Birkenhead Park 34

Liverpool St Helens 55

BOTH clubs took the opportunity to use first and second team squads in LSH's first outing under new head coach Gary French.

Played in four quarters, Birkenhead held the lead for the first three before being completely overwhelmed in the fourth.

LSH started much the stronger with full back Danny Collins opening his account after just seven minutes. Park then enjoyed a good spell scoring two tries down a seemingly vacant left wing through Kay and Jones.

When Compton and Sutton powered through in the second quarter the home side's lead was extended to 22-7.

LSH recovered well and replied with scores from the prodigal Dave Gaskell, a second from Collins, Alan Cross and Simon Morgan, immediately followed by a distance try from Birkenhead's Ian Cropper, converted for a 29-27 lead going in to the final quarter.

Sean Casey, on for the first time, then crossed twice in five minutes to take the game beyond the home side.

Two further tries, fittingly from Jan Laurens and Jon Nugent both of whom impressed throughout, sealed the win for LSH. Jones added a late consolation for Park.

French declared himself "reasonably pleased" with proceedings adding: "there is still a lot of work to do."

This week LSH entertain Sedgely Park at Moss Lane (kick off 3pm) in the final warm up game before the Powergen cup tie at Halifax.