Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 7 Jan 2023

Birkenhead Park

37 - 30

(HT 0-0)

Winnington Park

Birkenhead Park

Winnington Park

Birkenhead Park 37 Winnington Park 30

After a 5 week break due to weather cancellations and the Xmas break it was always going to be a tricky game especially against a Winnington Park side who had convincingly beaten waterloo on their last outing. Park started brightly with some great carries, beating several tacklers by No8 Fox unfortunately Birkenhead were unable to capitalise. Taking a lineout 10m out Birkenhead were thwarted when Winnington managed to seal off the ball in the resultant maul and cleared their lines. Birkenhead had more control and after another good carry by Fox they were awarded a penalty, Hall converting 3-0. Winnington came back into it shortly after the restart when Birkenhead were caught offside just inside their half with the Winnington 10 slotting the points, 3-3. With both teams involved in a piece of kick tennis when winger Amy-Laing tried to run the ball out he was caught and penalised for holding on out wide, 40m out from the posts. Winnington No10 made no mistake taking the lead, 3-6. With the Birkenhead scrum dominant and managing to turn over ball at the set piece the ball was moved from one side to the other. After another carry by Fox the ball went wide to winger Amy-Laing who stepped his defender to cross the line, Hall converting 10-6. Winnington were unable to breach the Birkenhead defence and had to settle for trying to kick in behind but this was mopped up the Birkenhead back three. When awarded a penalty on the half way a quick tap by Wellington fed Fox who found wing Tyrer who on his second attempt was held up over the line. Showing more intensity Birkenhead were consistently in the Winnington 22 and were eventually awarded a penalty for not rolling away. Birkenhead opted for the scrum and with the ball neatly at Fox’s feet and when Winnington couldn’t hold the drive the Ref gave a penalty try, 17-6. Birkenhead then allowed Winnington back in it after being penalised on the 10m line for holding on, penalty converted, 17-9. A mistake at the restart allowed Winnington their first venture into the Birkenhead 22 and with some slack marking at the breakdown the Winnington prop simply picked up and went through the gap to score, easily converted, 17-16. The scored stayed like this for the remaining couple of minutes of the half.

Birkenhead started brightly in the 2^nd half with a 50-22 by hall led to a move straight off the training paddock with R. Doolan making 20m to set up camp on the 5m. With the ball going wide again when the ball was sent inside by No10 Roberts winger Amy-Laing was on hand to scoop up and score, 22-16. There was some good interplay from Birkenhead with the ball moved between captain Mooney and his back row colleagues to allow Wellington space to get to the Winnington 22. The last pass however was deemed forward and Winning escaped. Another break by second row Perkins with a neat off load to Mooney put Birkenhead behind the Winnington defence. When the ball was moved wide to winger Tyrer his neat inside pass found Amy-Laing to cross for his hat trick, Hall converting, 29-16. It was then Winnington’s time to make the mistake from the restart and Birkenhead took advantage to get into the 22. A mistake at the line out however gave Winnigton a scrum to clear but a dominant Birkenhead pack quickly shoved them off it. Quick hand from new No8 Ashcroft got the ball wide and when recycled inside he was again on hand to dive over from 2m out to score, 34-16. Birkenhead were now in a comfortable lead and with the bonus point win seemingly in the bag. However Winnington were not finished and with a series of penalties conceded by Birkenhead allowed Winnington to come back into the game. From 5m out they were kept at bay from a number of pick and go’s but eventually when the ball was moved wide a missed tackle allowed Winnington cross near the posts, 34-23. With still a healthy buffer Birkenhead began to make errors and give Winnington opportunities to get back into the game ad from some more penalties and a scrum given away in the midfield they were able to strike again. Despite being under pressure the ball was moved wide and some distinctly soft tackling allowed the Winnington 10 to finish off the move near the posts which was easily converted, 34-28. It was now game on for the last 5minutes and Birkenhead needed to get some calmness back into their game. When awarded a penalty 40m out up stepped the ever reliable Hall to convert, 37-30. For the remainder of the time Birkenhead kept control and were in the Winnington half but it was with a strong sigh of relief when the referee blew the final whistle.

An exciting game for the neutral but one Birkenhead should have closed out but after 5 weeks off it was always going to be a game of mistakes and so it proved. At the end of the day another 5 points and hopefully plenty to improve for a tough game next week.