WEST Park have been promoted to North One West after the game of the season with the result in the balance until the very end, Park emerging as 27-20 winners in the North play off at Bolton.

The match was played in perfect conditions, Bolton started very strongly but the Park defence was up to the job and defended manfully for the first 20 minutes, in this period Park missed a couple of difficult penalty opportunities. However a couple of missed tackles and a rather lucky bounce allowed Bolton to score and convert to take a 7-0 lead much against the run of play.

Soon after, Warren Hunt the Park winger replied with a penalty taking the score to 7-3. The West Park pack who had played tremendously throughout started to impose themselves and a catch and drive saw flanker Patrick Loughnane driven over for a try. Hunt converted giving them a 7-10 lead which they maintained up to half time.

Bolton started the second half taking on the West Park eight, and after a period of sustained pressure they were eventually awarded a penalty which was converted, 10-10. They were now having their best period in the match, a break by the very good inside centre managed to put his right wingman away to squeeze in at the corner, the conversion was successful giving them a 17-10 lead.

Park brought on Joe Bailey and Lewis Harris as replacements for Kurt Riley and Ant Jones, both of whom had had a tremendous impact on the match.

The fresh legs brought a great response creating the opportunity for Rob Morley to go over under the posts, only for the ref to declare that he was held up.

Park were soon back in control resulting in a scrum on the opposing 22 allowing No 8 Matt Potter to pick up and go blind, he made a lot of ground which created space for prop Bailey to score wide out. Hunt converted magnificently bringing the scores level once again 17-17.

On one of the now rare excursions into Park's half, the referee awarded Bolton a penalty which was duly converted taking them once again into the lead 20-17.

Park were far from done, and sustained pressure by them resulted in a penalty, which Hunt stepped up to convert 20-20 with about 15 minutes to play.

Time was ticking away and it was looking like extra time was imminent, however the Park backs who had performed tremendously throughout had a different idea, they had made a number of breaks only for the touch judge to indicate a foot in touch, or a forward pass, but on this occasion they were not to be denied.

Centre Dominic Basley received the ball some 30 yards out, he just glided past his opposition centre, gave a great dummy to the full back and sailed untouched under the posts, Hunt converted giving Park the lead 20-27.

With the match still about ten minutes to go, it was at the point that Park showed just how they had matured this season as a team, not giving the opposition any opportunities, by keeping possession and rest of the match in the Bolton half until the final whistle.

A lot of credit should go to the coaching staff who have nurtured this very young and inexperienced team into adopting a winning mentality which has sustained them throughout the season, despite a number of setbacks due to injuries etc.