Beastie boy Hat-trick sinks Wirral. 36 - 26, 09/04/05

In this topsy turvey game 'Park flanker Dave "Beastie" Rodgers scored 3 tries. Playing with the wind in the first half, 'Park forced their way into the Wirral 22 and were awarded a scrummage. From the scrummage 'Park forwards drove the resulting maul towards the line for Flanker Dave "Beastie" Rodgers to pop up and score the try. Pete Oakes missed the conversion. 0 - 5 after 2 minutes.

From a Wirral kick ahead, 'Park full back Ronan O'Brien pick up and ran through most of the Wirral team to pass to Dave "Beastie" Rodgers who score his second try. Pete Oakes converted. 0 - 12 after 10 mins.

'Park forwards won some turn over ball and fed scrum-half Shaun Stirrup whose perfectly weighted kick allowed winger Ben O'Brien to run on to score in the corner. 0 - 17 after 17 mins. There the score stayed until half-time.

Playing now into a strong wind 'Park pushed back a Wirral scrummage just inside the Wirral half, but Wirral managed to get the ball away to pass the ball along the line to the Wirral winger who almost reached the line but passed inside to the centre who scored a converted try wide out. 7 - 17 after 2 mins of the 2nd half.

Straight from the kick-off Wirral ran at 'Park keeping the ball alive out of tackles, popping the ball up to supporting players and it was no surprise that they scored a converted try. 14 - 17 after 6 mins of 2nd half.

'Park were under presure from the free running Wirral backs but did not help themselves by missing first time tackles. The Wirral out-half ran through the 'Park 'defence' almost without a hand being laid upon him to score another try wide out. 19 - 17 after 10 mins of the 2nd half.

The scoring stopped for almost ten minutes but Wirral pressure forced a driven maul over the 'Park line for a converted try to make the score 26 - 17 after 20 mins of the 2nd half. Wirral were now scoring at over a point a minute and looking as though they would run out easy winners. It was no surprise that they had only lost twice at home this season.

Centre Alan Hodkinson had to go off injured so 'Park had to bring reserve scrum half Richard Gould on and put first choice scrum-half Shaun Stirrup on the wing. Richard lost a few early balls but came into his own playing as a nineth forward making darting runs allowing the 'Park forwards to go forward in support. It was not pretty but it was effective.

'Park were playing the sort of game that has served them well all season and kept the ball mainly in the forwards. Forward pressure brought 'Park near the Wirral line and the ball was spun out to winger Ben O'Brien to score wide out. 26 - 22 after 25 mins of 2nd half.

Ten minutes later after good 'Park pressure through the forwards and many driven mauls, flanker Dave Rodger wormed his way over for his third try. Pete Oakes converted making the score 26 - 29 after 35 mins of 2nd half.

One minute into injury time a carbon copy driven maul try was scored by Number 8 John Knight and converted by Pete Oakes. Final score 26 - 36.

'Park have one game left at home to 2nd place Wilmslow on the 23rd of April. If they win and Leigh lose or draw their final game, then 'Park will be in a promotion play off place.