New Brighton lose title ground

Dec 3 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

NEW BRIGHTON lost ground in the North Two West promotion race as they fell to defeat against high-riding opponents Broughton Park.

The Blues were disrupted by injury and severely hampered by the lack of good possession.

Park had the strong wind in their favour in the opening period and built up a 20-5 lead. Paddy O’Donnell and Peter McMahon ran in good tries. Ronan O’Brien converted both and also landed a brace of penalties.

New Brighton gained a try after 15 minutes through Rick Hopkin from a chip by Alan Hesketh, following good work by Loa Topou. But their only other reward was a Stephen Dean penalty in the third quarter after O’Brien had landed another kick.

Hesketh, Chris Dale and Joe Bowmer had their moments for the visitors but they were mainly employed in defence as they went down to their second league reverse to now trail leaders Chester by three points.

Lock Paul Campbell was forced off through injury in the opening half and it was never going to be Brighton’s day.