BIRKENHEAD Park produced a much improved performance to gain their first win of the season in North West One League by a 24-15 margin against Isle of Man visitors Vagabonds.

New player coach Gregg Cann scored one try and John Kolokotroni grabbed a brace of touch downs. Chris Mapp put over two penalties and a conversion.

Oldershaw were delighted with a 37-15 success against Penrith. Skipper Willy Gardner grabbed a hat-trick of second-half tries in under five minutes. John Shudall and Geoff Ord also went in and Gardner took his tally for the match to 27 points with two penalties and a trio of goals.

Caldy accounted for Fleetwood 39-21. Peter Melody crossed twice and Duncan Meehan, Jim McGiven, Richard Farrall and Mike Swainston once each. Ian Cropper targeted three conversions and a penalty.

Wirral crushed Newton-le-Willows 52-0. Simon Parnell and Ian Morris had a brace of touch downs each. There were singles for Mark Renshaw and Gary Marsh, with Simon Hignett kicking the rest of the points.

Hoylake lost 0-19 at home to Collegiate and Parkonians 0-21 at home to Sefton, while Anselmians were edged out 20-24 at Ruskin Park, where Chris McCullough grabbed two tries and Mark Williams a third. Neil Turner put over a penalty and a conversion. Wallasey lost 11-26 at Congleton, while Port Sunlight went under 5-12 against Douglas. But Prenton crushed Helsby 42-7.

Intermediate and Junior Cup matches take place this Saturday. New Brighton go to Altrincham and Oldershaw to Northwich. Caldy visit Southport while Wirral have Ashton-on-Mersey as visitors. Other games include Crewe and Nantwich v Hoylake and Moore v Wallasey.

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