EDF ENERGY INTERMEDIATE CUP - 15th December 2007

(3rd Round)

BIRKENHEAD PARK - 27

CLECKHEATON - 0

Birkenhead Park moved into the last 16 of the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup with a convincing 27-0 victory over fellow North 1 side Cleckheaton. Park were rewarded with another home tie and now face Midlands 1 outfit Luctonians from Leominster on 12 th January for a place in the Quarter Final.

Having been held to 12-6 in the North 1 match a few weeks ago Park were expecting another tight match and the tie remained scoreless until just before half time when centre Gary Lunt broke the deadlock. Lunt took advantage of confusion in the Cleckheaton defence to catch the visiting full back in possession after a Dave Hall penalty attempt fell short. Lunt pounced on the loose ball to give Park a 5-0 advantage at the half way stage.

Park moved up a gear in the second half as they added four further tries to book their passage to the next stage. It was irrepressible hooker Chris Jones who led the way as he finished off a flowing backs move to beat the defence out wide after 55 minutes. Two minutes later Jones was on hand again to score his second from a forward drive and thereafter Park were always in control. Jon Sewell was next to score as he burst through the middle after Dave Blyth had secured good line out ball, Tony Handley kicked the conversion. Hard working flanker Njike Tchakoute rounded off matters with the final score five minutes before the end.

This Saturday Park are due to travel to Cleckheaton for the third meeting between the sides this season for the return North 1 match. Park will be hoping to make it a hat trick over their Yorkshire rivals to finish the year in style. There will be home action with the Wanderers playing Chester in the Bateman BMW Premiership, 2.15 kick off at the Upper Park . On Sunday the Junior Colts host Broughton Park at 12.30 pm in the Lancashire & Cheshire Colts A League. The Wanderers are also in league action at Waterloo on 29 th December while the North 1 campaign resumes on 5 th January when Park host Penrith.