CALDY just missed out in a high scoring and entertaining National Two North contest at Macclesfield.

It finished 34-27 to the home outfit, who were relegated from Division One last season.

There was a narrow defeat for Birkenhead Park in National Three North League, finishing 27-33 at Rossendale.

Park collected a losing bonus point with an improved display. They were awarded two penalty tries. Martin O’Keefe also crossed and Dave Hall landed the conversions plus a brace of penalties.

There was bitter disappointment for Hoylake as they lost 13-16 against visiting Douglas in South Lancashire/Cheshire One League.

The home side built up a 13-0 interval advantage thanks to a Matt O’Hanlon try and the conversion and two penalties via Dan O’Neill.

The Islanders clawed back to level the scores and a draw seemed likely when a long range penalty for Douglas was missed. But Hoylake erred again in added time and this time the visiting fly-half took full advantage to win the game with the very last kick.

New Brighton could not build on their derby victory over Hoylake as they were beaten 17-23 at Glossop.

It looked good when they led 17-10 on the hour mark but the home side finished strongly leaving the Blues with just a losing bonus point to show for their efforts.

Anselmians lost 28-46 in the cross river derby against LSH at Malone Field while a tense Merseyside North League derby between Port Sunlight and Oldershaw finished honours even at 24-24.

Another all Wirral affair was clear cut as Wallasey accounted for Oxton Parkonians 49-17.

Prenton missed out 5-27 at home to Newton Le Willows but Ellesmere Port came away convincing winners 52-15 from St Edwards.

*For the second season running, Wirral lost out to Waterloo at Blundellsands by a two points margin in a hugely entertaining match, writes Richard McNeil.

It was Wirral, playing with the wind, who had the early chances to score but the final pass was denied by a resolute defence.

Gradually the home team came into the game and Wirral’s defence was severely tested.

The Wirral defence was finally breached on 32 minutes when a well-timed pass by veteran Freeman Payne gave Liam Reeve the gap to score under the posts, converted by James Robins.

Six minutes later came the try of the match. Wirral attacked from 60 metres out with a break by Danny Harvey who set up Matt Loon who beat his winger and round the full back to score under the posts. The try was converted by Craig Harvey to level the scores 7-7 at half-time.

In an end-to-end second half Wirral took the lead through Dan Harvey after an astute pass from brother Craig, the latter converting.

With Wirral down to 14 men, Waterloo capitalised by stretching the Wirral defence to create an overlap for right winger Jacob Allen to score in the corner – this was well converted by Liam Reeve from the touchline.

Three minutes later Waterloo took the lead when their pack, aided by some of their backs, pushed the Wirral scrum over their line and scored, again converted by Reeve to give Waterloo a 21-14 lead.

The final 10 minutes was all Wirral as they stretched the Waterloo defence and for the final two minutes of the game they were camped on the Waterloo line. With the final play of the game, Paul Lewis crashed over for a try some 20 metres from the posts.

But the conversion was missed and it was a relieved Waterloo who took the spoils with a two-point win.