EXPERIENCE back-row forward Dave Ibbotson gave a match-winning performance for Birkenhead Park as they saw off visiting Widnes 29-5 to stay at the top of North One West League.

Ibbotson registered a hat-trick of tries which ensured a fourteenth success of the campaign for the Upper Park outfit.

Ibbotson was over twice from driving mauls in the first quarter.The backs then combined for a terrific and probably best try of the season via Matt Walls who was eventually sent clear by Dave Morgan.

Dave Hall converted but a Widnes try ahead of the break kept the Lancashire side in contention.

Widnes had wind advantage in the second period but Park defended well to keep them out.

The home side increased their lead when Peter Doolan crossed at the end of the third quarter and Ibbotson completed his hat-trick ten minutes later with Hall adding the extras.

New Brighton had no joy as they fell to high riding Kendal at Hartsfield. There was just two kicks to show for their efforts and a fourteenth defeat this time by a 6-25 margin leaves them second bottom in the division.

The Blues were well in contention at the break when Kendal led 8-6 but three unanswered second half tries to add to one in the first period took the Cumbrians clear and gave them a bonus point.

Joe Silcock landed a brace of penalties for Brighton who showed plenty of endeavour but found little going right on the day.

There were hard earned victories for Caldy in National Two North and Wirral in National Three North.

Caldy did just enough to edge the verdict 23-22 against visiting Stourbridge. Wirral came away 31-25 to the good from Lymm.

The match at Paton Field was a see-saw affair. Stourbridge gained an early try. Richard Vasey struck a penalty for Caldy and Liam McGowan crossed on the half hour mark with Vasey converting.

Stourbridge sneaked ahead again with a converted try but Vasey made it 13-12 with his second penalty and then converted after Gavin Roberts crossed just before the break.

Stourbridge closed to within five points with a 44th minute kick and then went ahead with a converted penalty try early in the final quarter.

Vasey answered with his third penalty which was just enough for the win and a notable double over a Stourbridge outfit getting back in the groove after a terrible run of injuries.

Wirral had wind advantage in the opening period against Lymm and built up a 24-8 lead thanks to a brace of tries from James Annetts and another from Craig Harvey plus three excellent goals by Annetts.

Lymm managed a penalty and a try and then breached the visiting defence twice in the third quarter.

Another Harvey touch down and the Annetts conversion took Wirral thirteen points clear but Lymm struck with a converted try deep in added time to secure two bonus points. Wirral collected five.

The South Lancashire / Cheshire One derby at Malone Field was a high scoring affair and brought victory for Anselmians over luckless Hoylake 36-29.

Prenton in Division Two were defeated 13-20 at Dukinfield and Port Sunlight went down 28-40 in the Isle of Man against Vagabonds.

The three local sides in action in Division Three were all successful. Oldershaw finished 40-10 to the good against Linley at Belvidere.

Oxton Parkonians accounted for Knutsford 33-20 at Holm Lane whilst Wallasey despatched Liverpool University 20-7 at Cross Lane.

It is a league free Saturday for most local sides this weekend.

There are just two exceptions. Caldy are on the road to Huddersfield in National Two North whilst Anselmians are due to play a re-arranged South Lancashre/Cheshire One clash away to Ruskin Park.