Caldy edge Hull as Park and Wirral are both pipped (From Wirral Globe)

Caldy edge Hull as Park and Wirral are both pipped

2:47pm Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in Sport By Andrew Stratton

THERE were several close encounters involving local clubs as the first month of the rugby union season was completed.

Caldy got home 32-28 at Hull in National Two North thanks to tries via Matt Van Sertima, Stuart Cross and Ben Eaves plus five penalties and a conversion from the boot of Richard Vasey.

Hull staged a strong finish to get to within four points but it was a deserved victory for the Paton Field outfit. That is now four wins from five outings to date and generally their form has been impressive.

Birkenhead Park were edged out 26-34 by Percy Park in National Three North with the result in the balance until a last ditch try by the unbeaten visitors.

Stu Brown, Colin Campbell, Rob Houliston and Greg Hughes touched down for Park to ensure a bonus point. Dave Hall added three of the goals but a first win of the campaign is still awaited and the road ahead is not looking easy.

Wirral missed out 21-25 at Widnes in North One West whilst Anselmians fell to a 10-53 defeat at Rochdale.

Forwards Mike Ludbrook, Rob Pearl and Colin Dyer crossed the whitewash for Wirral with Craig Harvey converting each time but Widnes just held on under strong pressure in the dying minutes.

Simon Mason kicked a penalty for Anselmians and added the conversion to a Josh Jones try.

Hoylake won decisively 25-3 against Glossop at Melrose Avenue in South Lancashire/Cheshire One and New Brighton collected a bonus point as they finished 28-23 to the good against Crewe and Nantwich at Hartsfield.

Wallasey enjoyed a 19-14 victory over Ramsey in the Isle of Man in Division Two but Oldershaw went under 14-20 to visiting Oswestry.

Prenton sneaked the verdict 22-21 at Liverpool University in Division Three but Port Sunlight were on the wrong side of a 55-12 scoreline away to Manchester Medics.

Oxton Parkonians did not have a league match but played their Cheshire Plate semi-final against Southern Nomads from the Isle of Man. The islanders booked a final place with a 30-10 success. Dan Blythe and Liam Sadler scored tries for the Wirral team.

There is a full league programme this Saturday. Caldy take the road to Otley who are alongside them in the table and Birkenhead Park head for Sandal.

Anselmians and Wirral have a derby at Malone Field. Hoylake entertain Wunnington Park and New Brighton visit Orrell.

Other games include Oldershaw at Ormskirk, Wallasey v Vagabonds from the Isle of Man, a Port Sunlight v Oxton Parkonians derby and Prenton v Manchester Medics.