Birkenhead Park vs Harrogate

This lead was never surrendered but continued lapses in concentration allowed a spirited Birkenhead Park to fight back and come close to earning a losing bonus point. Park were also helped by an almost faultless kicking display from 44 years old, former Irish International, Simon Mason. He attempted a last minute penalty kick at goal from fully 50 metres out on the right. Still rising, the ball hit the upright and bounced out.

From the start, Harrogate winger Andrew Lawson made the first of many excellent high ball “takes” but unluckily lost possession. Park’s Gareth Coy was then yellow carded for a high tackle and the Harrogate pressure continued. Dominant Harrogate scrummaging led to a series of driving mauls and Charley Purkiss-McEndoo squeezed over for the opening try.

Harrogate’s new centre combination, Luke Riddell and Ewan Miller then began to strut their stuff and they combined well to put David Doherty clear for the next try. Luke Swan, Park’s outstanding flanker, ran strongly from inside his half but was contained by Harrogate’s defence and Doherty counter attacked from deep. Skillful handling from Oli Rosillo and Riddell put Lawson away for the third try of the match.
Park’s opening score illustrated the difficulties referees have at this level without the assistance of assistant referees. Blatant handling in the scrum, on the referee’s blind side, gave Park quick ball and a fine cross kick was well taken by winger Elliott Magdin for a converted try. A period of loose Harrogate play followed when they were also on the wrong end of some apparently inconsistent refereeing decisions. Back from the bin, Coy scored a good try for Park then an adjudged offside offence led to a Mason penalty goal to make it 15-15. Park were then repeatedly penalised for red zone offences at Harrogate driving mauls but no further sanctions followed.

This pattern continued from the start of the second half. A Harrogate scrum drove strongly for the line and Park illegally kicked the ball clear. Only a penalty was awarded but Harrogate’s next try came from a well constructed backs attack and Lawson ran strongly to score in the corner. This earned the bonus point and Luke White’s conversion made it 15-22. Unfortunately, there was a clash of heads as the try was scored and Lawson had to leave the field for the rest of the match. Good scrum then ball led to a Danny Matthews half break supported by Doherty whose dummy flat footed the defence for another converted try.

Harrogate continued to attack and, when Park tried to counter attack from a defensive turnover, Miller’s quick interception sustained the pressure. However, a glut of penalties against Harrogate thwarted their attacks and Park gained an attacking line out from which they scored. Harrogate countered from the restart, Park were penalised and White’s kick brought the score to 22-32. Park continued to battle and their pack won their first and only scrum against the head. Harrogate went offside in defence, the penalty led to an attacking line-out. The bonus point try was converted from the corner and it was 29-32 with five minutes remaining.

The Harrogate backs then clicked into gear again with White and Rosillo linking to create space for Doherty’s hat trick try. White’s conversion put Harrogate 10 points clear and so it remained to the end despite Mason’s prodigious long range penalty attempt.

Birkenhead Park: Morgan, Wellington, Coy, Wharton, Madgin, Mason, Chidley, Jones, Brown, Doolan, Thomas, Ashcroft, Mooney, Swan, Mabbott. Subs:- Millward, Smith, Tyrer

Harrogate: Doherty, Lawson,Miller,Riddell, Rosillo, White, Matthews,Purkiss-McEndoo, Maycock, Peace, Dodds, Brady, Hucknall, J Coser, Heaton. Subs:- Butler, Harris, Hebblethwaite

Referee: Elliott Lewis (Northern Division).

Match report by Bill Barrack