LOCAL RUGBY ROUND-UP by Andrew Stratton

PRENTON won through to the Thwaites Cheshire Plate Final with a 15-8 derby success at Anselmians on Sunday. Oliver Roberts and Peter Graves gained tries and Steve Roberts a penalty and conversion. Jamie Taylor kicked a penalty for Anselmians and Ronan Corbett was their try scorer.

Prenton will meet Stockport, who won the other semi-final 17-5 at Bowdon. The final is at Chester on Sunday, April 11 (2pm kick-off).

Birkenhead Park lost a club game at Lymm 8-15, Simon Newall scoring a try and Greg Cann a penalty. Wirral, Oldershaw and Caldy did not play.

Hoylake triumphed 24-5 in a derby against Parkonians, Trevor Boult gaining two tries and Mike Young and Paul Kay one each. Richard Young goaled twice while Alan Morris went over for the losers.

Wallasey failed 8-28 against New Brighton seconds, but a Port Sunlight XV beat a St Edward's XV 29-15, Mike Metcalfe and Steve Silcock gaining two tries each and Sean Harris a fifth.

Shell Stanlow failed 7-34 against St Mary's in a re-arranged South Lancashire/Cheshire Two League match.

Cheshire prepared for their defence of the County Championship with a 51-0 win over North Wales at Wrexham. They scored eight tries in all.

The Under-21s in their Northern Group beat Cumbria 29-13 at New Brighton, but lost 7-16 against Yorkshire at Hull Ionians, leaving Yorkshire as favourites to progress to the knock-out stage.

Local matches this Saturday include: Ashton-on-Mersey v Birkenhead Park; West Park v Oldershaw; Wallasey v Crewe and Nantwich; Ruskin Park v Anselmians and Hoylake v Port Sunlight.

Cheshire meet Lancashire at New Brighton next Wednesday in their final Under-21 Northern Group game (7.15pm).

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