Aldwinians 19 West Park 6

HOLDERS West Park made an early exit from this season's Lancs Cup at the hands of old rivals Aldwinians who, after four straight defeats by the green and golds avenged last Saturday's league game result.

After six tries in the league game, this match proved a typical cup tie, with no tries until the last 10 minutes when Park were down to 14 men.

Chris O'Toole spent just two minutes on the field after replacing youngster Darren Wilson before being dismissed after a clash with his opposite number at the first scrum. And Aldwinians' left winger Andy Ashurst took full advantage of an overlap to score in the corner, fly-half Mike Leyden landing the touchline conversion.

Park had opened the first-half scoring with a Phil Lawrenson penalty. But Aldwinians dominated the possession battle, determined to keep the ball from the Park backs, and led 9-3 at the interval with three Leyden penalties.

A fourth penalty made it 12-3 until Glen Fletcher came on off the bench to land a long-range penalty. Comprehensively beaten in the lines-out, O'Toole's dismissal made Park's defence easier to outflank, the final try sealing the issue.

On Saturday Park travel up the M6 to Penrith for a tricky league fixture, the first of a sequence of five away games which could decide the single promotion spot from North Two. Closest rivals Aldwinians may yet have a part to play.