WEST Park maintained their season’s unbeaten run with a fine win against a much improved Douglas team apparently sporting a newly acquired overseas contingent.

The game was played on a heavy and wet pitch, with the start delayed due to the late arrival of the referee’s flight.

Nonetheless great credit should go to Douglas for their sportsmanship and hospitality throughout the day.

The visitors settled into the game quicker than their opponents, and despite dominating play for the first 20 minutes were unable to post a score.

The remaining part of the first half saw the home team come into their own and effectively laid siege to the West Park line, which despite some heroic defence saw the first points go to Douglas as their stand off Snellgrove managed to breach the line to score under the posts, subsequently converting his own try to take a 7 point lead into half time.

Within minutes of the re-start the visitors fell further behind from a Snellgrove penalty, but undeterred, and after a series of drives by their forwards, a loose ball was picked up by Park’s full back Matt Savage, and taking the ball around the blind side found scrum half Danny Green in support who touched down in the corner for a try which Savage majestically converted.

Conceding another penalty at the breakdown Douglas widened the gap to 6 points, but after exerting considerable pressure on the home side’s line Savage fielded a relieving kick, and his excellent break was carried on by winger Lee Rosney and prop Martin Kimberley, the latter held up agonisingly short of the line but who nonetheless managed to get the ball back to the supporting Matt Savage who crossed for

a memorable try in the corner.

The try was not converted, but West Park having reduced the gap to one point, then conceded another penalty for an infringement at the breakdown, leaving them with a four-point deficit with only 10 minutes of the game remaining.

The visitors refused to accept defeat, and after a series of forward drives, the ball

broke to winger Josh Ainsworth, who fed second row Rob Morley, who despite being held just short of the line somehow managed to get the ball to the supporting and man of the match Matt Savage to score wide out.

The conversion was missed but the attempt by Josh Ainsworth proved to be the last action of the game as the official blew for time.

Despite the poor conditions this was a good contest between two well matched sides, and whilst it was an all round team victory for West Park, special mention should be made of props Martin Kimberley and in particular Craig Dyas who returning after a five week layoff after injury played the whole game.

Next week West Park entertain Hoylake at Red Rocks, kick off 2.15pm