DMPRFC 25 v BIRKENHEAD PARK RFC 15

With the New Year well and truly established, it was just nice to be able to talk about something other than the weather.

With the first three weeks of the league programme already wiped off and now prolonging the season, a game of rugby was well overdue at Yiewsley Drive or anywhere else for that matter.

Birkenhead Park RFC, who visited DMPRFC for the very first time, were the opposition on a good day for rugby and a pitch that allowed open running. On first glance, Birkenhead seemed to have some experienced campaigners in their side and a repeat of the first clash between the sides, when they made all the running and then ran out of gas, appeared to be on the cards.

But it was DMPRFC who took the game to their opponents and before they’d had time to shake off the bus journey, Dean KELBRICK crossed the whitewash, having supported the break of Robin EATOUGH, to take an offload and five points. The extras were added by Ritchie YOUNG. (7 – 0)

Lock Luke MONUMENT then suffered a rib injury after only twelve minutes and was replaced after a re-shuffle by Andy WILSON, who from then on worked tirelessly in an un-accustomed position.

Birkenhead struck back after a lapse in the DMPRFC midfield, a try near to the posts, again converted. (7 – 7)

Ritchie YOUNG responded after a penalty was awarded for offside and sweetly struck the kick for a 10 – 7 lead.

The Birkenhead fly-half was then correctly sin-binned for deliberately knocking on a scoring pass in the midfield, but like so often happens in this situation, it was the away team who applied the pressure and were rewarded by a successful penalty when the home team had strayed offside. (10 – 10)

With injuries and stoppages, the first half proved longer than normal, when Dean KELBRICK added his second try, finding a gap in the away defence and diving over for his brace. Again Ritchie YOUNG kicked the conversion for DMPRFC to lead at oranges. (17 – 10)

DMPRFC lost their influential skipper Howie MURRAY, again to a rib injury and with Ian KEELIGAN taking over at loose-head prop, the versatile Dan MILLER slotted in at hooker, which unfortunately disrupted the home scrum.

Ritchie YOUNG found time for another penalty, again for offside, before a Birkenhead lock dived over for a try after a period of pressure on the home line. The conversion was missed, but the game then was too close for comfort.

In the final quarter, DMPRFC again began to pull away and Matthew LISTER proved his strength, when tackled just short of the line, to remain on his feet and power over to score in the corner, despite the attentions of several defenders. The conversion was missed.

Robin Eatough nearly score the try his performance deserved, when intercepting a pass in midfield and sprinting for the line, only to be tackled just short, robbing DMPRFC of the bonus point.

All in all a good performance, good start to the year and four points to add to the league tally.