DESPITE yet more disruptive on-field injuries West Park showed signs of reversing
their recent loss of form, scoring three tries to four, losing 35-17 at Sefton.
However an uninspiring performance by Park in the last quarter of the game let the home side take the initiative, and with it maximum league points.
Park’s pressure in the opening exchanges created several chances to score which
were not converted into points, and after some 25 minutes a catch and drive close
to the line saw Sefton open the scoring with a converted try, shortly afterwards added
to by a successful penalty kick.
The home side’s back division showed good speed and passing ability, and from
what appeared to be an obvious forward pass, added to their score despite full back
Appleton’s last ditch tackle.
This try too was converted to stretch the lead to 17, and a penalty awarded for dissent provided another three points to the home side.
To their credit, albeit now 20 pts in arrears, the visitors continued to press, and as
half time approached, good interplay between scrum half Smith, centre Ainsworth and flanker Cozens saw the ball find it’s way to prop Kimberley who crossed for a good try wide out.
The unconverted try brought the half time score to 20 pts to 5 pts in the home side’s favour.
Buoyed by their score, Park opened the 2nd half in fine style, and an excellent break by
Cozens was carried on by winger Houlton, the ball transferred quickly across field to once again find prop Kimberley on hand to score, Ainsworth converting.
Injuries to Park’s centre Rosney, stand off Hill and flanker Cozens, all of whom had to leave the field , was massively disruptive to the visitors, and Sefton soon took advantage with a swift cross field passing move to score an unconverted try wide out.
Noticeably dispirited at falling further behind the visitors continued to plug away at the
opposition and were eventually rewarded with a try by speedy winger Littler following up a fine break and chip ahead by full back Appleton.
At this point the visitors were playing with greater belief, but a further try by Sefton, though not converted, seemed to knock their confidence, and a lack of endeavour and in many cases fitness, was duly punished by the home side who scored two more tries and added a further penalty to finish with a somewhat unrepresentative winning margin.
West Park ‘s next fixture is on 3rd March when visitors and fellow strugglers New Brighton provide the opposition at Red Rocks, in a match that has great significance for both teams regarding continuing league status.
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