This league fixture was played on Friday evening under the new floodlights at Sefton, and proved to be an excellent contest between two equally committed teams.

The home team started brightly , their forwards creating early problems for the visitors in both set and loose plays. Sturdy defence from both teams however allowed only a penalty apiece to trouble the scoreboard in the first quarter of the game.

A yellow card for the visitors scrum half Dickenson for what was adjudged a deliberate knock on, added further to their pressure , but nonetheless Park continued to stand firm.

An intelligent kick from the visitors stand off Lee Rosney was well fielded by winger Chris Fortune who found centre John James in support to finish off a 30 metre run in style, the try being converted by winger Warren Hunt.

Sefton’s forward continued to take the game to West Park and engineered a try themselves from a 5 metre scrum which when converted saw the scores equal at 10 point all at half time.

The visitors added to their score in the second half as Hunt converted a penalty awarded against Sefton for a high tackle, a small lead which appeared to give Park added confidence and determination.

The visitors forwards continue to have a torrid time against the bigger Sefton pack, and even when winning their scrums, often found themselves denied clean possession, thus unable to get their obviously superior backs into play.

A relieving kick from a scrum won under their own posts was mis-fielded by the Sefton winger and snapped up by Park’s skipper Rob Morley , he found full back Matt Savage in support , and he outpaced the home side’s defence to score a memorable 60 metre try.

The try was not able to be converted , but winger Hunt added to West Park’s score minutes later with a penalty to seal a fine win.

Next week’s fixture provides another stern test for West Park who entertain Douglas IOM at Red Rocks, kick off 3pm.

West Park 2nd XV 23 pts V Blackburn 25. The home side can count themselves particularly unlucky in losing to league leaders Blackburn in added time in this excellent fixture, having scored four tries apiece until the visitors added a fifth at the death to seal a somewhat undeserved win.

West Park 3rd XV 32 pts V Macclesfield 3rd XV 20 pts.

Much the better side, the 3rd XV deservedly took the spoils in this BESTS Shield quarter final cup match.