RUSKIN travelled over to the Wirral on Saturday for what became a bruising encounter, against a well-drilled, enthusiastic Parkonians team.

Ruskin were far from their recent composed selves in the early exchanges, wasting good possession and failing to maximise on numerous line breaks.

After a number of high scoring games in past weeks, it appeared that complacency may have set in.

However, despite a scrappy first 15 mins it was the combination of Neale Foster and Mike Farrelly that opened the scoring with Farrelly touching down despite the attention of the aggressive Parkonians back row, closely followed by Foster scoring a fine solo effort in the corner.

Alex Stuart converting to make it 12-0.

It was the Parkonians pack that impressed next, with a relentless passage of pick and drive play, which pushed them from the half way line to within touching distance of the Ruskin line.

Only a determined defensive effort from the scrambling defence kept the impressive Parkonians forwards at bay.

Almost against the run of play, Ruskin broke from deep in their own half to push towards the Parkonians line, and it was Shaun Tress who was on hand to reach for the line under pressure from three would be tacklers to make it 17-0 at half-time.

Coach Adam Fogarty, had strong words with his players at half-time, and despite a trip to the sin-bin for Chris Lyon, it was Karl Jones who crossed first in the second half to begin a more clinical period of play from Ruskin.

The Parkonians pack, despite their dominance in the first half, began to get frustrated as time went on, culminating in a red card for a dangerous spear tackle on Chris Dyson.

Sensing the extra space and increased possession, Ruskin began to use the ball well, and it was Dyson himself who crossed for the next try, closely followed by Farrelly and Danny Beckett, all finishing off excellent passages of play, with Alex Stuart converting two, 41-0.

Despite a scare when Parkonians hacked on a loose pass from Ruskin, only to kick the ball dead, it was Ruskin that looked in control for the last 15 minutes.

Matt Bartlett was next to cross following a 50m sprint to the line, and it was a similar story when Craig Orrick burst through the Parkonians defence to race over, touching down under the posts. Stuart converting both to make it 55-0.

The final word went to Neale Foster who latched on to a wide pass to out-pace the Parkonians defence to score close to the sticks, leaving Alex Stuart a simple conversion to draw the game to a close at 62-0.

Oxton Parkonians were indeed, ferocious opposition, and the score-line flattered a below par Ruskin side.

Ruskin welcome Port Sunlight to Ruskin Drive next week, as they aim to maintain their 100% record.