Birkenhead meet rivals in historic showcase

Mar 19 2008 by Peter Greville, Liverpool Daily Post

THE Birkenhead Park dream of a Twickenham EDF Energy Intermediate Cup final became reality last Saturday at 4.17pm at Lily Hill, Bracknell, when referee Keith Lewis signalled ‘no side’ to spark scenes of joyful celebration among the Park players and supporters.

Park director of rugby John McNally paid tribute to his team who beat Bracknell 16-12 in a thrilling semi-final, to set up a final date with Chester on April 12, saying: “The desire to win was immense and you could see how much it meant to the players and the club to get to Twickenham.

“We were up against a useful outfit and it was ultimately that sheer will to win that carried the day for us.”

Park defeated the home favourites 16-12 in a hugely absorbing contest which stretched the nerves to breaking point.

Coach Neil Shaw said: “The lads were magnificent and they deserve to be at Twickenham.

“Bodies were put on the line and I am extremely proud we have made it.

“The celebrations were unbelievable and the whole club is now on a massive high.”

He then issued a word of caution, adding: “We have got to bring the boys back down to earth and concentrate on this Saturday’s Cheshire Cup Final.

“We have got the taste for Cup success and desperately want the County Cup in our hands.”

Park did not have the best of starts as the big Bracknell pack disrupted Park’s normally efficient lineout and both Phil Reynolds and Njike Tchakoute were dispatched to the sin bin as Bracknell pressed for an opening score.

Bracknell spurned a number of penalty opportunities as they persistently strove to break through the resolute Park forwards. The deadlock was broken by a fine try for Park from centre Mark McKeon, who collected a Tony Handley kick ahead and beat two men from 30 metres out to score near the posts. Handley converted.

Bracknell responded with an excellent try of their own from centre Oli Jones but Handley added a penalty to give Park a 10-5 advantage at half time.

Soon after the restart the Bracknell forwards broke through for their second try which was converted from the touchline to give the home side a 12-10 lead.

The lead was short-lived as a cool Handley landed a long-range penalty to edge Park ahead by a single point and 10 minutes from the end of normal time Handley kicked a third penalty as Park closed in on Twickenham.

Park also had to endure a good 10 minutes of added injury time but they pinned Bracknell in their own half and repeatedly cut down the persistent home attacks to take the ultimate prize.

For Park flanker Jon Shudall and Number 8 Jon Sewell were immense and their performance eclipsed the efforts of the former England man Chris Sheasby in the Bracknell back row.

Park take on Macclesfield at Chester in the Cheshire Cup final this Saturday at Chester, kick-off 3pm.

Park have not won the trophy since the competition was resurrected in 1969 although they have been in numerous finals.

Shaw added: “Having made history by reaching the EDF final we now have another opportunity by becoming the first Park team to win the senior Cheshire Cup since 1881, it has been an extremely long wait.”