BIRKENHEAD Park powered to victory over Kirby Lonsdale 35-19 after a stuttering first-half in which the visitors looked a very dangerous outfit.

It was just the start new-look Park wanted in North West One. Greg Cann and Steve O'Keefe gained two tries each and Steve Austin a fifth. Jason Gilbert added two conversions and two penalties.

Caldy and Oldershaw also celebrated sound opening victories in the same division. Caldy crushed Ashton-on-Mersey 34-3. There were touch downs for Chris Young, Matt Pennington, Steve Wallace, John Bagley and Duncan Hendry. Brendan McGaffney goaled twice and Peter Hart once, plus a penalty.

Oldershaw finished 25-12 against Penrith. Richard Lane, Lee Cox and Dave Reid all crossed and Willy Gardner landed two conversions, a penalty and a drop goal.

In South Lancashire/Cheshire League, Wirral saw off Eagle 18-12. Rob Trowler and Colin Davies touched down. Simon Hignett hit two penalties and one conversion. Anselmians came away 27-10 to the good from Ruskin Park. There were touch downs for Phil Mole, Rich Bartlan, Graham Poole and Jamie Whitlock-Wainwright. James Taylor added two conversions and a penalty.

Port Sunlight edged the derby at Parkonians 15-12, thanks to tries from Kerad Duncalf and Geoff Ebbrell and a conversion and penalty via Carl Taylor. Simon Smithdale and Ben Pearson went in for Parkonians and Andy Evans goaled once.

Prenton crashed 0-56 at Ellesmere Port, but Hoylake won 39-0 at Helsby.

Wallasey began life in North West Three with an unlucky 15-17 home reverse against Cockermouth. Barry Kniveden scored all the points with two tries and a conversion and penalty.

NPI and Junior Cup matches this Saturday include Birkenhead Park v Sandbach, Oldershaw v Ashton-on-Mersey, Wallasey v Caldy and Anselmians v Ellesmere Port.

All affiliated clubs are in the Cheshire Cup this season. The draw for the preliminary round on October 30/31 includes Wirral v Douglas, Port Sunlight v Helsby, Anselmians v Vagabonds, Prenton v Bowdon, Wilmslow v Hoylake and Ellesmere Port v Sandbach.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.