New Brighton 34 West Park 27

By Barrie Barton

ALREADY league champions and having lost one game all season, New Brighton were given an unexpected scare by a patched-up West Park side.

In reply to the home side’s five tries, Park scored four tries themselves and had two disallowed.

The visitors scored first after 10 minutes as quick hands enabled the ball to find winger Warren Hunt, who scorched in from 35 yards, his attempted conversion from wide out being unsuccessful.

The home side were quick to reply and posted three well worked tries to establish a lead.

The visitors succeeded in pegging them back; after a smart interception on the half way line, back row forward Matty Potter showed a remarkable turn of speed to beat the defence and score.

West Park’s pack showed commendable resilience throughout, with captain Rob Morley always prominent and second row Tom Fortune having a fine game especially when called upon to replace an injured Mike Simpson at prop.

The visitors backs always looked threatening with ball in hand and were able to match the opposition in the second half, scoring two tries apiece.

Park’s third try came as a result of some fine inter-passing between winger Chris Fortune and man-of-the-match Matt Savage, the winger taking the full back’s neat return pass to score.

The visitors continued to match the opposition in most phases of the game and they scored a fourth try as the game drew to a close, leaving the scores seven points apart and earning two bonus points.

An excellent break by centre Kal Warburton saw fellow centre Danny Green in support and taking a fine line through the defence he raced 25 yards, Hunt converting.

Park’s last game of the season next week is against local rivals Wigan at Red Rocks, kick off 3pm.