NORTH DIVISION 1 - 2nd February 2008

BIRKENHEAD PARK 17

LIVERPOOL ST.HELENS 25

Birkenhead Park ’s promotion play off aspirations all but disappeared at the Upper Park on Saturday as Liverpool St Helens came back from a 17-3 deficit to take the North 1 derby spoils.

The match was marred by a serious injury to Park’s talismanic prop Steve Clarke who sustained a double leg fracture on the half hour. The injury was purely accidental as Clarke appeared to fall awkwardly in an attempted tackle and the match was delayed for 30 minutes as he received attention on the pitch prior to his departure to hospital.

Park were leading 12-3 at the time of the injury with tries from Dave Blyth following a forward drive and winger Jon Brennand after a good break by Tony Handley. Park were looking in good form and they increased the lead further with a Jon Sewell try immediately following the restart after Clarke’s injury.

However, in the second half Park’s game fell apart and they failed to compete as a determined LSH fought back impressively. Park had no answer in the final quarter as tries by Worsley, McGeough and McRobert deservedly won the day for a joyful LSH who gave their survival hopes a massive boost.

Park have a good chance to return to winning ways this Saturday at home to another struggling side Altrincham Kersal, however the visitors, like LSH, are fighting for their North 1 lives and are sure to put up stern resistance.