BIRKENHEAD Park and Wirral maintained their excellent start to the season in North One West League as both won for the third successive time.

New Brighton in South Lancashire/Cheshire League Division One also made it three wins from three outings but Caldy despite a big effort at Leicester Lions suffered defeat for the third time running in National Two North League.

Birkenhead produced a 12-try display against a below strength Kendal at the Upper Park and finished 72-14 to the good.

A hat-trick of touch downs from Lawrence Thomas helped Park to a 43-0 interval advantage.

Kendal never threw in the towel and a second try in added time gave them a boost.

Stu Brown was another to cross three times for the winners. Lawrence Cowan went in twice with singles via Dave Ibbotson, Greg Hughes, Jo Spencer and Sam Chidley. Dave Hall converted six times.

Wirral were too good for visiting Leigh as they recorded a 31-5 victory. The home side came good in the second half after a first period which produced just one home score.

Rob Pearl crossed on two occasions for Wirral and there were also tries via James Annetts, Matt Loon and Chris Speed. Dan Harvey added three conversions.

The two local clubs occupy the two top places in their division with Wirral just ahead on points difference.

Caldy were on the wrong side of an 18-13 result away to the Lions.

New Brighton finished 29-17 to the good against Northwich at Hartsfield and lead the way in their division.

It was only 19-17 at the halfway stage with the East Cheshire side fighting hard but the Blues made certain in the second-period.

Gavin Attwood touched down twice for Brighton whilst New Brooks, Matthew Cook and Vinny Dutton breached the visiting rearguard once each. Anthony Birley landed a brace of goals.

The losers scored two converted tries and a penalty.

Hoylake saw off Tyldesley 37-5 and Anselmians put up another stout display in a nail biter to come away 17-16 winners from Ashton on Mersey.

The two local sides in Division Two lost. Wallasey failed 10-17 at Dukinfield and Port Sunlight 6-29 against Manchester Medics.

Prenton with a game in hand top Division Three. Away from home they whipped Knutsford 41-10. Oxton Parkonians went down 7-36 at Liverpool University whilst Oldershaw triumphed 21-3 at Ellesmere Port.

Caldy face a tough home clash against in form Stourbridge on Saturday at the end of the opening month to the new season. Stourbridge head the division with some impressive results.

Birkenhead Park take the road to Kirby Lonsdale and Wirral have a interesting cross river derby at Liverpool St Helens.

Lower down the scale matches include Anselmians v West Park, New Brighton at Ruskin Park, Hoylake at Sefton, Wallasey v Port Sunlight, Oldershaw v Helsby, Oxton Parkonians v Buxton and Prenton v Linley.

Ellesmere Port do not have league action this weekend.

The draw for the semi-finals of the Cheshire Cup has produced a local derby involving Caldy and Wirral.

The match at Paton Field has to be played on or before March 15th. The other tie involves Sandbach against Sale.

In the Vase semi-finals New Brighton will have home advantage against Crewe and Nantwich. The other semi is between Altrincham Kersal and Winnington Park.

In the Bowl Port Sunlight are due at Bowdon whilst Ellesmere Port visit Oswestry.

Oxton Parkonians will entertain Helsby for a place in the final of the Plate, The other match sees Christleton taking on Isle of Man outfit Southern Nomads.

The semi-finals for the lower competitions must be played on or before February 22.