Ibbotson return a rare bright spot for Birkenhead Park

Feb 13 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

BIRKENHEAD PARK’S season has been turned upside down during the last three weeks but there were some positives to take with a surprise return for Matt Ibbotson at tight head.

Park gave a debut to John Moores University prop Richard Bennett who took over from Ibbotson in the later stages. Things are not likely to get any easier for Park this week as they face the long journey to South Shields to take on third place Westoe.

Coach Neil Shaw said: “Now we are out of contention for promotion the cup game has taken on even more significance but there is no point in going up to Westoe with a half-hearted attitude. It is a difficult place to win but a good show is vital to take confidence into next week’s cup tie.”

Park slumped to a third successive North One defeat against relegation threatened Altrincham Kersal on Saturday. Park again came up against a side battling for survival and Kersal put up a tremendous fight to take two valuable points at the Upper Park.

A Shaun Rogers penalty for the visitors was the only score of the first half as Kersal hung on to their three-point lead. Park subjected the Kersal line to a prolonged assault in the second half but a mixture of desperate defence and illegal tactics kept Park at bay.

Altrincham lost both flankers to the sin-bin in the 60th and 61st minute as the referee began to penalise the Kersal forwards for their indiscretions but a third such offence resulted in a free for all and Park’s Dave Blyth was singled out for a red card.

Kersal cleared the danger and a late try by scrum-half Wayne Morris secured the points for the jubilant visitors.

There was better news for the Wanderers in the Bateman BMW Premiership as they won 60-8 at Liverpool St Helens. It was a good all round display as Park battle for Premiership survival after wiping out the eight-point penalty imposed on them at the start of the season.

Highlight for Park was a debut hat-trick for centre Mark McKeon. This Saturday the Wanderers take on high-flying Manchester at the Upper Park (2.30pm kick-off).

Next Monday evening Park welcome Romanian touring side Cleopatra under-21s from Constanta. The visitors have a number of youth internationals in their ranks and will take on John Moores University (7pm kick-off). This afternoon JMU take on Manchester in a BUSA championship match 2pm kick-off at the Upper Park.