Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 26 Nov 2022

Birkenhead Park

27 - 28

(HT 0-0)

Rochdale

Birkenhead Park

Rochdale

This really was a tough day at the office for Birkenhead Park 1^st XV at the Upper Park. The day started brightly enough for Park with an early score for No8 Fox, 5-0. Park were in control early doors and even taking control of the set piece with both Hellier and Ashcroft winning opposition balls. Even when Rochdale did have the ball park were able to set well in defence and keep them at bay. Park’s defence was set well with Rochdale attacking the Park line but a penalty at the breakdown led to an easy shot for Rochdale, 5-3. When Rochdale were attacking a good steal by Ashcroft led Park to breakout followed by an astute kick by scrum half Morgan put Park in the Rochdale half. From a well worked line out Park attacked catching Rochdale offside in the middle and when the move broke down Hall slotted the penalty for Park, 8-3. Rochdale came back into the game and a break through the middle with a kick through led Dale to the Park 5m line. Fortunately the line out went astray allowing Captain Mooney to gallop 20m upfield before offloading and Hall the clearing deep into the Dale half. Rochdale however managed to clear their lines and again were quickly in the Park half. Some good yards were made by the Dale backs until eventually a neat inside pass saw the Dale sub crash over to level the scores, 8-8. Rochdale were having some decent possession but were unable to take advantage of this and convert it into points. They were made to pay when Hellier broke clear with open field in front of him, a quick off load to centre Davies set him free and when closed down Wellington was on hand to finish off the move scoring close to the posts, Hall converting,15-8. Park finished the half strongly spending time in the Rochdale half but neither side added to their tally.

Rochdale started the half the brighter and were encamped in the Park half but were unable to score. Park got the ball under control and from a steady scrum the ball was moved to fly half Roberts unfortunately his clearing kick was charged down by the dale centre and fell kindly in front of the other centre. A couple of fly hacks through led to him finishing off with a score, 15-13. Park went to the Dale half but they dealt with the attacks and broke clear only a covering tackle by wing Morgan stopped a certain try. Park were however caught offside on a number of occasions and Dale took the opportunity to convert one of them to take the lead, 15-16. The game was to and fro and a clean break by wing Roscoe seen him run to the line but running into traffic the ball found Dale who were able to clear. Roscoe made amends 5 minutes later when the ball was moved out to Captain Mooney who drew the last defender to set Roscoe clear to finish in the corner, 20-16. Park gained the momentum then and moved swiftly into the Dale half. From a line out of the 22 the ball went wide one way with a series of forward drives taking Park to the 5m line. When the ball was moved the other way centre Davies made yards only to be held up short but a quick ball by Morgan found back row Ashcroft who crashed over form 5m, Hall converting, 27-16. It was hoped that Park would see the remaining 15minutes out and close out the game however Dale had other ideas. From a scrum penalty some 15m out Dale decided to pick and go which paid off as they crashed over the line to score, 27-23. With a mistake at the restart giving dale a scrum on the half way the ball was swiftly moved from a No8 pick up. When the ball found the Dale winger he made no mistake making it to the try line, 27-28. Dale managed to hold out and Park were unable to have an opportunity to score again and the game ended 27-28.

Definitely a match of missed opportunities with too many errors and a failure to take the points when on offer which for Park is something that is happening too often. Things need to be put right for the weekends leading up to Xmas.