Middlesbrough . . . . 23 pts Birkenhead Park . . . . 24 pts

by Peter Greville

BIRKENHEAD Park moved into the fourth round of the National Powergen Intermediate Cup with a battling performance at Middlesbrough, on Saturday, as they won for the second week running by a one point margin.

Birkenhead were slow out of the blocks as Middlesbrough scored early tries through flanker Dave Gardiner and lively scrum-half Peter Wright.

Stand-off Ian Kennedy opened the Park account after 20 minutes with a penalty as the Park pack began to dominate proceedings.

Five minutes later, Danny Hodson won a line-out 15 metres from the Boro' line and the Park forwards drove over for Dave Ibbotson to touch down. Park's second try followed after another Hodson line-out catch, with hooker Darren Lucas the scorer.

Kennedy then kicked a simple penalty to give Park a 16-10 half-time lead.

On the resumption, Birkenhead appeared to be moving up a gear as they attempted to kill the game off. Prop Steve Clarke broke away from a maul for Park's third try 10 minutes into the second-half to extend the lead to 21-10.

Middlesborough, however, had other ideas and when a promising Park attack broke down the Boro' backs kicked through and a catalogue of errors by the Park defence saw a penalty try being awarded for obstruction. Full-back Steve Moore converted and then kicked a penalty a few minutes later as Boro' closed the score to 21-20.

There was now everything to play for as Park showed great determination to hang on to their lead. The action switched from end to end as the match reached an exciting climax, but neither side could break through.

On 75 minutes, Moore eventually kicked a penalty for Boro' to edge the home side ahead 23-21 with injury time approaching.

Park refused to accept defeat and stormed up the pitch from the kick-off, a penalty was awarded and Kennedy stepped up to take the crucial kick. It was by no means an easy kick, but Kennedy held his nerve as he watched the ball hit the post and drop over the bar for the winning score.

The action was still not quite over as the Park supporters suffered another agonising finale when Moore had a difficult penalty chance to snatch victory for the home side with the last kick of the game. For the second week in succession, the result depended on the last kick and, thankfully, Moore missed as Park continued to ride their luck to take their place in the last 32 of the competition.

This Saturday, Park face a stern test in the North One League and will be putting their unbeaten home record on the line as second-placed Hull Ionians visit the Upper Park (2.15pm kick off).