THE visitors suffered another unexpected, and in truth unnecessary defeat at Sefton,

in a match in which the home side displayed attrition and intimidating tactics from the start.

Both sides scored four tries, and despite the home side picking up two yellow cards and what would have been a further red card had the violent offence not gone unpunished, their final try in the dying moments secured them maximum league points at the visitor’s expense.

Sefton succeeded in unsettling the visitors from the outset, with centre Liam Hill suffering a severe facial injury from a punch which saw him unable to take any further part in the game, his place being taken by flanker Marc Bailey.

The home side dominated the score line in the first half, scoring two tries from rolling mauls, the first of which was converted, and the lead increased to 15 points with a converted penalty.

West Park opened their account as the half drew to a close as centre John Pape shrugged off a head high tackle to cross in the corner, winger Warren Hunt completing an excellent conversion.

The visitors settled more quickly in the second half, and from a quickly taken tap penalty centre John Pape’s injection of pace into the line gave an opportunity for scrum half Danny Green to register Park‘s second try, Hunt’s attempted conversion coming back of the post.

Within minutes of that score a miss-fielded clearance by the Sefton winger was seized on by his opposite number Lee Rosney who made good ground to break the cover and find a supporting second row Lewis Harris to cross for a try which Hunt converted to give the visitors a four point lead.

Another catch and drive close to Park’s line produced a further try for the home side, which though not converted gave them a slender one point lead.

Park continued to press and a good move across their back line saw skipper Matt Cozens feed winger Lee Rosney who scored a fine try, which however went unconverted but put the visitors in front.

As the match drew to a close the visitor’s lead seemed to be secure, but a skewed lineout catch by the home side saw the ball transferred across the back line for their speedy winger to cross wide out, the try being expertly converted to secure them maximum league points.

West Park travel to Hoylake (kick off 3pm) and will need to make a more determined, controlled and disciplined effort if they are to continue to vie for the league leadership