Saints, one of the three unbeaten teams in the league, visited also unbeaten Birkenhead Park for a feisty local derby contest.
Conditions were excellent; overcast with very light rain -just as players like it. The big Park pack were looking to use their size and weight advantage from the off.
However, the Saints pack soon had them on the back foot and an infringement 20m out led to a penalty which Dai Morley slotted over to open the score.
Undaunted, Park kept at it and were rewarded with a penalty of their own – 3 all. With the two packs making a real battle of it, centre James Otutaha whilst making a break, was illegally tackled, making it an easy 3 points for Morley 6-3.
After another break by Otutaha, Sam Gregory touched down for Saints, but the conversion was missed by Morley 11-3.
Park then managed a converted try themselves after sustained pressure on the line – 11-10.
Saints immediately went back on the offensive and after a yellow card for a Park player, Morley again slotted the 3.
Half time 14-10
In the second half, Saints came out firing and drove towards the line and Fred Clarke’s outstretched hand managed to place the ball down, converted by Morley. 21-10.
With another yellow card to Park, who had just had a player returned, James Whitehouse snaked through to touch down. Unfortunately, the conversion bounced off the post 26-10.
Saints pressed again and Degsy Salisbury came off the back of a maul to drive through a couple of park players to secure a bonus point fourth try, converted by the reliable Morley 33-10.
With Saints now utilising the bench, Park managed to grab a try after Ewan Nolan tried a chip and chase which went straight into the Park winger’s hands who strolled in for a converted try. 33-17.
With yet another player in the bin, the third of the game, after sustained pressure, Park managed a third try to end the game Full Time: Birkenhead Park 22 – Anselmians 33
Images: Bob Shaw
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | +/- | TB | LB | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anselmians | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 161 | 53 | 108 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| 2 | Firwood Waterloo | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 156 | 87 | 69 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| 3 | Glossop | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 128 | 99 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 16 |
| 4 | Bowdon | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 147 | 83 | 64 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| 5 | Birkenhead Park | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 121 | 83 | 38 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| 6 | Rochdale | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 111 | 96 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 13 |
| 7 | Broughton Park | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 90 | 112 | -22 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| 8 | Vale of Lune | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 84 | 115 | -31 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 9 | Winnington Park | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 96 | 160 | -64 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 10 | Wilmslow | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 77 | 145 | -68 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | Altrincham Kersal | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 63 | 132 | -69 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 | Douglas (I.O.M.) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 65 | 134 | -69 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Birkenhead Park
15 David Hall
14 Samuel Tyrer
13 Daniel Morgan
12 Adam Wellington
11 Finlay Laing
10 Garin Roberts
9 David Morgan
1 Peter Doolan
2 Nicholas Witte
3 Joe Davies
4 Paul Hellier
5 Harry Perkins
6 Jack Ashcroft
7 Robert Doolan
8 Harley Fox
Birkenhead Park Subs
S1 Alan Hughes
S2 Sean Mooney
S3 Callum Marjoribanks
Anselmians
15 James Whitehouse
14 Campbell Clayton
13 Ewan Nolan
12 Ransford Otutaha
11 Thomas Banks
10 David Morley
9 George Manger
1 Robert O’Donnell
2 Daniel Salisbury
3 Derek Salisbury
4 Samuel Gregory
5 Jack Richards
6 Jack Sanders
7 Harry Graham
8 William Grabe
Anselmians Subs
S1 Fred Clark
S2 Kostja Vezanovs
S3 Niall Cavanagh
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