Oldershaw 31 West Park 31 FIELDING no fewer than five players under 19, three making their debut, West Park failed by the narrowest of margins to snatch a victory in this Thwaites Northern League game at Belvedere Park on Saturday.

A later penalty by Oldershaw fly-half Willy Gardner made the scores level, his kick going over the crossbar, via the upright.

Park had led 10-nil after 15 minutes via a Chris Glynn penalty and a try by Carl Bibby, in which Strett, Tongan centre Tu'avao and debutant Steven Briers, handled, Glynn converting.

Willy Gardner, always a thorn in Park's side in recent seasons, dummied through a hesitant defence for a try which he converted. And as erratic line throwing and sketchy tackling conceded the initiative to Oldershaw, a try by former Waterloo centre Peter Cooley, converted by Gardner saw the home side lead 14-10.

The see-saw scoring sequence continued as Park regained the lead after Strett, Tu'avao and Bibby put England schools centre Paul Bailey away, who passed inside for Lancashire Colt Martin Gaskell to score.

Oldershaw, however, led 19-15 at the interval as Cooley put full-back Martin Sutton over the try line.

Park brought Phil Houlton on for Gaskell as Gardner added a penalty for a line-out offence to make it 22-15. More changes to Park's line-up brought Jason Ratcliffe and Ian Pearce, two more youngsters, on for Tu'avao and Goodfellow. A Chris Glynn penalty for offside was followed by another successful 40-yard kick to reduce the deficit to 21-22. The teenage full-back then placed a 45-yard effort between the posts to give the green and golds a 24-22 lead only for Gardner to cancel out the advantage with two penalties as the game approached the final quarter.

From a line-out Steve Bibby drove towards the line and Pearce's pass gave Strett a break. His pass to Dave Donovan brought what appeared to be the winning try, converted by Glynn. But then came Gardener's equalising kick.

Chester's one-point win at Aspull means Park's league leadership was short-lived.

This Saturday Park entertain Workington in the CPI Cup Round four (2.30).

And cup rugby continues the following Saturday when Park visit Ruskin Park for a Lancashire Trophy first round tie.

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