Park triumph in free-flowing 'derby'

ALTHOUGH this game was billed as top of League North Two against bottom, games against Widnes always have a local derby atmosphere and given the wet conditions a tight forward battle could have been expected.

However, apart from a period in the first half when the big Widnes pack retained possession and put pressure on the Park defence, the game was decidedly open and free-flowing with both sides handling well in the atrocious conditions.

Park were away to a flying start with a Chris O'Toole run allowing Phil Lawrenson to send Steven Briers finishing strongly in the corner.

Widnes replied with a 40-metre penalty by full-back Paul Bruchez, but then Park showed their intention to handle the ball, despite the conditions. Starting off in their own '22, Neil Ryan and Gary Monaghan combined to send youngster Darren Wilson on a 40-metre burst. Ryan was up for the inside return and Pennington took the scoring pass for a superb try between the posts, Martin Strett converting.

A well-executed miss move by Park, again in their own '22, was ruled by Manchester referee Dave Drury as obstruction, Bruchez kicking the easy penalty. This set off a period of pressure from the Widnes pack. But Park defended well and the home forwards responded with Sean Fletcher held-up over the line but being driven over from the resultant scrum for an unconverted try.

Right on the stroke of half-time a blindside move by Widnes saw their right winger Tim Ledson barge through Wilson's tackle and chip over Strett for a well-taken individual try to give the visitors a glimmer of hope with an interval deficit of six points.

Park lost skipper Fletcher immediately on the resumption with a dead leg, Mark Williams coming on and jumping well at number two in the line-out to send Chris O'Toole over after baffling the defence with a series of dummies. Strett converted to give Park a significant 24-11 lead.

Ross Bell was replaced by new signing Tony Green at prop as Park mounted a forward drive, a long pass sending Briers in for his second try. And even though the conditions got even worse in the final quarter, super handling put Darren Wilson in for his first try in the senior side.

Sponsor Bernie Ryan chose two-try Steven Briers as man of the match but the win was decidedly a team effort.

This weekend Park should have begun their defence of the Lancashire Trophy with a second round tie. However, scheduled opponents Trafford MV or Newton-le-Willows have yet to decide their first round clash, so Park will probably have to wait until Saturday, December 30.