Aled Hill was a welcome addition to Broughton Park when he arrived pre-season keen, athletic and enthusiastic. However after twelve games without winning many players were hoping he took up golf on a Saturday afternoon. Having been re-named ‘Lucky ’it seemed unlikely that his losing streak would change against a strong Sefton XV who played with the winds at their backs in the first half.

A changed team due to many students needing an additional weeks holiday to re-charge their batteries, the team was made up of a mixture of 3’s and 4’s player’s. Park conceded an early try when the Sefton prop took an opportunity after several phases of play involving the Sefton backs. Looking slightly disorganised and possibly the worse for Christmas excesses it looked like it could be a long afternoon for Park lads. Jamie Hinton who carried the ball excellently all afternoon responded by scoring an equalising try mid-way through the half when it looked like he was going to be held been held up yards from the line to bring Park back into the game.

Park spent much of the remainder of the first half resolutely defending their line against waves of Sefton attacks, Dan Morris as the last line of defence making several crucial tackles to keep Park in the game. Sefton did score a try towards the end of the half to go into half time 12-7 up.

The game remained tight in the second half with Park now having the advantage of having the wind at their backs but both sides struggling to settle into any quality rugby and a pattern emerged when after a short period of play either side would make a mistake leading to yet another scrum! Trig the stand in scrum half for Park was making good use of the scrappy ball from the scrums and Park backs were making ground and looking threatening before Sefton scored a breakaway try to take the score to 17-7 with fifteen minutes remaining of the game.

With minutes left in the game Trig took advantage for Park scoring from outside the 22 with an impressive break which we have rarely seen from the ‘posh kid’ to set up an exciting finale. 17-12

Gaps were starting to emerge from both teams and Adam Middlehirst burst through several tackles with Steve Shaw converting from the corner to take the score to 17-17, the game had suddenly become quite a contest.

Steve Shaw getting an excellent conversion from the touch line to make the score 17-19 with Park taking the lead for the first time.

A euphoric victory was snatched in the dying moments by the “”try machine” trigger much to the delight of the lads who have gone a while without a result.

Full time 17 - 24

A nice touch after the game was the 4th team captain Stu Bargery ringing to ask how the 3rd team got on and was pleased to know the lads had got an excellent result. Nice to have a good club man who was genuinely interested and pleased to know that other teams in the Club had done well.

A great start to the year, next game Whitchuch