Tigers are tamed by Birkenhead battlers

Feb 11 2009 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

BATTLING Birkenhead Park tamed the in-form Tigers in a dour North One League 9-6 victory at the Upper Park.

Both defences were magnificent on the day and a 3-2 penalty count eventually decided it.

The visitors nearly snatched the verdict late on but emergency home winger Dave Ibbotson produced a wonder tackle to deny Jim Pearson as he headed for a corner touch-down.

Now Park must pull out all the stops again on Saturday when high-riding Hull come to town.

Elsewhere, Hoylake cruised into the semi-finals of the Cheshire Plate competition with a 57-19 victory against Crewe and Nantwich.

In a peculiar encounter, Hoylake raced to a 50-7 half time lead as their visitors failed to settle and the hosts began the game in ferocious fashion.

Stephen Young began the scoring with a penalty before 19-year-old Tom Lavin scored the opening try after a perfectly executed back row move involving veteran No.8, Eddie McCulloch.

Next, it was the younger Lavin brother, Joe, who showed tremendous composure to round the fullback and score under the posts. At just 17-years-old, he is looking like a great prospect.

Next week, Hoylake entertain Bowden in a return to league action.