Manchester 23 West Park 33

WEST Park completed the best season in their history when they won the John Burgess Lancashire Cup on Sunday.

It surpassed even the campaign in the 1950s when they went unbeaten throughout the season.

But that was before the days of competitive league and cups and cannot compare with their memorable millennium season.

On Sunday they achieved a unique treble for their victory follows their Lancs Trophy final success over Warrington only a month ago after securing promotion to North Two (W) by winning the championship of North West One.

Manchester made the more positive start with a penalty by full-back Mark Barrow and a try by left-winger Rob Hartley after centre Gareth Gerrard had intercepted a wayward Park pass.

Park were not slow to reply and after winning good ruck ball, Chris O'Toole put in a grubber kick and followed up to score a try which Paul Bailey converted. Manchester went further ahead when Barrow kicked an easy penalty and then took a 16-7 lead from a charge down scored by centre Gary Langhorn. A Bailey penalty reduced the arrears and after a superb forward drive by the Park pack, quick handling saw Bailey beat both his opposite number and the full-back to give Park the lead at 17-16 for the first time.

West Park lost centre Phil Lawrenson with a shoulder injury, moving Martin Strett to centre and bringing on Steven Briers at full-back.

Before the reorganisation could settle, Manchester's three-quarters romped through a wide gap in the middle for right-winger James Greanlee to round Briers for a fine try, the conversion giving them a seemingly decisive 23-17 interval lead. The Park pack, however, had been showing signs of gaining the upper hand over their more illustrious opponents and after having a 'try' disallowed, they forced Manchester to go off-side and Bailey's penalty success began the type of comeback quickly becoming a West Park trademark.

A strike against the head in a set scrum and fine approach play led to another Bailey penalty as Carl Wales replaced Neil Atherton in the front row. Manchester, with a bevy of first teamers on the bench began to get the message that the match was far from a foregone conclusion and rapidly introduced them into the action.

It seemed to make little difference as the Park eight called upon unknown reserves of energy. Bailey's fourth penalty brought Park a 26-23 lead with 20 minutes remaining of a pulsating game as Manchester's now much augmented side threw everything at the Park line in an effort to retain the cup they won in the previous two finals.

Park's defence was nothing short of heroic, Bailey's interception try from 35 metres out and his easy conversion sealed a memorable first ever Lancs Cup victory giving the Park centre 28 points and main contender for the man of the match but the accolades must be shared by the Park pack who were nothing short of magnificent.