DESPITE having to contend with gale force winds throughout, both sides and indeed the match official, contributed to an enjoyable contest which produced 10 tries, West Park scoring seven of them and thus once again picking up maximum league points.

Playing into the wind in the first half, and despite having less of the possession, the home side were first to score as full back Matt Savage linked with winger Warren Hunt, whose neat kick was gathered by hooker Tom Williams to cross in the corner. Against all the odds, given the wind, Hunt converted magnificently from the touchline, adding to the score shortly afterwards with a penalty awarded for a high tackle.

From a 5 metre scrum , the result of some strong forward play, lively scrum half Danny Green fed flanker Matt Cozens who squeezed over in the corner for a try which was not converted.

As half time approached, the home side’s continuing superiority produced a memorable try for No 8 Matt Potter, who took a beautiful pass from second row Lewis Harris and backed himself from 30 metres to brush aside and outpace the opposition defence to score, though again a try not able to be converted.

On the stroke of half time a penalty awarded under the posts enabled Bowden’s impressive stand off James Carding to open the visitors account, leaving the scores

at the interval 20-3.

From the kick off in the second half a mistake in fielding the ball by the Park forwards saw a penalty awarded to the visitors who then ran the ball with considerable conviction, and despite some excellent defence from the home side, were able to cross for a deserved try which was easily converted by Carding.

West Park were displaying an uncharacteristic nervousness as the game progressed, and then conceded another try to a resurgent Bowden team, leaving only five points separating the teams.

The home team now playing with the wind finally got it’s act together and produced another

hallmark try ,as a pick up from Potter at the base of the scrum was passed to Savage whose feed to the wing was expertly finished by Warren Hunt. Park now looked more settled, and a scrum won against the head allowed a quick thinking scrum half Danny Green to score an excellent opportunist try which savage converted.

The visitors were now second best in every department, and Park pressed home their advantage as a quick tap from Green gave the ball to centre Liam Hill who dummied his way to the line, Savage converting.

This try was followed by another from winger Lee Rosney who despite being tackled just short of the line after receiving the ball in his own half managed to get the ball over the line to score.

Bowden continued to play attacking football when in possession and were rewarded with a further try which was converted as the game was brought to an end.

There were several notable performances from the home side, Savage, Green and Harris in particular, but man of the match was duly awarded to No8 Matt Potter for his overall work rate and effective contribution to the contest.

Next week Park travel to Anselmians which will no doubt be another testing fixture.

Southport 2nd XV 10 West Park 2nd XV 10.

A commendable performance by the visitors who took the field with only 14 players, and at times, due to injuries were further reduced to 13 players.