OLDERSHAW and Thwaites League North West Division One joint leaders West Park produced a cracking encounter at Belvidere on Saturday with the score finishing 31-31.

The first 10 minutes looked ominous for the home side as West Park took early control, but the pressure was soaked up with some outstanding defence and Oldershaw started to make their own impression on the game with the forwards providing excellent support. Skipper Willy Gardner was the hero when he landed a late penalty to level matters out for the home side, but it was a game neither really deserved to lose.

Gardner, Peter Cooley and Martin Sutton gained tries for Oldershaw and Gardner landed four penalties in all, plus two conversions.

West Park were joined at the top of the table by Chester.

Birkenhead Park are joint third after a hard earned 14-11 win at Wilmslow, who missed an injury time penalty which would have levelled the scores.

Paul Leeman and John Kolokotroni scored tries for Birkenhead, with Gregg Cann converting each time.

Caldy stayed top of the Thwaites League North West Division Two despite a 6-11 defeat at Northwich, where they dominated for long periods without getting points on the board. Ian Cropper kicked a brace of penalties.

Wirral crushed Eagle 71-0 in South Lancashire/Cheshire League Division One. The opposition had two men sent-off and finished well down on numbers with other players injured.

Simon Morrison, John Morris and Barry Wainwright each gained two tries for Wirral, with singles for Mike Beamish, Nick Stott, Andy McKinney, Simon Parnell and Chris Whorton. McKinney kicked five conversions and a penalty and Simon Hignett one penalty.

Anselmians - they had no game in Division One because South Liverpool withdrew - have been awarded the points.

Wallasey came away 18-7 winners from Sefton, in the South Lancashire/Cheshire League Division Two, thanks to touch downs from Phil Thompson and Peter Hesketh plus two penalties and a conversion by Ian Booth.

Parkonians failed 5-10 against Marple, Andy Evans going over.

A Division Three derby went in favour of Port Sunlight 25-7 against Hoylake, who got a try by Ian Robinson converted by Andy Cotgrave. Carl Taylor went in twice for Port Sunlight and Ian Snelgrove and Ronnie Lee once each. Paul Mitham had a conversion and a penalty.

Prenton had a 29-6 success at Collegiate. Peter Lewis gained two tries and Gary Fisher and Gary Furlong one each. Dave Thomas added three conversions and a penalty.

Oldershaw are through to the fourth round of the NPI Cup and this Saturday take on North Two side Blaydon, and if they can produce the same standard of rugby will have nothing to fear against the North East visitors. Caldy are in unknown territory away to Oakham.

Cheshire are out of the Colts County Championship after a 14-15 reverse against Gloucestershire in the quarter-final at Macclesfield, on Sunday, when a last ditch conversion which would have won the game fell short.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.