PARKONIANS RUFC held their 30th consecutive Boxing Day Brothers XV v Veterans XV at their base in Holm Lane, Oxton with The Beckett/Hillan Shield at stake.

The game had to be moved from the main pitch to the adjoining third team pitch due to the icy conditions.

However, a most competitive game of rugby union took place with almost 45 players from the past and the present taking at least some part in the match.

Close on 100 spectators were also in attendance.

After a loyal toast to absent friends, a much closer contest than in recent years took place with only one score coming in the first half to the Brothers through a converted try.

The younger team were in the ascendancy after the break and appeared to be running away with things when the score stood at 29-0 with 15 minutes left.

The Veterans fought back, though, with two converted tries of their own leaving the final score at 29-14 to the Brothers.

The Beckett Hillan Shield was presented to Brothers captain Mark Hillan who also had current club skipper, Peter, in the team alongside him as well as another brother, Paul, also playing.

The game was excellently controlled by local Liverpool Society referee Dave Grundy.

After the match Paul Disbury, captain of the Veterans, was the first recipient of The Donny Hawker man-of-the-match title.

The award was well deserving as the skipper not only had an outstanding match but had done so much beforehand to ensure that this year the Veterans had a competitive side.

The trophy was presented to the captain by Donny's family in his memory.

Donny had passed away earlier in the year and had incredibly played for the Veterans in all the previous 29 games.

His son, Michael, continues the family tradition by playing for the Veterans side.