IT was far from plain sailing for Birkenhead Park in a bad-tempered match at Warrington in South Lancashire/Cheshire One league on Saturday as the match was abandoned eight minutes into the second half.

Unbeaten Park were ahead 6-3 at the time through two Ian Kennedy penalties but had already lost both Neil Shaw and Duncan Meehan to injury. And it continued to be rough and tough.

Both sides had players sin-binned after the break. Paul Leeman of Park was ordered to serve the enforced 10 minutes and, with Mooney already on, this meant Park had no other front-row man available.

Manchester referee Steve Halliday ruled, therefore, that there could not be contested scrummages in the remainder of the game and called a halt to proceedings.

Caldy, however, were delighted with a 13-8 win at Penrith who had not lost at home in North Two this season. They were generally in control and did not concede a try until the seventh minute of injury time.

Alistair Saverimutto and Chris Young were the players to cross the line for Caldy and Young was also on the mark with a penalty.

Oldershaw found no joy in the Isle of Man against Vagabonds. Despite an improved performance, the locals lost 11-29 as the Islanders took charge in the last half hour. Willy Gardener kicked a penalty in each half and Mark Sopp scored an early try.

In Division Two of the South Lancashire/Cheshire League, Wirral saw off Newton Le Willows 20-7 as Alistair Childs scored two tries both converted by Simon Hignett, who also kicked two penalties.

Wallasey switched their match with Ellesmere Port to Cross Lane and it ended up as a 14-all draw after Dave Lloyd touched down and Kevin Park hit a hat-trick of penalties.

Hoylake finished 23-10 to the good at Congleton where there were four touchdowns via Trevor Boult, Dan Baldock, Ben Flint and Richard Young. Simon Robinson added a penalty.

Anselmians were happy with a 35-15 win at home to Douglas in which Andy Marshall and Mark Weaver scored two tries apiece while Simon Kearney and Steve Pilgrim also breached the Islanders defence and Weaver gained a conversion and a penalty.

The Prenton v Helsby match fell victim to the weather and the Port Sunlight v Vulcan game was off because the visitors could not provide a full team.

But Parkonians were unhappy when their match against Orrel Anvils in Division Four was abandoned at half-time. They were behind 10-0 at the time and the referee upheld an appeal by the visitors that conditions were too poor. Some of the players wanted to continue.

There is cup action this Saturday when Birkenhead Park and Caldy face uphill away matches in the Intermediate Competition against higher graded opponents Birkenhead are due at Sheffield and Caldy journey to Bradford and Bingley.

In the Tetley Vase local survivors Hoylake entertain Sefton. And the Cheshire Cup gets under way with Anselmians looking forward to a home derby against Wirral on Saturday and other first round clashes including Wallasey v Oldershaw, Prenton v Ramsey and Port Sunlight v Winnington Park.