It gained Harrogate a very welcome bonus point win though Park’s late surge brought them within 7 points to also secure a deserved bonus point. In truth, Harrogate should have been completely out of sight before the Park surge but, throughout the game, their backs invented a staggering number of ways to “butcher” tries.

Skipper, Danny Matthews was at the heart of everything good about Harrogate’s performance. At scrum half, he was in complete control of all aspects of the game providing an excellent service, being rock solid in defence and giving a masterclass in judicious line kicking. Young flanker, Martin Dodds also had an outstanding game, foraging in the loose, tackling strongly and showing strength and pace to score an excellent try.

An early Harrogate backs attack created a straightforward overlap but the “scoring pass” was intercepted and the Park backs turned defence into attack. Luke White covered back well to tackle and halt the move but Harrogate’s defence was penalised and Dave Hall’s kick gave Park a 3 points lead. It got worse when Harrogate’s restart kick went straight into touch but strong scrummaging put Park under pressure and a crunching Dodds tackle ended the move. More good scrum ball set up another Harrogate attack and a Luke Edwards break was supported by flanker, Guy Coser who outstripped the defence to score.

Continued Harrogate pressure led to a string of penalties against Park and Harrogate opted for scrums. Eventually, they went for goal and White’s kick increased the lead. A dazzling home backs move created an overlap on the left but the final pass was knocked on. Later, another White penalty made it 11-3 but, as half time approached, a Hall penalty punished a Harrogate offside offence and it was 11-6 at the break.

An early second half Harrogate attack was supported by Dodds who powered through the cover to score. White’s touchline conversion hit the crossbar but bounced over to make it 18-6. Another Hall penalty made it 18-9 following a Harrogate high tackle. Continued Harrogate forward pressure followed and quick ball was spun left for Oli Rosillo to outpace the cover and score. The next try came from still more home forward domination and Harry Butler touched down from a driving maul for his maiden Harrogate try.

Veteran Park prop, Martin O’Keefe then took the field. His considerable experience and very considerable weight stabilised their scrum and stand-off, Will Titherington scampered through to score from quick ball. More Park driving mauls led to another try, this time from O’Keefe himself. The conversion made it 30-23 and another Park score could have evened the match though this would have been a distorted result.

As the end drew near, Harrogate centre, Andrew Lawson steamed through Park’s defence to create yet another overlap and yet another knock on from a good pass. This just about summed up the game.

Harrogate: Doherty, Barnard, Lawson, Edwards, Rosillo, White, Matthews, Purkiss-McEndoo, Maycock, Butler, Harvey, Brady, Dodds, G Coder, Heaton. Subs:- Young, Boyde, Riddell.

Birkenhead Park: Hall,Wellington, L Titherington, Whorton, McNoe, W Titherington, Chidley, Sharples, Brown, Doolan, Smith, Ashcroft, Marsh, Mooney, Mabbot. Subs:- O’Keefe, Thomas, Coy.

Referee: Elliott Lewis (Northern)

Match report by Bill Barrack