Famous victory for Wirral

The five try bonus point earning display at the Upper Park saw them step over their local rivals to the top of the North One West table.

They had to come from a 3-22 deficit to post a remarkable 32-25 success which left the Park faithful bewildered.

Birkenhead undoubtedly paid for an undisciplined display. They looked powerful enough as they stretched to a 22-3 lead before the half hour mark.

But they conceded tries either side of half-time with a player serving time in the sin bin and then at a crucial stage in the second period again had their defence breached twice when a man down.

All credit to Wirral who looked mighty dangerous in possession and took their chances well.

Obviously there is a long way to go in the season but the Clatterbridge side has given notice of intention of a promotion place.

Birkenhead too should be in the promotion shake up but they must learn from this experience and cut out the careless aspects of their play.

Confidence has taken a knock and they need to bounce back quickly.

Danny Rich landed an early penalty for the home side and then pressure from a line-out brought a Stuart Brown try goaled by Rich at a time the Wirral ranks were reduced.

James Annetts hit a penalty for the visitors after earlier striking a post but Park responded with a second Brown touch down in a push over from another line throw.

Then Dave Ibbotson got in on the act as the pack powered forward from a set piece.

Just before the break Wirral took full advantage of a poor home clearance kick for Craig Harvey to nip in at the corner with Annetts adding the extras.

Five minutes after the re-start a quickly taken penalty saw Sam Edgar get over and the successful Annetts kick meant it really was game on again at 22-17.

Rich landed a penalty for Park just short of the hour but then the home side was down to fourteen men again and an inspired Wirral made them pay dearly with two well worked corner tries by Alistair Baker.

It meant Wirral were ahead for the first time and they added to the home woe deep in the final quarter when Annetts nipped over in the corner after strong pressure.

There was no way back for Birkenhead and they will no doubt ponder for a long time on what might have been. The only real consolation came by way of a crucial losing bonus point.

There is still everything to play for. Both clubs have 45 points with Wirral enjoying a slightly better points differential of six. Widnes who lost narrowly at Kendal are third in the table.

Caldy as expected recorded their fifth success in National Two North 43-17 away to Dudley Kingswinford who were losing for the eleventh successive time.

It was a somewhat scrappy affair but Caldy always had the edge despite going behind to an early converted try.

Gavin Roberts, JJ Dickinson, Dom Kohler and James Smith all crossed with Richard Vasey targeting three of the conversions.

A second converted home try plus a penalty left it 26-17 in Caldy’s favour at the interval and they stretched away later as Kohler and Ben Eaves found gaps in the Kings defence.

Vasey added the extras and then a penalty for good measure.

It was a first victory on the road for Caldy and things are looking so much brighter in the Paton Field camp.

New Brighton find themselves a dozen points clear at the top of South Lancashire/Cheshire One after coming away 17-8 to the good from Wigan.

They knew they were in for a fight but did just enough to make it eleven wins from eleven outings.

Two converted tries gave them a 14-3 lead at the half way stage and a penalty later was enough to hold Wigan at bay.

Hoylake fell 20-30 at West Park but it was better for Anselmians who accounted for Douglas 33-27 at Malone Field.

Port Sunlight finished 24-15 to the good against Dukinfield in Division Two.

The Wallasey v Ormskirk was game postponed. Oxton Parkonians took the Division Three derby 17-12 against Ellesmere Port at Home Lane.

They deserved it on the strength of three tries via Paul Lennon, Terry Williams and Alan Williams plus an Andy Smith goal.

All the Port points came from penalty kicks. Oldershaw maintained their improved form with a 25-15 win at Congleton.

Prenton travelled to Birchfield for a first round clash in the Junior Vase and went under 19-33.

Caldy have Birmingham and Solihull as visitors to Paton Field this coming Saturday (2.15pm).

The Midlands outfit is ten points better off in the table and it promises to be an interesting contest.

Wirral entertain Warrington and Birkenhead Park take the road to Altrincham Kersal with victory a top priority.

A local derby sees Hoylake taking on Anselmians at Melrose Avenue. New Brighton meet Ashton on Mersey at Hartsfield.

Other fixtures on another full league Saturday include Orrell v Wallasey, Port Sunlight v Bowdon, Ellesmere Port v Congleton, Helsby v Oxton Parkonians and another all Wirral affair between Oldershaw v Prenton.