BIRKENHEAD Park produced a stunning six try display to see off the challenge of highly rated Vale of Lune 32-14 in a lively and thoroughly entertaining North One West League clash at the Upper Park.

The margin might easily have been much greater had Dave Hall not left his kicking boots behind and carelessness allowed Vale two converted consolation tries in the last quarter.

Park had obviously learned from their experience against Wirral a fortnight previously but needed to produce some really solid defensive work at times to repel fast running opponents.

It was 17-0 at the break but Park had to withstand some terrific pressure either side of the break and were fortunate when a Vale player dropped the ball in the act of touching down in added first-half time.

Skipper Hall opened the scoring with a try on 14 minutes after initial good work by man of the match Jack Ashcroft.

The pack drove over for a Stu Brown score at the end of the opening quarter and then Brown scampered in again on 28 minutes after pressure following a line-out. Hall added the goal.

Park made sure of the bonus point when Rob Doolan sped away from a scrum for touch down number four on 47 minutes.

Jo Spencer blocked an intended chip ahead by the visitors after the hour and sped 30 metres to cross.

A Nick Royle try from a quickly taken tap penalty and the goal by Oli Carter made it 27-7 with fifteen minutes remaining but any Vale hopes of a come back went five minutes later as Park took a scrum against the put in and Ashcroft picked up an d burst clear on the blind side to expose the visiting rearguard.

Careless passing handed the visitors an interception try in the dying moments credited to Royle who just a couple of years ago was in the England sevens squad. Carter again added the extras.

This was an important victory for Birkenhead but they remain second in the table with Wirral top by a single point after a bonus earning 33-25 win at Carlisle. Widnes are two points further back in third place.

Caldy as feared could not cope with National Two North League leaders Macclesfield and went under 15-52 in the Cheshire derby at Priory Park.

Macclesfield have lost only once to date and are clearly a force with which to be reckoned.

New Brighton are sixteen points clear at the head of South Lancashire/Cheshire One after a 37-30 finish at West Park maintained their unbeaten record.

It was a lively affair which produced seven tries for the Blues and three for the losers.

West Park were ahead 18-15 at the break with Tom Brie, Brett Williams and Vinnie Dutton crossing for Brighton.

In the second period they were helped by the opposition via interception tries for Gavin Attwood and Dutton.

Evergreen Kati Tuipulotu and Stephen Dean also got in on the act and there was just one conversion on the day for Anthony Birley.

The Lancashire side who collected two bonus points secured three penalties and three conversions in addition to their trio of touch downs.

It was not vintage New Brighton but they do not know the meaning of defeat this season and are virtual certainties to go up to North One West next season.

Anselmians are in the shake up for the runners-up spot following a 29-13 win at home to Glossop.

Hoylake failed 22-35 at Manchester and are fourth bottom.

In Division Two Port Sunlight finished on the wrong side of a 12-5 score against Ramsey on the Isle of Man.

Wallasey suffered a twelfth successive reverse, this time by a 3-25 margin at home to Moore.

Ellesmere Port left Prenton 24-13 to the good in Division Three and lie second in the table.

Oxton Parkonians were happy with a 33-24 victory over visiting Capenhurst but Oldershaw lost 8-31 at leaders Trentham.

Andy Smith crossed twice for Oxton Parkonians and there were also tries via Matt Dooley, Paul Lennon and Geoff Waters.

Terry Williams converted all but one.

Caldy take the road to Preston Grasshoppers this coming Saturday as the league programme passes the half way stage.

There are home games for Birkenhead Park against Carlisle and Wirral against Kirby Lonsdale.

Other fixtures include Hoylake v Ruskin Park, New Brighton v Manchester, Anselmians at Wigan, Wallasey at Collegiate, Port Sunlight v Southport, Ellesmere Port v Capenhurst and Oxton Parkonians at Linley.

Prenton and Oldershaw are both without a game.