Broughton Park FC

After a weekend off (and a holiday for the author), rugby returns this weekend with four Park sides in action.

Waterloo 1^st XV vs Broughton Park 1^st XV

Park secured an important derby victory against Manchester a fortnight ago at Hough End and find themselves up to 9th in the league. After a difficult start facing sides all looking to be in the promotion chase, victory against a team also trying to establish themselves in the league may prove important.

Park’s 1st team travel to the coast of the Irish Sea to another historical club visiting The Memorial Ground, home of Waterloo in Liverpool. With both clubs having been founded in 1882, Waterloo were one of the shining lights in the North during the amateur era with the club winning the Lancashire Cup on seven occasions behind only Orrell.

Over thirty Waterloo players have received international honours whilst playing at the club, five of them then going on to tour with the British and Irish Lions. The club also boasts a former England coach in Dick Greenwood who was in the hot seat at Twickenham from 1982 to 1985. Waterloo can also claim to have had a hand in England’s World Cup victory with Will Greenwood, Ben Kay and Paul Grayson all coming through their youth system. In addition to these the club is also partially responsible for this nation’s (and Australia’s) favourite rugby pundit, Austin Healey.

Though one of the founding clubs of the old National Division 1 in 1987, Waterloo haven’t been able to replicate the glories of the amateur era since the turn of professionalism similar to Park. The two sides did contest the 1973-74 and 1979-80 Lancashire Cup finals, with Waterloo taking the honours in both games. However, meetings between the sides have been scarce since Park defeated Waterloo in the 1988-89 Lancashire Cup semi-final.

Into the modern day and Waterloo are another of the sides mixing it at the top of North One West. A 4^th place finish in their first season in North One West included a standout victory against league runner-ups Wilmslow. This season they’re looking for a return to North Premier currently sitting in 4th place once again, picking up three wins and two defeats. In the last round of games it was Waterloo’s turn to visit the Isle of Man to face Douglas, however they returned empty handed losing 34-16.

Park will be in for a tough game this weekend as The Memorial Ground is expected to be packed, with Waterloo’s high flying Ladies’ side taking on Gloucester-Hartpury in Tyrrells Premier 15s prior to the men’s match.

This game will present a tough test of character to see if Park can build on the positives of the Manchester win.

1st XV Squad v Waterloo 1st XV

Askew, Cibula, Dewland, Dudell, Edgar, J Hodkinson, M Hodkinson, Joseph, J Kelly, Lacey, Maddocks, J Noone, C O'Donnell, P O'Donnell, Tribley, Wellington, Williams, Wilson

Broughton Park 2^nd XV v Sedgley 3^rd XV

Another chastising defeat last time out for Park’s 2^nd XV has posed some very serious questions for the side to contend with. For the fourth game in a row Park were their own worst enemy as they faced another well organised side in Fylde. In a near repeat of the Burnage game Park failed to turn up for the opening quarter, before hauling themselves back within touching distance. However, once feeling they were back in the match Park once again went to sleep, allowing a number of soft scores in the final quarter. Despite the disappointing result there was a standout performance from Park flanker Andy Muir. This latest defeat has seen Park slip to 2^nd to bottom and the high hopes for the side going into the season seem long ago.

This week at Hough End sees a bottom of the table clash with Sedgley Park visiting. While Park can find some solace in the fact in patches they have outclassed their opponents in each game, Sedgley have had a more unfortunate opening five game. A sole victory against the side that sit above both teams, Kirkby Lonsdale, ensures they are not winless and only trail Park by a bonus point. Park and Sedgley have only played each other last season in recent years following Sedgley’s promotion to the league. Honours were split with Park beating the Tigers 55-8 at Hough End, with Sedgley avenging that defeat with a narrow 10-8 at Park Lane on the last day of the season.

Captain Marcus Eaton returns this week hoping to galvanise what is widely viewed as a talented squad and stop the early season rot.

 2^nd XV Squad v Sedgley Park 3^rd XV

Booth, Callaghan, Daffyd, Eaton, Flavell, Gayle, Hill, Kerr, Lambert, Mahoub, Malin, McColl, McLaughlin, Muir, Mutts, Richardson, Sherwin, Waind

Wythenshawe vs Broughton Park 4^th XV

Dell Trotter’s 4^th XV return this week making the short trip across the M56 to local rivals Wythenshawe. The ever mercurial and elusive 4^th XV will be looking for their first victory of the season after defeat in their only game to date. They will be bolstered by the brief return of club stalwart Paddy ‘Scrappy’ Noone from university in Cardiff.

Vagabond Ladies vs Broughton Park Ladies

After an impressive 64-20 victory of Chester Devas at Hough End last week, the Ladies are on an early flight on Saturday morning over the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man. There they will take on Vagabond Ladies for the first time in an early kick-off at 11:30.

The Ladies have made an excellent start following promotion, sitting in 5^th place after picking up a bonus point win and a draw so far, with only one defeat. However Vagabond Ladies will provide another stern test as they sit two places above in 3rd and are so far unbeaten this season.

Captain Louise Sinclair and her teammates will be confident of getting a result after being held to a draw by 2^nd place Carlisle ladies and their only loss coming against league leaders Crewe & Nantwich. Saturday’s game will complete a tricky opening set of fixtures, with three of their four games against the early top three.

Bury Senior Colts vs Broughton Park Senior Colts

The Senior Colts have also experienced a difficult start to the season, with many of the players making a large step up from U16s last season. However they and the coaching staff can take heart from the markedly improved performances each week. Last Sunday they travelled to 3^rd placed side Colne & Nelson where they narrowly lost a game they may of felt should have been a win. A couple of mistakes in their game management cost the Colts the chance at victory. Though for large periods of the game they dominated and the experience of how to close out games will come.

This week the Colts are on the road again, travelling to the Lancashire hills to face Burnely on Sunday. There will be high confidence that the Colts’ hard work the past month will come to fruition and record a much deserved win. It has been helped by the hours they and the coaches have been putting in and the increasing number who are gaining valuable senior rugby experience on Saturdays.