IT was a happy league Saturday for the leading Wirral clubs with victories for Caldy, Birkenhead Park, Wirral, New Brighton and Hoylake.

Caldy eased past Harrogate 24-17 at Paton Field in National Two North League. It was their third win and puts them five places off the bottom.

Birkenhead Park stayed top of North One West with an excellent 39-8 success at Wilmslow.

They now have a three points advantage over Widnes with Wirral who saw off Altrincham Kersal 31-12 a further point back in third place.

New Brighton crushed a below strength Winnington Park side 87-0 to stay clear in South Lancashire/Cheshire One.

Hoylake, after recent disappointments, recorded a 15-10 victory over Ashton on Mersey at Melrose Avenue but Anselmians went under 26-33 at Sefton in the same division.

Caldy had a bright start against Harrogate with two tries in nine minutes from Derek Salisbury and a conversion from Richard Vasey.

The Yorkshire side hit back with a converted try and a penalty to cut the deficit to just two points by the half way stage and then they went ahead with a second converted touchdown.

Caldy however came to life again with John Broxson and Gavin Roberts breaching the visiting defence and Vasey adding one goal.

It was still touch and go but Harrogate could not take advantage as yellow cards reduced the home ranks in the final quarter.

Birkenhead were behind at Wilmslow 5-8 at the half way stage but took charge in the second period to ensure a bonus point.

Gavin Scott gained a first-half touchdown. Danny Rich struck a penalty soon after the re-start and then the tries flowed via Rich, Jo Spencer, Greg Hughes, Lewis Williams and Sam Chidley. Rich added three of the conversions.

Wirral despite a number of absentees were too strong for Kersal. A couple of tries from Rob Pearl took the number eight to ten for the season.

James Green and Sam Edgar were others to go in and there was also a penalty try.

James Annetts added three of the goals but the injury problems are piling up for the Clatterbridge side which has lost scrum-half Joe Murray to Macclesfield – a big step up for him to National Two North..

New Brighton enhanced their points differential with a runaway success at Hartsfield and retain a nine points lead in the table.

It was their tenth win on the trot helped by some below par defending by their East Cheshire opponents.

Touch downs via Vinnie Dutton (2), Liam Roberts, Mike Gazzola, Anthony Birley and Kati Tuipulotu plus five goals by Birley took the Blues to a 40-0 interval lead.

They added plenty more in the second period. Dutton went on to make his tally four.

Tuipulotu got a second and there was also a brace for Jack Charlesworth. Joe Cardus and Aeron Jones also got in on the try scoring act.

There were three second-half touch downs for Birley and also another trio from Stephen Dean.

It was all great entertainment for the past players who attended a Re-union Dinner.

There was again no joy for Wallasey in a 0-46 reverse at Oswestry in South Lancashire/Cheshire Two. Port Sunlight also found it tough in a 3-41 finish at Collegiate.

Prenton lost top place in Division Three as Trentham stepped over them with a 25-16 win.

Ellesmere Port fell 18-23 at home to Buxton and Oldershaw comfortably took the local derby against Oxton Parkonians 38-7.

Birkenhead Park and Wirral face a big league derby at the Upper Park this Saturday with Park seeking revenge for a cup defeat at the start of the season.

Caldy take the road to Dudley Kingwinsford and another win should be on the cards against a side rock bottom after ten reverses.

New Brighton put their unbeaten record on the line at Wigan. Hoylake are also away at West Park with Anselmians entertaining second placed Douglas.

Other league games include Port Sunlight v Dukinfield, Wallasey v Ormskirk, Congleton v Oldershaw and Oxton Parkonians v Ellesmere Port.

Prenton journey to Birchfield for a National Junior Vase first round clash.