South Lancs & Cheshire League 1.

If 'Park expected an easy game after the 75 - 0 drubbing given to Wigan in the home fixture they were in for a rude awakening.

The pitch was very heavy and 'Park faced the very strong wind in the first half. The difference in attitude was evident right from the off when 'Park's backs were often caught in possession and the half backs put in some poor kicks. One speculative kick ahead led to the Wigan winger making good ground and 'Park having to give away a penalty which was put over to make the score 3 points to 0 after 7 minutes. After 9 minutes another kick missed touch and the very fast Wigan winger gathered the ball, chipped over and gathered his own chip and went over in the corner for what looked a good try, unfortunately he had put a foot in touch. 'Park then played to their strengths and the conditions, keeping the ball in the forwards. It paid dividends when a long driven maul took them to the line where top try scorer, lock forward Mark Poole, broke off to score under the posts. Steve O'Connor converted making the score 3 - 7 after 29 mins. The rest of the half was a dour forward struggle with 'Park coming near an a few occasions but Wigan kept them out. Half-time 3 - 7.

The heavy pitch and wind did not make for pretty rugby but 'Park continued to play a tight forward game which kept Wigan penned in their own 22. After 16 mins a Steve O'Connor penalty gave 'Park a lineout on the Wigan 5 metre line. John Knight took the ball and drove it in, from which prop Andy O'Grady broke off and scored in the corner. The conversion was missed. (3 - 12) Much against the run of play and after many missed tackles the lightening fast Wigan winger took the ball from his own 22 to score a try in the corner. After the run the Wigan winger went off to be sick! The try was excellently converted. 10 - 12 and all to play for. The pattern continued with 'Park pressing but unable to finish the game off. With only 2 points in it Wigan tackled like demons hoping for another break away try, but after 43 minutes a scrummage on the Wigan line saw them win the ball under extreme pressure from the 'Park scrummage, which caused the ball to squirt out. Alert scrum-half, Shaun Stirrup, dropped on it for a final try. The final score was 10 - 17. Both sets of players knew they had been in a hard game.

'Park are now only one point behind league leaders Wilmslow.