Sat 29 Apr 2023
WPRFC v Crewe & Nantwich
29th April 2023 – Park wins at home to progress to cup final
WPRFC 38 – 24 Crewe & Nantwich
This week Park welcomed Crewe & Nantwich to Stade de Burrows Hill for the Papa John’s Men’s Community Cup Regional 2 North Shield Semi Final. C&N finished 8th in the Regional 2 West Midlands Division which was a similar position to Park in the Regional 2 North West Division, so this promised to be a close game with the winner progressing to the Final next Sunday which will be held at Darlington Mowden Park.
With the game underway, Park had the early possession and with a couple of penalties for C&N indiscipline we found ourselves in the C&N 22 and with some quick hands Benny Elliot put Charlie Hyde in for our first try with a great line to score a converted try (7-0) with Benny Elliot adding the extras. From the restart Park immediately put the pressure back on C&N with Dan Williams making a break and then kicking through to force a goal line drop out and Park made the most of the position with a chip over by Benny Elliot forcing C&N to clear to touch in their 22. The lineout was won cleanly, and the forwards set up a few drives and then the ball was passed out wide through the hands for Liam Geary to score in the corner with Benny Elliot adding the extras (14-0) on 8 minutes. C&N got some field position and with an error by Park in our own 22 C&N scored a converted try off a scrum to open up their account. Park was dominating possession and territory at this point and forcing C&N to defend and looked like scoring again with Chris Twigg but was judged to be held up over the line. On 16 minutes C&N were penalised again at the breakdown just outside their 22 and Benny Elliot kicked the penalty to extend the lead (17-7). C&N hit back a few minutes later with an easy try off a scrum in the Park 22 to close the gap (17-12). Park continued to dominate most areas of the game and were awarded a penalty for a high tackle on 24 minutes which Benny Elliot kicked to extend the lead (20-12). C&N took their chances well and on 30 minutes scored an unconverted try to close the gap following a few Park penalties (20-17) off a scrum 5m out from the Park line. Park got the last points of the first half following a mistake by C&N off the restart kicking the ball out on the full, Park won the line out and the forwards creating a platform for the backs to score in the corner with Jack Williams finishing a neat attack (25-17).
Half time score 25 - 17
The second half was a cagey start with both sides having possession and territory but not being able to convert any chances. The first points of the second half came on 53 minutes following a yellow card for C&N a few minutes earlier, with Park scoring a converted try by Dan Williams off the back of rolling maul with Benny Elliot adding the extras to extend the lead (32-17). Park were now starting to close C&N out of the game by shutting down their plays early and not giving them any anytime to play and Benny Elliot was also making them pay for their indiscipline with another penalty on 65 minutes (35-17). Park were working hard in defence and were certainly closing C&N down with a great second half defensive performance. On 75 minutes C&N scored an easy try following a quick penalty for Park indiscipline in our own 22 and C&N walked in for an easy converted try (35-24). Park continued to work hard defensively and did not let C&N out of their half and earned a scrum just inside the C&N 40 metre line following some hard work at the breakdown. The scrum was won with Dan Williams picking up from the back of the scrum and passing to James Wood to take into contact, the ball was recycled quickly, and Benny Elliot sealed the win with only 5 minutes to go with a classy drop goal from just inside the 40-metre line (38-24). Park closed out the game with a great defensive performance.
A great performance from the whole squad and deserve to be in the final with a couple of good wins in the cup and now a final to round off the season in a new league. Well done lads.
Final score WPRFC 38 – 24 Crewe & Nantwich
Team: Chris Twigg, Liam Geary, Charlie Hyde, James Johnson (Captain), Jack Williams, Benny Elliot, Cameron Flanagan, Dan Williams, Matt Treacy, Gary Dykes, Dave Cross, Ross Morrin, Shaun Underdown, Jake Cornwell, Tom King, Jack England, Gregor Purves, Kieran Taylor, Alex Burrage, James Wood, Cameron Herron and Dan Davenport
