Park earn their cup spot

A well-engineered try involving new prop Steve Mannion, scrum-half Ian Pearce fly-half Martin Strett and centre Carl Bibby and finished with style by full-back Brandan O'Keefe provided the perfect opening and Glen Fletcher's conversion giving Park a 7-0 lead. Visitors Stockport two leagues below but like Park having recruited in the close season proceeded to demonstrate yet again that cup-tie rugby can belie league status. Former Leeds second row Nick Wilde began to dominate the front of the line out and a penalty by Stockport full-back Jamie Slater was their early reply. From a rarely won line out came Park's next score. Mark Potter was backed up by Carl and Steve Bibby (unrelated) with Mannion popping up again to link with Pearce and Dave Donovan who scored the try which gave Park a 12-3 lead at the interval which was delayed due to a shoulder injury to full-back O'Keefe, teenager Chris Glynn coming on off the bench.

Stockport while keeping in the game by virtue of their better line-out expertise and West Park's failure to retain the ball after the tackle in some good attacking position went further behind due to a Fletcher penalty for 'killing' the ball. However the visitors showed commendable spirit to hit back immediately with fine intricate passing putting full-back Slater in right at the corner flag. At this point Park made tactical substitutions bringing the taller Rob Hanson for Jim Keulemans, Dave McCormack for Ian Pearce and Jason Ratcliffe for Steve Mannion.

A number eight pick up by Steve Bibby and slick passing put Donovan in for his second try and the best try of the match from inside the '22' saw Chris Glynn chip over the opposition and pick-up to score, guaranteeing Park's entry to the second round. Next Saturday West Park entertain Vagabond's (Isle of Man) in their first home league game, kick-off is 3pm.

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