BIRKENHEAD Park put their recent trials and tribulations well and truly into the background as they secured a fine 23-12 victory at Staines to move into the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup semi-finals.
They are now just one step away from Twickenham and would dearly love a home draw in the last four, for which Chester have also qualified.
Park overcame a slow start against the high-riding London Two outfit to put themselves in the driving seat by half-time when they led 20-7.
advertisement
Defences then held the upper hand in the second period and even though Staines grabbed a breakaway try with 10 minutes left they never really looked like tipping the balance.
Dave Hall settled Park with a late penalty.
The visitors responded well to conceding an early try and conversion, with Christian Jones and Peter Hart crossing and Hall converting once. Hall struck his first penalty on 37 minutes and then added the extras to a second Jones try following a lively bout of play.
Hart, at full-back, and Jon Shudall, in the back-row, both made a successful return to senior action after a long time on the sidelines - but it was an excellent overall team performance with a good team spirit throughout.
Caldy put up a great show at Bradford and Bingley to triumph 36-5 in National Three North League to move into mid-table.
Ben Wylie, Jake Lyon and Gareth Roberts, after a spectacular run past several defenders, registered first-half tries. Simon Mason hit all three goals plus a penalty.
Richard Bradshaw gained two second-half touch downs from rolling mauls and Mason another conversion.
The Caldy Colts made it a great weekend for the club as they saw off visiting Darlington 18-14 on Sunday to move into the last eight in the National Colts Cup.
Wirral put out a side against Romaniam Under-21 outfit Cleopatra, who also met a New Brighton XV in midweek.
Prenton and Port Sunlight meet at New Brighton this evening (Wednesday, February 27) in the last of the Wirral Floodlit Cup quarter-finals.
There is a full league programme on Saturday. Caldy entertain Leicester Lions and Birkenhead Park have Hull as visitors in North One.
New Brighton, in North Two West, journey to lowly Tyldesley.
Other fixtures include Wirral v Vagabonds, Anselmians at Aspull, Hoylake v Burnage, Wallasey v Warrington, Oldershaw at Southport, Prenton v Moore, Parkonians v Holmes Chapel and Port Sunlight v Linley.
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
