Park praise Chester as ‘one per cent’ separates final win

Apr 16 2008 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

CHESTER snatched the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup from the grasp of Birkenhead Park with a thrilling 21-18 final win at Twickenham last Saturday.

A dramatic interception try by replacement winger Simon Love broke the Park hearts in a game which Birkenhead became increasingly dominant in without being able to build up a winning points advantage.

Park will rue missed opportunities but the Chester defence was determined and the score just seven minutes from time left Park with no way back.

Park second row Dave Blyth was named as man of the match for his performance including a tremendous 40-metre burst for a memorable try but he could not hide his disappointment.

“I’d rather have the win than the two tries and man of the match,” he said.

“They defended very aggressively and there was only one per cent between the sides.”

Coach Neil Shaw said: “We are still left scratching our heads as to quite how we managed to lose that game.

“Having watched the match recording courtesy of the BBC, the longer the game went the more we were beginning to take control.

“The Chester scrum was in disarray and they were on the ropes, one more score would have finished them off.

“But they stayed in touch and credit to Chester for taking their chance but it was a cruel way to lose when we were so close to getting our hands on the trophy.”

There were some brave performances for Park including player-coach Jon Sewell who played with a broken toe and club captain Dave Ibbotson who was able to join the action in the second half and went close on a number of occasions to scoring.

Half backs Steve Lowry and Tony Handley linked well and Andy Trotter on the left wing was in great touch and a constant threat.

Player-coach Jon Sewell speaking at the post match function said: “If someone had said at the beginning of the season that we would be fourth or fifth in North 1, win the Cheshire Cup and appear in a Twickenham final then I would have bitten their hand off.

“We are hugely disappointed to have lost but it has still been a great occasion.”

Park chairman Greg Casey said: “It was a proud day to watch your club run out at Twickenham and emotions were running high. Support for both sides was fantastic and by all accounts our match was the most exciting of the finals day.

“Yes, we lost but there was a determination to enjoy the day come what may and we did.

“The party started in Richmond on Friday and lasted until Sunday night back at the club.

“The fact that we lost pales into insignificance compared to the horrific accident to Chester’s Aled Evans (who suffered a fractured skull after falling 25ft through a barn roof forcing him to miss the final) and we send our best wishes for a full recovery.”

Park come back down to earth on Saturday as they return to The Park.

Wanderers have an important home match against Preston Grasshoppers as they battle to stay in the Bateman BMW Premiership.