Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 12 Nov 2022

Glossop

14 - 27

(HT 7-5)

Birkenhead Park

Glossop

Birkenhead Park

Park took the journey to Glossop on a sunny day in the Peak district for what was to be a bruising encounter. Having sustained injuries to key players from last week’s win against waterloo Park had a major pack reshuffle with Jewell and Perkins into the 2^nd row and Ashcroft moving to No8. Point machine Hall was missing through injury as was No8 Fox leaving Roscoe to step into 15 and Tyrer coming in on the wing. Park started brightly enough at a sunny Glossop and began dominating upfront with the Park pack gaining an immediate advantage at scrum time. Some good attacking play by Park in the opening minutes was rebuffed by a strong Glossop defence. Glossop had opportunities to score early on with breaks through the centre by their robust midfield. One of these led to the ball being slipped to the scrum half who thought he had made the line only to be pulled down short by Roscoe. Both sides showed some good attacking inventiveness but defences were holding strong and it took 20minutes for the first score. A series of forward drives gave Park a penalty 10m out and they opted for the scrum. With ball won hands in the backs led to Roscoe coming in the line and handing off the defender as he crashed over, 0-5. Park despite opportunities failed to increase their score and just before half time Glossop made inroads into the Park half. When penalised Glossop kicked to the corner and after a good catch several pick and go’s led to the Glossop 2^nd row crashing over close to the posts, 7-5. Neither side after that was able to add to the score line despite their best efforts with the play being between both 22’s before half time was upon us.

Glossop attacked early in the 2^nd half and when a break by the big left wing went through the Park defence his inside pass to the supporting Glossop centre went astray as Wellington had interfered with the supporting runner spending the next 10 minutes in the sin bin. Park increased their efforts and when centre Davies stripped the attacker’s winger Amy-Smith was able to run 40m to put Park just outside the Glossop 22. Despite being down to 14 Park took some control and from lineout 10m out a series of pick and go’s prop Witte forced his way over the line, Roberts converting, 7-12. Park were on top now and were particularly dominant at the set piece giving them opportunity to attack the Glossop line. Park had the majority of the possession but stout defence from Glossop meant they were unable to break through. From a line out again 10m out the ball was worked inside and close to the posts and Glossop were caught offside. A quick tap by scrum half Morgan fed Wellington who crashed over to score for Park, 7-17. Glossop came storming back however and put Park under pressure with a series of attacks into the Park half. From one of these a kick through from the Glossop centre behind the Park defensive line saw the other centre outstrip the covering defenders to score, converted, 14-17. Park should have been well clear by now but a series of missed opportunities made the game really close in the last 10 minutes. It was not until Roberts found 2^nd row Perkins who ran an excellent line to cut through the defenders with a man to beat, with Roberts in support a neat pass from Perkins allowed Roberts a free run to the line and converted, 14-24. Park were now firmly in control and despite their best efforts Glossop could not break out of their half. With the clock ticking down park forced a penalty 10m out which Roberts slotted to bring the game to a close, 14-27.

An excellent bonus point victory against a tough uncompromising side, particularly those players who stepped in and stepped up. This coming week with no game is an opportunity to recover from the injuries we have sustained recently to get ready for a tough game against Rochdale.