roberts found Wellington on his inside shoulder and he went straight under the posts, 10-27. Park allowed Kersal back in the game when a reckless no arms tackle led to Wellington getting 10minutes in the bin. The resulting kick to the corner led to Kersal back row crashing over near the posts which was converted, 17-27. With Fox having gone off earlier and now Wellington gone Park had lost their two biggest yard makers but worked hard to keep the pressure on. From a 5m lineout the ball went towards the posts and from the ruck 1m out prop Hughes crashed over to bring up the bonus try, Hall converting 17-34.

Again some good work from Park and another bonus point win but plenty to work on with the local derby against Old Anselmians to come this weekend.