Birkenhead Park RFC

Sat 11 Feb 2023

Firwood Waterloo

17 - 64

(HT 5-30)

Birkenhead Park

Firwood Waterloo

Birkenhead Park

Birkenhead started brightly at Waterloo winning a penalty straight from the kick off and then following the line out another penalty in front of the posts which Hall calmly slotted to open the scoring, 0-3. This lead did not last long when from the restart Waterloo got a lineout some 30m out, with the ball won it was quickly moved into the backs when the speedy Loo winger came off his wing to slice through the Park defence and score, 5-3. Loo were buoyant then and were looking to spread the ball wide at any opportunity and play quickly when they could. Changes were made quickly in the Park set up with Hall aggravating a hamstring and left the pitch within 10 minutes for winger Dooley to get his first start a lot earlier than expected. Park were however going through the phases and keeping possession with good carries both in the forwards and backs alike. From a pick up at the scrum by No8 Fox a couple of carries by the forwards put park 30m out, Wellington spotted the gap at the breakdown and picked up and went through the gap. Loo failed to stop him as he crashed over for his first try of the afternoon, 5-8. Park were getting on top in the set piece and any Loo lineout was fair game for both Hellier and Ashcroft in the engine room. Fox was beginning to show his class tearing through the defence at will swatting would be tacklers with ease, and after another one of these runs Loo were caught offside in front of the posts giving Roberts an easy 3 points, 5-11. With good ball being won at the line out and pressure always on the Loo ball Park steadily moved forward and when the ball found Wellington 10m out there was going to be no stopping him as he crashed over near the posts, Roberts converting, 5-18. From another steal of the Loo lineout Park were in the Loo half when they were penalised again and such was the lineout dominance Loo opted for a scrum midfield rather than a kick to touch. Park then set about disrupting the Loo scrum with Ibbotson, P.Doolan and Hughes dominant in the front row. A great break by Captain Mooney set Park up for another attack which was only stopped some 5m out when Loo were caught offside. A scrum called by Mooney set Park up and when the call came the front 8 stepped up and shoved Loo back over the line for Fox to dot down at the back, Roberts converting, 5-25. Time was also up for the first half and from receiving the restart Park would have just cleared their lines to take us to half time. Not today though as Park produced undoubtedly the try of the match if not of the season. Fox caught the ball and set off on another galloping 20m run swatting defenders left and right. The ball was recycled with Perkins finding the gap out wide before off-loading to Tyrer. When the ball was tipped inside Prop Hughes showed great skills chipping the ball up into Majoribanks’ hands who fed Hughes again before the final pass back inside to Majoribanks to finish off an incredible score, half time 5-30 and a bonus point.

Loo hadn’t given up though and when the ball didn’t find touch from the clearing Roberts kick they ran back at Park and with some slack tackling the Loo full back simply ghosted through to score, 10-30. Park were however straight back on the score board when Chidley collected a high ball stepped two onrushing defenders to find wing Dooley in support. When he was tackled a neat off load to the supporting Fox saw him feed Wellington to go in unopposed, 10-35. Not to be outdone Loo struck back when a mistake from the restart gave Loo a scrum. Neat hand again found the speedy Loo winger who carved open the Park defence to score near the posts allowing an easy conversion, 17-35. Park were not giving up either and attacked swiftly upfield when Wellington was stopped short of the line. When the ball was moved wide a miss pass from Roberts ffound replacement Cross on the wing to run in unopposed, 17-40. From the restart Fox received the ball and was able to brush off the tackle attempts and motor 30m up the pitch followed by a kick into the Loo 22 by Roberts. Loo had no answer to the rampaging runs of Park led by Fox, Ashcroft and Wellington. Add to that Cross coming off the bench in a short time he was also knocking defenders over for fun and moving the ball neatly around it was only a matter of time before Wellington found the gap to crash over for his 4^th try of the afternoon, Roberts converting, 17-47. Loo had some ball now but couldn’t find a way through the Park defence and when they did manage to cross over the ref pulled them back for a penalty. With both set pieces on top form it seemed only a matter time before Park struck again but Loo were still trying to move it wide and at one stage it looked like they may succeed as the wing went round the outside. A great covering tackle by Fox snuffed this out and when Park got possession the ball eventually found Ashcroft who made 30m like a giraffe storming down the field. Park were held up over the line and allowed Loo some respite when the drop out went into touch some 20m out. The line out found the soaring Mooney at the back and went brought down fed P.Doolan who cut straight through the defence to crash over for his opener, Roberts converting 17-54. Park built steadily again and were making yards with ease with fox to the fore with another storming 25m run upfield. When the ball went the other side park were kept out but once it was switched to the other side Wellington attracted two defenders who managed to halt his attack but his off load found Cross who scored his second of the day, 17-59. From the restart Park were back on the attack with Cross bouncing off tacklers at will before finding winger Dooley who found space in front of him, despite apparently being taken out by the defender Loo managed to snuff out the danger. Park however weren’t done and breaks by Chidley and supported by plenty of forward runners Loo were struggling to cope. From a turnover near the posts the ball was again moved wide and a miss pass by Roberts found Fox on the wing with no one to beat and the easiest of scores to finish off the scoring, 17-64.

This really was a great result by park who out classed, out fought, out thought and generally dominated a decent Waterloo team. Outstanding performances all round the park with Fox in another class, Ashcroft’s work rate was immense, Wellington’s carries were outstanding, Chidley strong under the high ball and Dooley could not have had a better debut all led by the Captain Mooney. Now on to next week but well done boys.