by David Wilcox

PROMOTION-chasing BBH-New Brighton are calling on Wirral rugby fans to turn out in force, on Saturday, to support the peninsular's premier rugby team in what it regards as the most important match of the season.

New Brighton, pushing for promotion from National League Division Three North, have a 'must win' fixture against fellow promotion hopefuls Tynedale.

So important is the game that officials believe that anything less than full points will almost certainly consign New Brighton to another season in Division Three North - and that is definitely not what they want if they are to realise their ambitions.

"We appeal to rugby fans across Wirral to make their way to Hartsfield (formerly Reeds Lane) on Saturday and give the team their wholehearted support," said the official.

Kick-off at Hartsfield is 2.30pm.

Meanwhile, last Saturday, New Brighton did their promotion prospects a power of good with a 30-22 win at Dudley Kingswinford.

A third minute Paul Brett penalty gave the visitors a 3-0 lead, but six minutes later, deep in the New Brighton half, Dudley were awarded a penalty for a similar offence. Up stepped Ian Gowland to make it 3-3.

The game swung from end to end until another surging, driving maul by the Blues ended with the indomitable Steve Bellis crashing over for a fine try. Brett missed the conversion (3-8).

The referee was frequently over fussy on players supposedly killing the ball at rucks and, as the game moved into first-half injury time, Dudley, right in front of their posts, yielded to a New Brighton maul, collapsed it and Brett put the penalty away (3-11).

Dudley threw everything into attack early in the second-half and kept the Blues pinned in their own half for long periods. Only stout defending kept the home side at bay. But then Brett engineered a move which ended with James White scoring a fine try, which Brett himself converted (3-18).

While all this was going on, Christian Saverimutto went off with an injured shoulder and was replaced by Tim Saxton. Two minutes later, he rounded off a truly magnificent try. Brett converted (3-25).

Not to be out done, Dudley reduced the deficit to 10-25 with a try, successfully converted, by Russell Port (10-25) and then subjected the Blues to wave after wave of attacks. The pressure told in the 64th minute when scrum-half Shaun Perry scored a superb try, which was unconverted (15-25).

Barely four minutes later, after another driving maul down the touchline, Loa crashed over for another fine try, also unconverted (15-30).

Five minutes from time, New Brighton lock Richard Bradshaw was red carded for throwing a punch. Now down to 14 men, the Blues were immediately put under pressure and struggled to hold the now rampant home side. On 78 minutes, with the crowd howling on their encouragement, the elusive Shaun Perry suddenly appeared from nowhere, dashed up-field and crashed over for another fine try, which was converted (22-30).