Birkenhead Park 3 West Park 23 THE Chester supporters players on the touchline seeking a few pointers for this week's vital match at Vicars Cross could have learned little.

For West Park hit their best form only in patches, just doing enough to make sure of the two league points from this rearranged game. West Park opened brightly and Mark Potter went in at the corner for a try after only two minutes.

Playing with a strong breeze at their backs they should have added to their score but mishandled at vital moments. A Chris Glynn penalty for offside after 30 minutes increased their lead and seemingly able to change up a gear as required, great forward play by skipper Steve Bibby put Andy Roberts over in the corner, Glynn judging the wind beautifully to land the touchline conversion and then adding a penalty as prop Steve Mannion's leg injury re-occurred and he was taken off, Keith Hill joining the pack on the resumption.

West Park conceded a succession of penalties early in the second half which kept them pinned in their '22' and Birkenhead fly-half Greg Cann opened their account.

The green and golds were put under extreme pressure and for long periods were defending desperately, Birkenhead being denied when actually over the try-line due to firstly failure to ground the ball and then adjudged to have made a double movement.

At last West Park broke from their own line and put Dave Donovan away on a sparkling run beating three opponents before passing inside to Glynn who ran in the try from 40 metres out to provide welcome relief and wrap up the match result. The crunch comes next Saturday when West Park visit league leaders Chester and hope to repeat their 28-15 victory in September.

Other Saturday scores: Ruskin Park 3rd 19 West Park 3rd 30, Birkenhead Park 4th 18 West Park 4th 36.

Sunday junior results: West Park under 13s at Sandbach lost 15-45, under 17s at home to Sandbach drew 36-36.

Next Sunday West Park under 15s will entertain Dublin based Navan under 15s. Kick off 10-30. On Monday 16th at Moss Lane West Park under 17s will meet an Argentinian touring side, ko 6pm. A joint LSH and West Park Colts will also meet the Argentinians.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.