Unclean dozen

With Will Sutcliffe and Halden Thoseby deservedly making their First Team debuts, plus a mysterious easter bunny bug striking the camp, King Cross Park A Team were struggling to raise a side never mind compete with promotion chasing Birkenshaw. Complete banker Allen Slingsby showed he has become a complete rugby player as he unwittingly also filled the vacant loose forward spot with relentless drives which left opposition players requiring medical attention. After 4 years in the wilderness former junior prop Jack Yarker made his open age debut and was soon in the thick of the action coming off his wing for work and eventually moving into the second row. Returning from a dislocated shoulder diminutive winger Niall Corley continued where he left off with another tackling machine display and plenty of scoots to help out the forwards. Centre partner Taylor Craven-Carter was also all over the place in attack and defence and, in what is probably his best performance at open age, set up the position for stand off Matt Brown to chip, chase and score by the posts. Craven-Carter deserved more from great support work as he was unable to collect the final pass with the line begging on the stroke of half time.

The expected 2nd half floodgate opening never materialised as Park finished stronger led by 80 minute prop Kieran Baxter making more yards with every drive he took. Having worked his socks off and pulling his hamstring in the process second rower Billy Broome refused to leave the field and almost hopped his way over appearing on the wing at the end of a sweeping move. In form hooker Jamie Morton carried the move further then a rare accurate pass from the scrum half was enough for Brown to go over again. Brown brought his kicking boots to convert both tries.