BIRKENHEAD Park were forced to make changes but still put up a spirited performance at promotion-chasing Penrith.

Penrith just held out for a 15-13 win but Park fought back from a 15-3 interval deficit and could easily have taken the match as they had the better of the second period.

With Gavin Scott and Tony Handley both ruled out through injury, Freeman Payne stepped into the stand-off role.

Team manager George Pollock said: “There was very little between the sides and our defence was pretty good especially after half-time.

“With the enforced changes our backs lost a little of the cutting edge we have had in recent weeks but nevertheless there were plenty of positives to take from the match.”

This Saturday Park put their unbeaten home league record on the line with Rochdale making their first-ever league visit to the Upper Park.

Pollock continued: “We lost by one point in a dreadful match at Rochdale back in November. The game was played in a deluge and hopefully conditions will make for a much more attractive spectacle this time round.”

THE Wanderers continued their excellent run in the Bateman BMW Premiership with a fourth consecutive victory, this time over Liverpool St Helens.

A much-changed Wanderers team just managed a 3-0 win but there was no stopping the Tigers who romped home 71-0 at Widnes to preserve their unbeaten record.

THE excellent North of England Schools Sevens once again graced the Upper Park on Sunday with Sedbergh School claiming the Bowring Trophy in an exciting final against Hymers from Hull.

Birkenhead School were the pick of the local schools but they were beaten by Bromsgrove in the Plate semi-final while Kings Macclesfield claimed the inaugural Girls’ Trophy.