Park on the Final Hurdle to Twickers.

Broughton Park 31pts Kendal 17pts.

This game was always going to the be one to test Park's forwards and from the outset a very poor kick off from Kendal give Park the chance to see if there scrummaging was going to match the bigger set of forwards from Cumbria, it did and sent the visitor's scrum back a good ten meters. 'Park continued to dominate the scrummageing for the remainder of the afternoon. Early into the game, from a good set scrum, Tom Mapp playing at fly half made the half break up the middle of the park and although half tackled he managed to get good ball to inside centre Mike Rainey who broke free of his opposite number to race to the line to give Park their first score of the afternoon. Ronan O'Brien stepped up to convert the try giving Park a lead of 7pts to nil. The pressure continued from Park and within five minutes that man Mike Rainey was on hand yet again to give Park an even bigger lead with a fine worked try, once again Ronan was on hand to kick a very difficult conversion giving Park a 14pts to 0 lead,

Alan Hodkinson at outside centre had to leave the field with a leg injury and was replaced by Ben O'Brien on the wing and Joe Kennedy moving into the centre slot. John Clifford was sent to the sin bin for allegedly interfering with the Kendal No9,and was followed shortly by Ben O'Brien for coming in from the side. It was during this period of play that Park took their eye off the ball and allowed Kendal back into the game. They got themselves on to the score board with a good try which was not converted. Park lead 14pts to 5pts and now had a game on their hands.

With John Clifford just back on the park, centre Joe Kennedy was next to see the yellow card for failing to attempt to move away after a tackle. However, Park continued to play the more entertaining rugby and were further rewarded with a massive set scrum in front of Kendal's posts, Park's pack sent the visitors back over there own line for No8 John Clifford to pick up and score a pushover try. Fullback Ronan O'Brien had no trouble in converting this great effort. Park now lead by 21pts to 5pts. Despite being behind, Kendal kept up the fight and their winger picked up a loose pass from a Park attack and raced from inside his own half to score Kendal's second try of the day which was not converted. Park 21pts Kendal 10pts. This score brought to an end a very entertaining first half game of rugby.

With both sets of supporters in good voice and egging on both of their teams the second half got under way with Park holding Kendal in side there own twenty two and causing the visitors to give away a penalty for a defensive error. Ronan O'Brien made no mistake with his attempt at goal and gave Park a lead of 24pts to 10pts. Park maintained their high rate of tackling as Kendal decided to play a more expansive game and it was well into the second half where Park backs were caught out by going for the interception and allowing the Kendal full back to hit their line at pace and race to the line to score. A good conversion now made this already exciting game an even more intriguing one with a score of Park 24pts Kendal 17pts,

Once again Park went straight back on the attack and kept up the high work rate and pressure and in the dying minutes from a rolling maul Skipper Andy(Tank)O'Grady went over for Park's final score of the match. Ronan O'Brien had little trouble in adding the two points giving Park a well deserved victory of 31pts to 17pts.

This was another massive team effort which came about through no nonsense scrummaging from the front five, very hard work from the back row and solid mid field tackling from our backs, Tom Mapp has to be congratulated on a fine performance standing in at no ten. A very sincere thank you to must go to the loyal supporters who gave up their afternoon to come and cheer the Lad's on.

ONE AWAY FROM TWICKERS, lets hope now for a good draw for the semi-final on Tuesday of next week.

John O'Grady