PARK’S latest North One victory, 25-15 over Middlesbrough, kept them within striking distance at the top just two points behind leaders Hull.
It was a welcome return to form for Park as they strive to sustain a promotion challenge in the face of ongoing injury problems.
On the plus side the return of Dave Blyth has added strength up front but the Ibbotson brothers were both missing from the starting line-up along with captain Chris Jones, who remained on the bench against Boro.
Prop Gareth Jones made his 50th consecutive appearance on Saturday in an unbroken run that goes back almost two years. Gareth, along with fellow prop Colin Campbell, has recently joined the club committee and they are now actively involved in the management of the club.
President Mark McNally welcomed the initiative, saying: “We are in need of new ideas and as much help as we can get so I am particularly pleased that both Gareth and Colin have come forward and joined the committee.
“Both work extremely hard at their game and I am sure they have a lot to contribute to the running of the club as well.”
Campbell has made a big impression since returning to Park after University and he is one of a number of former youth players now playing a key role at the club.
Campbell played in an extremely successful youth side, which included fellow first team regulars Dave Ibbotson and Paul Hellier and they were the winners of the inaugural Lancashire & Cheshire Colts League.
The Park Wanderers had an excellent victory at Waterloo in the Bateman BMW Premiership at Blundellsands on Saturday and two more graduates of that same youth team were on duty in the form of backs Rob Mason and Andy Hogg. McNally said: “We have had an exceptional return from that one youth side and they are a testament to the guys who coached and managed them from the age of 11.
“We are looking to replicate that with the current junior and senior colts now coming through. This year we have seen the likes of Laurence Thomas, Alan Hughes, Tom Sullivan and Andy Finneran from last years colts already making their mark in the senior teams.”
This Saturday Park travel to Stockport , who are just two points behind Park.
NEXT GAME: Stockport v Birkenhead arPk, North One, Saturday.
