Birkenhead are focused on landing biggest prize

Mar 12 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

EXCITEMENT is growing at Upper Park as preparations commence for the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup semi-final at Bracknell on Saturday (2.30pm) with a final at Twickenham the prize for the winners.

In their latest North One performance Park put up a much better show at promotion-chasing Huddersfield before going down 16-7. The match was good preparation for the game at Bracknell against an in-form side. The Park forwards had the upper hand for much of the game, which finished one try apiece. The goal kicking of stand off Chris Johnson proved decisive for high-riding Huddersfield, who are closing in on the play-offs.

Coach Neil Shaw said: “It was a much-improved effort and we can now focus entirely on the semi- final. Obviously everyone is well up for the contest. It is undoubtedly the biggest game we have had in recent seasons with so much hinging on the outcome.”

Park are expected to select a similar side to the one that did so well at Staines in the quarter-final with the experienced Jon Shudall, Phil Reynolds and Peter Hart all set to return.

Shaw continued: “The luck of the draw means we are having to do things the hard way, but I am confident that we can rise to the occasion and give it our best shot. We don’t know a great deal about the opposition except that they are having a good season and will be hard to defeat on their own territory. We prefer to concentrate on how we are going to play the match.”

Park will be encouraged by the fact that Bracknell lost at Cleve last week, losing their leadership of South West One in the process. Park, despite their poor league form, are still in fourth spot with just three league games to go.

Park Junior Colts second row Mathew McKenna and Number 8 Jack Ashcroft both represented Cheshire Under-17’s against Yorkshire last week. The Park Junior Colts play Port Sunlight in the Cheshire Shield semi-final on March 30 while the U16s enjoyed a 17-10 victory in their latest outing at Capenhurst.