Birkenhead Park RFC

Birkenhead Park v Macclesfield Cheshire Cup 1^st round.

This was a case of missed opportunities for park against higher level opposition.

The opening was bright for Park receiving the kick off and going through their procedures to exit their 22. When Macc tried to run the ball from the half way line lineout an excellent turnover led to fly half Garin Roberts putting the ball into the Macc 22. Unfortunately as was a theme during this game a penalty given away allowed Macc an easy clearance into the Park half. Pressure at the line out allowed Park a clearing kick which again took them into the Macc 22. A storming run in the midfield by Adam Wellington took Park to within 15m, good defence by Macc kept the home side at bay. After a pick up from a ruck by Wellington drew the penalty for Park the ball was dispatched into the corner. The lineout was unfortunately sacked and the ball turned over. A free kick at the resulting scrum allowed Macc to clear their lines. Park continued to press but a dropped ball in front of the posts again ceded possession to Macc, another scrum infringement allowed Macc to clear. An untidy lineout put pressure on scrum half Dai Morgan and a subsequent knock on gave Macc decent field position inside the Park 10m. Good defence from Park allowed them to move upfield just outside the Macc 22, a sloppy lineout turned the ball over again from Park but some solid defending forced Macc into an error dropping the ball in midfield. A Crossfield kick from Roberts landed perfectly for Winger Roscoe who was held up just short. When the ball went out wide again Hughes was tackled into touch saving Macc again. Caught offside at the breakdown gave Macc an easy exit from the pressure. A break from the resulting lineout put Macc in the Park half and from the next ruck the Macc scrum half darted through a gap at the breakdown to score without a hand being laid on him. A score against the runoff play. Park came straight back into and won a penalty on the half way line, the resulting kick went 5m out from the Macc line but the Macc winger even though he was out of play knocked the ball infield. Instead of Park having a lineout 5m out to the surprise of all including the Macc players the linesman and Ref both played on. Despite some good carries the midfield by props Davies and Hughes Macc’s defence kept them out forcing a Park error. With the Macc 9 making yards at the breakdown park were again caught offside and were now defending in their 22. A mistake at the Macc line out allowed new signing Harley Fox to clear up at the back, and with a booming 70m kick that appeared to get to touch in the 22m area cleared the danger. Macc however came back into the Park half and with the home side penalised again a quick tap by the Macc 9 set his centre free. Despite him being surrounded by a number of Park players he still managed to run through to the try line to add to the Macc score. From the restart Macc came back on the attack and with a quick tap after another penalty got to the Park 22m line. Park forced the error and managed to clear their lines but with a 50-22 kick Macc were back in the Park 22. From the resulting lineout following some advancing pick and go’s a cheeky grubber through by the Macc 10 and the Macc backline were quickest to the ball to touch down for another try right on the half time whistle.

Half time 19-0

Park started the 2^nd half brightly getting into the Macc 22 early doors but a long miss pass couldn’t find Roscoe on the outside and went into touch. From pressure on the Macc scrum Park forced the knock on and were able to move the ball wide with Roscoe weaving his way towards the Macc line. When the ball was recycled a chip through by Wellington put Macc under the pressure but the referee adjudged his follow up tackle to be high and gave Macc a clearing penalty kick. Park put Macc under pressure and ran the ball hard and wide but the defence was resolute. From a ruck 10m out the Macc defender was penalised for slowing the ball and was given a yellow card, Paul Hellier was also given one for some vigorous ruck work. Park had the penalty into the corner and from the resulting lineout the pack powered over for new boy Tighearnen McLoughlin to touch down at the back of the maul, hall converting. Good drills from the resulting kick off forced the error and a dropped catch in the Macc half for park to get a scrum. Park didn’t manage to get anything but the work rate was kept high from pressure at a Macc scrum Park forced their way into the Macc 22 but Sam Tyrer was penalised for manhandling a Macc defender resulting in the reversal of the penalty and a yellow for Tyrer. Macc moved into the park half and from a quick ball the back row from Macc shrugged off a couple of would be tacklers to score under the posts, 7-26. From the restart Park moved the ball quickly and when Wellington made another break he appeared to be pulled back by his hair before going to ground. The ref never saw it like that and when the ball was maved wide the long pass from Morgan was picked off by the Macc centre who ran 80m to score, 7-33. The game was gone now but park never gave in with some good runs from new boys Fox and Harry Perkins in the midfield. New scrum half Callum Majoribanks showed his speed on a couple of occasions when there was the slightest opportunity but the Macc defence was holding strong. Another opportunity was squandered when a Park 5m lineout went astray and Macc were able to clear the danger. Park however continued to work hard and were getting on top in the scrums with some excellent work from the front 5. From a 5m lineout the ball went inside and then Matt walls came looping round to score in the corner, Hall converting. 14-33. Park continued to work hard and from a scrum on their 22 managed to work the ball wide to Owen Smith who made 20m down the outside but unfortunately his pass inside was knocked on and that was the final play of the game.

A disappointing result to the game but a lot of positives to be taken out of it tonight. We stood up to a team in a higher league and gave a good account of ourselves. However we were the authors of our own misfortune on a number of occasions and made it far too easy for a well organised opposition. There is time to put things right before the league begins next week and it will be a tough trip up to Vale of Lune with two tough training sessions to get us in the right place.