In terrible weather conditions , with several players having to play in unfamiliar positions, and a pack which was often second best, West Park struggled to impose themselves on the game, and ultimately gave away two late tries to leave them with all but a single point, for their efforts The home side started brightly and a fine break by flanker Lewis Whitty saw him held just short of the opponents line, but a neat pick up by hooker Williams credited him with the first score which Savage converted.

Unfortunately the lead was soon surrendered as a bad pass from full back Chris Fortune was intercepted by the visitors speedy winger who raced away to score under the posts, leaving an easy conversion to level the scores. Sefton continued to play to their strength in the forwards where they were increasingly dominant, but were somewhat fortunately able to add to their score when a speculative chip was mis-fielded on the Park line, with a race to the touchdown being won by the visitors.

A period of pressure by West Park resulted in series of penalties against the opposition who on two occasions did not retreat the required distance from Park’s tap penalties, resulting in the referee awarding a penalty try which put the home side into a 14pts to 12pts lead as half time approached.

The weather deteriorated badly in the second half, but despite the gale force winds and driving rain West Park scored an excellent try, as Kal Warburton playing on the wing made a decisive break and run along the touchline to pass to a supporting and man of the match Lewis Whitty for a try which Savage was unable to convert.

With some 15 minutes of the game remaining,the visitors pack continued to make ground, and from a 5mtr scrum their prop forward crashed over to narrow Park’s lead to only two points.

West Park could not gain enough possession to add to their score which would have also seen them awarded a forth try bonus point, and another 5mtr scrum close to the home side’s line, saw the visitors No8 to pick up and barge his way over to secure the game and maximum points leaving West Park once again with a narrow defeat and a solitary bonus point.

Their continuing shortage of size and power in the pack, particularly in the front row, is an increasing worry, and next week’s fixture in Douglas IOM promise to be another difficult game.

Blackburn 2nd XV 17pts V West Park 2nd XV 10pts.

Next week Park’s 2nd XV entertain Chorley 1st XV at Red Rocks kick off 2.15pm