Park’s dropped points

Oct 31 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

NOT for the first time this season West Park returned home disappointed and reflecting on missed opportunities at Fylde.

“We could and should have won,” head coach Martin Jones said.

“As it turned out we came away only sharing the honours from a game that might have ended up so differently had our kicker Andy Soutar not missed a penalty with the last kick.”

Earlier too Rob Hitchmough also shaved the post with a drop goal attempt in the 13-13 draw.

There were certainly several pluses with skipper Stephen Briers coming through unscathed after a long lay-off due to ankle surgery.

The centre partnership between Ian Cunliffe and new signing Dave Cunliffe blossomed.

This weekend at Red Rocks they face National 3 North newcomers Harrogate and it could well be the opportunity of sending the Yorkshire side back over the Pennines with their tails between their legs and matching some of their away form.

West Park are in eighth spot in the table and a win could consolidate their place in midtable which would be a fair reflection of the start to the season the Merseysiders have made.

There’s likely to be only one change in the side that turned out at the Woodlands with prop Mark Devine expected to start instead of Liam McLoughlin.

Soutar, who was leading scorer last season, is also hoping to gain more consistency with his kicking now that he has changed the type of tee he uses.