Broughton Park 1st XV vs Manchester 1st XV
Another home game and another Derby with Park welcoming Manchester to Hough End this Saturday. After last week’s away defeat to top of the table Carlisle Park will be looking for the first win since the opening day against Burnage.
Manchester are on the up following a very difficult period of the club's history following relegation from what is now the Championship nearly a decade ago. After several lean years at the club, the first shoots of recovery came five years ago in a victory against Old Northamptonians. Fourteen points from the boot of a young Matt Raybould, then fresh out of the Midlands and now of Park, saw Manchester over the finishing line that day. This was the first vindication of their decision to build a fully amateur structure at the club, not too dissimilar to Park.
After an eleventh placed finish last season Manchester find themselves in ninth place after four games, picking up two home wins, including one bonus point victory. However they have not travelled well so far this year losing both their games on the road to Waterloo and Penrith. Over the summer they recruited current Sale Sharks centre and former player Sam James as attack coach, joining head coach Simon Ogden at Grove Park. Last time out they defeated a Douglas side who will be challenging for promotion at the end of the season, despite trailing 19-8 at half time. A strong second half performance prevented any further scores from the Manxmen and 12 points from the boot of centre Douglas Day secured the victory.
Park currently sit 11th in the league above only the other two promoted sides Anselmians and De La Salle. Though still early on in the season Saturday’s match will be an important one as Park look to kick start their season and pull themselves away from the relegation zone.
1st XV Squad v Manchester 1st XV
Askew, Blackley-Edwards, Bryan, Cibula, Dewland, J Hodkinson, M Hodkinson, Joseph, Kelly, J Noone, C O'Donnell, P O'Donnell, Sinclair, Smith, Tribley, Tully, Williams, Wilson
Fylde 3rd XV vs Broughton Park 2nd XV
The 2nd XV will also be looking to get their season back on track, with a chastising defeat last time out at Hough End to local rivals Burnage still fresh in the mind. However they head to Woodland Memorial Park to play Fylde which over recent seasons has not been a happy hunting ground. Following Fylde’s promotion in 2016, Park have been beaten on both their visits to north Lancashire and Fylde did the double over Park last season.
Fylde’s start to the season sees them sitting in mid table, winning both their games at Woodlands and losing their two away games. Last Saturday they travelled to south Cheshire to play Sandbach and suffered a heavy loss 67-14 to the league’s second placed team. While their record at Woodlands has been poor, Park can take encouragement that it is no fortress for Fylde as four sides came away from there with a win last season.
With both captain Marcus Eaton and vice-captain Tom Mortimore ruled out this week, Matt Raybould on his return from injury will lead the side. Though only the fifth game into the season, if Park are serious about their aspirations to mix it at the top then this week’s match presents itself as a must win game.
2nd XV Squad v Fylde 3rd
Anderson, Brogan, Cox, Kerr, McCall, McLaughlin, Moahoub, Muir, Mutts, Radford, Raybould, Richardson, Safi, Seward, Sherwin, Smit, J Smith, Wellington
Broughton Park 3rd XV v Altrincham Kersal 3rd XV
The other game at Hough End on Saturday sees Altrincham Kersal crossing over the Mersey to face Park’s 3rd XV. Last time out Park also faced top of the table opposition away from home and like the 1st XV returned to Hough End empty handed. That defeat leaves the 3rd XV mid table with a 50% record of two wins and two losses. A home win this weekend would see them keep in touch with the league leaders Ashton-on-Mersey and Heaton Moor.
Kersal head into this week’s game with a similar record to Park, however they picked up a losing bonus point in their match against Dukinfield. This sees them in fifth place as part of a tight midfield pack as fourth to eleventh in the league are separated by two points, with Park in eighth.
Broughton Park Senior Colts v Vale of Lune Senior Colts
In Sunday’s only game the Senior Colts continue their season in the U18 Lancashire Cup against Vale of Lune. Last week the Senior Colts travelled to league leaders Wigan and like both the 1st XV and 3rd XV came away empty handed. The season is proving to be a steep learning curve for a very young squad who are playing against older opposition in most matches. That curve will continue against Vale of Lune who play two leagues above Park, but have only won one league game so far this season.
Broughton Park Ladies have the week off and will return next week with a home match against Chester Devas in the league.
