Park set for Twickenham

Apr 9 2008 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

PREPARATIONS are almost complete for Birkenhead Park’s big day at Twickenham, when they take on Chester in the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup final this Saturday.

Sharing the same stage as Exeter, Northampton, Leicester and the Ospreys, it will be a big day for Park and the whole of Wirral.

The team selectors have named an unchanged side from the team that won at Bracknell 16-12 in the quarter-final three weeks ago.

Park skipper Dave Ibbotson, who joined the club when he was 11, played a full game for the Park Wanderers last Saturday.

He has been passed fit to join the squad – although he will start on the bench.

Coach Neil Shaw said: “Dave has played here since he was 11 and if anyone deserves the opportunity to play at Twickenham he does. He is a real team player.”

Player-coach Jon Sewell will captain the team on the day. He has been in outstanding form for Park since switching to No. 8 following Ibbotson’s injury.

The squad has a strong local element in it, with 16 having been educated on the Wirral.

There are six former pupils from Mosslands, four from St Anselms College, two each from Wirral GS and Rock Ferry HS, plus two others from Park High and Wallasey.

The full squad is: P Hart, GLunt, M McKeon, G Scott, A Trotter, A Handley, S Lowry, P Reynolds, C Jones, M Ibbotson, D Blyth, P Hellier, N Tchakoute, J Shudall and J Sewell (Captain). Replacements: G Jones, C Campbell, S Brown, C Saidi, D Ibbotson, D Hall and S Crampton. Travelling reserves: J Feldman, G Hughes, J Brennand and M Thompson

Coach Neil Shaw added: “It’s not nice telling someone they haven’t made the cut but it comes with the territory and we’ve got to pick the team with our heads, not our hearts.”

Park has also received tremendous support from the Birkenhead business community building up towards the final at Twickenham.

Park president Mark McNally said: “On behalf of everyone at Birkenhead Park, can I thank each and everyone of our sponsors not only for their generosity, but for their speed of response, which has been phenomenal.

“Our lead in time to the final was very short, but our fantastic sponsors have come up trumps.”

Club chairman Greg Casey said: “The build up has been frantic and the interest in tickets and merchandise exceptional.

“We have sold approaching 400 tickets and booked four coaches to travel down to London.

“Other groups are making their way by train and car – it is all building up to be the most memorable day for the club for many a year. On Sunday, we return – win or lose – to a big celebration at the Club”

Birkenhead Park’s Twickenham clash with Chester will be previewed on Radio Merseyside tonight at 8pm, when Park coach Shaun Gallagher will be interviewed live by Ron Roby on the Alan Jackson Show.