'Park survive the Wirral onslaught.

Wirral 13 v 29 Broughton Park

Broughton Park's first league game of the season was away to Wirral who gave them a tough time last season. The first exchanges of this game indicated that Wirral were going to be up in 'Park's faces as much as possible and give them as little time on the ball. In the first ten minutes 'Park were hurried into moves because of ferocity of the Wirral tackling. Even through this tackling onslaught 'Park managed to retain most of the possession if somewhat scrappily. From some scrappy possession out-half Tom Foden received the ball and made a typically jinking run from outside the Wirral 22 and fed lock forward John Knight who scored in between the corner and the posts. Injured Simon Verbickas converted to make the score 0 - 7 after 10 mins..

Earlier the cornerstone of the pack and mincer of opposition front rows, Andy O'Grady had to go off with suspected broken ribs. He was a giant loss for the 'Park pack. Unusually the 'Park pack were now being matched at Scrummages, Rucks and Mauls.

Wirral were putting 'Park under pressure and this pressure resulted in a penalty after 20 mins making the score 3 - 7 after 21 mins and then again after 30 mins to make the score 6 - 7.

Into injury time of the first half 'Park were being pressured in their own half but managed to win the ball and ran at the opposition passing the ball out of tackles and winning quick second and umpteenth phase possession. The ball, after going through a dozen or so pairs of hands, eventually reached centre Stuart Coackley who scored in the corner. The conversion was missed and the Referee blew for half-time. 6 - 12

The second half started as the first half with Wirral ferociously tackling 'Park and putting them under pressure and after 10 mins they scored a try wide out but unfortunately the pass was forward. Ten minutes later a kick from Simon Verbickas was half charged down and Wirral ran from the half way line with good inter passing to score a converted try under the posts. 13 - 12 after 20 mins of the second half.

The Wirral onslaught was now fading slightly and 'Park came more into the game. Just into the Wirral half the Wirral defenders were sucked in leaving space on the wing which 'Park exploited with winger Joe Wykes scoring in the corner. 13 - 17 after 30 mins 2nd half.

Five minutes later 'Park tapped a penalty and after passing through many hands reached opposite winger Martin Kelly who scored an unconverted try in the corner. 13 - 22 with 5 mins to go.

From Wirral putting 'Park under pressure Shaun Stirrup speculatively kicked ahead but followed up to catch Wirral in possession. Replacement wing forward Grant Little following up scavenged the ball and ran from wide out on the wing to score a try under the posts. Stuart Coackley converted making the final score 13 - 29.

Next week 'Park have their first home league game against Anselmians.