Park go fourth to conquer Beverley

Oct 15 2008 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

BIRKENHEAD Park started well to claim a fourth North One League success following their 31-13 win against Beverley.

Beverley enjoyed a good mid-match spell but were well beaten in the end.

Dave Hall landed two early penalties for the home side before Steve Lowry burst clear following a ruck for a try converted by Hall.

The visitors closed to 13-10 thanks to a Chris Infield touchdown and the goal plus a penalty by Ian Archibald.

Two more Hall penalties made it 19-10 at half-time.

A third quarter kick by Archibald gave Beverley hope but coach Shaun Gallagher joined the action for Park to steady the ship.

Tony Handley created the opening for acting skipper Dave Ibbotson to cross and then Mark McKeon ran in.

Hall landed one conversion and hit a post with the other.

Andy Trotter and Jamie Johnstone were also given a run out. Park are alongside Hull, Sheffield Tigers and Morley at the head of the table.

Elsewhere, a spirited performance earned New Brighton a 16-16 draw at Altrincham Kersal in North Two West League.

It could have been better with second-half scoring opportunities not taken, but play was never easy in the wet conditions and defences generally held the upper hand.

Waisale Navunidakua scored an excellent debut try for the Blues, converted by Stephen Dean in the first half. But Brighton gifted the home side a try from an interception and the conversion plus a penalty made it 10-7 at the break.

Kersal added two second-half penalties but a trio of successful kicks from Dean made it honours even at the end.

There is still a long way to go for the Blues, but there were plenty of positives to come out of the game and promotion is a possibility even though they are seven points off the pace.