Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 3 Dec 2022, 14:15

Wilmslow

17 - 46

(HT 0-0)

Birkenhead Park

Wilmslow

Birkenhead Park

On a cold crisp December morning Park made the trip to Wilmslow after an agonising loss to Rochdale last week. After a bright start Park were quickly in the Wilmslow half but slack tackling let Wilmslow out and they were quickly into the park half. A penalty given away led to a line out some 15m out from the Park line. When the ball was moved wide a couple of drives from the Wilmslow forwards led to the first try, 5-0. Park came back into it from the kick off with a big carry into the midfield by prop Davies leading a Park penalty which Roberts slotted, 5-3. A mistake at the restart gave Park a midfield scrum which was moved wide for Tyrer to make 40m. The ball was recycled and when Wilmslow were caught offside a quick tap from scrum half Majoribanks found Amy-Laing in space to score, 5-8. The game was being played between the 22’s with neither side breaching the defence. Wilmslow thought they had with a break by the 2^nd row down the middle being tackled 5m out. Fortunately Majoribanks got hands on and forced the penalty. The game was a close affair at this time and neither side was able to break through. That was until Amy-Laing made a break from inside his own half and outpaced the defence and with one man to beat found Wellington in support who crossed close to the posts, , 5-13.Wilmslow had a couple of breaks but good cover defence out wide by park prevented them adding to their score. When in possession centre Davies showed his skills with 5 outrageous side steps to leave the Wilmslow defence in tatters. Park were dominant in the scrum and were moving the ball well amongst the backs and from one such move when Amy-Laing chipped ahead he was impeded by the covering Wilmslow player drawing the penalty. A neat kick to the corner by Roberts led to the 5m line out and the forwards made no mistake when a drive led to No8 Fox getting over from close range, Roberts converting, 5-20. The Park forwards came into the game more with good drives from the front row of Hughes, Doolan.P and Davies supported well by the back row of Mooney, Ashcroft and Fox.

The 2^nd half started rightly for Park and they were in the ascendancy but were stifled by some stout Wilmslow defence. When Wilmslow did get into the Park half they forced into making errors by some swift defensive lines from Park. Despite the majority of possession park were however were unable to breach the Wilmslow defence until some 15minutes into the half. When Wilmslow were offside at the breakdown next to the posts Park opted for the scrum. With it kept steady Fox was able to collect from the base and power over to score, Roberts converting 5-27 over. Now looking comfortable Park failed to collect the restart and were then caught offside themselves leading to a kick to the corner by Wilmslow. With the line out won Wilmslow kept it tight to drive over and converting the try, 12-27. This seemed to galvanise Park and after some strong carries in the forwards the ball moved wide to Majoribanks who seeing the space behind the defence chipped through for Amy-Laing to outpace the cover and hack through to score out wide, 12-32. Park were firmly in control and were camped in the Wilmslow half going through the phases. When the ball was moved wide, with neat hands in the forwards, and a soft off load from Fox to Roscoe, followed by a sublime step from Roscoe to set him clear and score under the posts, Roberts converting 12-39. Park didn’t let up and Wilmslow were unable to break out not helped when No8 Fox when attempting a clearance kick ended up flooring the Wilmslow 2^nd row. From the restarted scrum the ball went deep into the Wilmslow 22 and when it was moved quickly wide a neat inside pass from Wellington to substitute Smith and back again to Wellington for him to score near the posts, Roberts converting, 12-46. Wilmslow did not throw in the towel and where quickly back in the Park half on the attack, when Park were caught offside 5m out a quick tap by the scrum half saw him squirm over to score, 17-46. Park had an opportunity to score again but Wellington with two park players inside decided to go himself and was thwarted on the line unable to ground the ball.

A great result by Park and with other results going our way this momentum needs to be maintained if we have any chance of catching Anselmians.