Altrincham Kersal 3 West Park 42

ALREADY without goalkickers Glen Fletcher (injured) and Martin Strett (on holiday) Park brought in former England schools winger Andrew Souter for his senior debut with Steven Briers moving to full-back.

Regular scrum half Chris O'Toole's unavoidable absence also meant Darren Wilson filling the vacancy for the first time this season for a full game, while the intention to give Carl Bibby a run out in the final quarter also had to be revised with the former Orrell centre partnering Gary Monagham for the full 80 minutes.

In every case the players brought in or switched positionally played significant parts in possibly Park's best win of the season.

Teenager Souter's debut proved an eventful one, to put it mildly. After hitting the post with his first penalty attempt in the first minute, he then converted a brilliant individual try by Lancashire under 20s scrum half Darren Wilson and then added two penalties in reply to one by Altrincham Kersal fly-half Andy Daldoy.

Carl Bibby and Gary Monaghan were inter-changing in bewildering fashion and Monaghan's corner flag try completed the first half scoring at 18-3.

Carl Bibby marked a successful come-back after breaking his leg in pre-season training with the first try of the second half and after being obstructed by home centre Mike Cueto, Souter took retaliatory action and both went in the sin-bin for 10 minutes.

Another Wilson break and some clever passing put Briers in for a superb try, Neil Ryan converting in Souter's absence. Chris Pennington crashed over for Park's fifth try and immediately on Souter's return from the sin-bin the 18-year-old intercepted an ill-judged Altrincham pass to put replacement Phil Houlton between the posts, making the conversion a formality.

Although the youngsters played an important part in the scoring, the foundations were laid in the pack where props Carl Wales and Tony Green were outstanding.

This Saturday Park entertain Stockport and will no doubt want to revenge their only league defeat of the season. Match sponsoris Justin Wilson Associates and match ball sponsor is Lufthansa Cargo and kick-off is 2.30pm.

Other results: West Park 2nd 10 Altrincham Kersal 57, Eagle 1st 12 West Park 3rd 0, West Park u/13s 0 Mold 10, Altrincham Kersal Colts 5 West Park 24.