Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 28 Jan 2023

Birkenhead Park

49 - 0

(HT 0-0)

Douglas (I.O.M.)

Birkenhead Park

Douglas (I.O.M.)

After the disappointment of the Bowdon game and with last week’s game being called off because of the weather Park needed to put in a good performance to get their season back on track. They started brightly against Douglas with some good powerful runs by the forwards with props P.Doolan and Hughes prominent in putting their hand up for work. Park were camped in the Douglas half for the opening 5 minutes which eventually paid dividends when after a series of drives the ball was moved into the midfield and taken by Morgan who powered over near the posts, Hall converting 7-0. Park were back at it almost straight away from the restart with the ball cleared to the half way line. Good defensive pressure gave Park a scrum in the midfield and the ball was put behind the Douglas defence. A Douglas kick was fielded by R.Doolan and off loaded to Chidley who put a neat kick through to the line and won the foot chase to score, Hall converting 14-0. Douglas then came into the game and had a solid period of possession but were unable to any time to breach the Park defensive line. Time and again Douglas were knocked back with Captain Mooney leading the line with some impressive hits. Even when Douglas got through the initial defence park were able to rearrange and keep them out. Park eventually got some continuous possession and were able to move into the Douglas half. With Positive carries from Wellington in the midfield and out wide some decent yards made by the front 5 Park got into the Douglas 22. After several phases the ball was moved wide and found winger Amy-Laing with one defender to beat and he burst through the tackle to score, Hall converting 21-0. Douglas came back at Park but defence was on point this week and there was no way through for the visiting team. Park had an opportunity to gain the bonus point try in the first half but when just inside the Douglas 22 an inside ball to Wellington just escaped his grasp and Douglas were able to clear their lines. Despite their best efforts, neither side were able to add to the scores and the time ran out on the half.

Park started the second half brightly moving quickly into the Douglas 22 and were searching to find an opening but some lapse handling allowed Douglas to keep Park out. Park rang the changes with Ibbotson and new signing Cross coming on in the forwards. With park awarded a couple of penalties 15m out from the Douglas line Mooney opted to take the scrums and this bore fruit on the second one. The ball was moved wide with Wellington cutting a line back only to be held up 5m out. When the ball came out to fly half Roberts a neat inside pass found prop Ibbotson to run in unopposed under the posts, Hall Converting 28-0. Douglas were back on the attack but even when they got close to the Park line the defence from Park was well on top and the pressure was relieved. After 20minutes Park made their last change with Majoribanks coming on for Chidley at scrum half, an excellent 60minutes from Chidley after a long time out with injury. Douglas didn’t give up but time and again their attacks were thwarted by a resolute Park defence. With possession in parks hand an excellent line break by No8 Ashcroft led to him finding open space and his off load to winger Amy-Laing saw the winger  chip through but lose the foot race and Douglas cleared. Park kept up the pressure and eventually the ball came out again to winger Amy-Laing but keeping ball in hand just before he was tackled into touch he offloaded inside to the supporting Majoribanks who dived over the line to score, Hall converting 35-0. Straight from the restart the ball was shipped wide and fell to Hall who stepped twice off his left foot to leave the Douglas defenders clutching at air. With support from Majoribanks just inside the 22m he then fed fly half Roberts who finished off a fantastic try to put the game well and truly out of reach, Hall converting 42-0. Park continued the good work until the very end and after winning a line out just outside the Douglas 22 park shipped the ball into the midfield took them 10m out. When the ball was shipped to the opposite side full back Hall cut an excellent line to beat the defenders and score near the posts converting his own try, 49-0. Douglas never threw in the towel but unfortunately for them they came up across a park side with a point to prove after the last outing and the defensive display was outstanding. This is the type of display that Park need to deliver for the remaining weeks of the season, a thoroughly deserved 5pt win