WEST Park continued their fight against possible relegation with a seven-try defeat of bottom club Eccles.

Park’s cause is badly hampered each week by the lack of availability of regular players and long term injuries, but the team’s spirit and desire to succeed remains.

West Park opened the scoring within minutes of the start of the game, as a break by winger Matt Appleton was carried on by supporting prop Kurt Riley who scored a good try which stand off Lee Rosney converted.

After such a positive start there seemed to be an air of complacency by the visitors, affording a young and lively Eccles team to register two simple handling tries, one of which was converted to give them a five-point lead.

The visitors however soon began to assert greater effort, and with good skill an unconverted try from centre Danny Green was followed by a forwards surge close to the Eccles line allowing hooker Andrew Sterry to cross for a try which Rosney converted to give Park the lead.

Centre Dom Basley was injured and forced to leave the field, skipper Matt Cozens moving to centre and allowing a debut appearance for Jack Davies in the pack.

On the stroke of half time Park went further ahead as an ever alert Danny Green intercepted a pass to outpace the defence and score a try which was magnificently converted from the touchline by Rosney, to give the visitors a comfortable 14 point lead and a guaranteed bonus point.

The visitors dominated the majority of proceedings in the second half, with youngsters Luke Holland and Jack Davies particularly prominent alongside established players Tom Williams and Kurt Riley, with man of the match Lee Rosney impressive in both attack and defence throughout.

A try from Matt Cozens with an assist from Appleton and duly converted by Rosney extended the visitors lead, but an injury to 2nd row Ant Jones forced him to leave the field and allow another debutant Marve Hannon to take his chance to impress.

The returning Tom Williams saw him make a fine break but he was caught just short of the try line but was

able to get the ball to winger Berry who crashed over for a try which was not converted.

A sin binning for centre Green for an alleged high tackle appeared harsh, and with the extra man Eccles posted a further try which was duly converted.

The visitors determination to limit the home side’s scoring opportunities was particularly impressive and a fine break by Holland was continued on by No 8 Matt Potter who found a supporting full back John Pape who beat several defenders to score a fine try wide out, Rosney adding the extras.

With only minutes remaining skipper Cozens received a yellow card for a hefty tackle on an opponent which the referee adjudged was too high, and with only 13 men on the pitch the visitors were unable to stop Eccles adding a further try to their score and thus earning themselves an unlikely but perhaps deserved bonus point.

Next week West Park entertain Rochdale (kick off 3pm), and hopefully with greater player and injury free availability,will look to add to their league points tally and avoid a continuing and undeserved relegation fight.