WEST Park Bramhope suffered a couple of setbacks at the weekend with defeat in Thwaites North One at Middlesbrough on Saturday and a home defeat by Doncaster in Sunday's Yorkshire Cup tie.

Against the much improved Middlesbrough Park could only watch as the home side rattled up an impressive points tally against some poor tackling.

Park did show glimpses of their form and a try by winger Jason Whitehead along with a conversion and penalty by centre Peter Lloyd kept them in touch.

Midddlesbrough were however just too good on the day and confirmed their desire to seek promotion with a very good performace, especially as they had defeated top of the table Doncaster the previous week.

Park coach Howard Greenwood still sidelined through injury wisely played all the replacements knowing the task he had on Sunday.

Jon Hall added a further try which Lloyd converted along with a further penalty.

West Park 6 Doncaster 10

Tired bodies assembled on Sunday before a large crowd at The Sycamores for what should have been a comparatively easy task for Doncaster but this did not prove to be so.

Park to their credit bounced back with a vengeance and the inclusion of prop Paul Minns, who had an outstanding game, Bob Collins, returning to the centre partnership with Ralph Bennett, outplayed Doncaster for almost 70 minutes.

The commitment by the whole side was total. The ruck and maul and in particular the defence was outstanding and the visitors with their host of county players did not have an answer or the key to open the home defence up.

Again the ever reliable Peter Lloyd was the first on the scoreboard with two penalties and that lead of 6-5 was to remain until the first minute of injury time when Doncaster scored their second try.

It was a great game and a vast improvement for the home side who can reflect and pull the good points from a very good performance.

Their league position can be improved this weekend when they entertain Hullensians and a win would set them up for the home semi-final of the NPI Cup against Bedford Athletic on March 28.

They are just 80 minutes away from a final appearance at Twickenham which would be a deserved reward.

http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/leisure/archive/1998/03/21/Bradford+District+Archive/8078761.Disappointment_for_West_Park/