Sat 2 Sep 2023
Altrincham Kersal v WPRFC
2nd September 2023 – Park open the season with a draw
Altrincham Kersal 38 – 38 WPRFC
The new season has arrived, and Park travelled to Altrincham Kersal in the Regional 2 North West League for our second season in this league structure. Park welcomed some new faces into the fold with league debuts for Roan Cornwell, Daniel Gregory, Frankie Gibbons, Joe Hickey and Bradley Marshall under the captaincy of James Johnson.
Park kicked off and secured the ball and had a good start with strong carries forcing AK to defend and we were awarded a penalty on 4 minutes for AK not rolling away at the ruck which Cameron Flanagan converted to take the lead (0-3). AK restarted the game and started to pressure Park with strong defence and playing the territory game, their pressure paid off when the AK centre found a gap and ran through our backline and recycled the ball quickly with a pass out the wing for AK to score an unconverted try in the corner (5-3). Park worked hard in attack but were struggling to find that last pass, but AK continued to pressure Park and capitalised on a mistake when AK chipped through, and Park couldn’t quite secure the ball and gifted AK a converted try on 12 minutes (12-3). Unfortunately, an injury to Bradley Marshall forced him off the field on 15 minutes and with a cut to the head could not return. Park restarted the game and immediately were on the front foot with some great carries by the forwards and were awarded a couple of penalties which led to a close quarter try by Gary Dykes from a quick recycled ball converted by Cameron Flanagan (12-10).
AK again worked hard and produced a very good defensive performance in the first half but coupled this with quick attacking play and scored three converted tries in 8 minutes to open up an impressive lead (31-10). Unfortunately for AK, their discipline started cause them problems with the first of four yellow cards on 38 minutes. Park capitalised on this, and 18-year-old Roan Cornwell scored a great try in the corner on his league debut which Cameron Flanagan converted (31-17), but unfortunately an ankle injury forced Chris Twigg off the field during that try.
Half time score 31 - 17
The second half started off with AK maintaining the pressure on Park but again their indiscipline in the tackle caused them problems with another yellow card in the first 10 minutes. On 15 minutes, AK scored their sixth and last try following some great carries and Park not quite making the tackles stick but an error 5 metres from our try line gifted AK a converted try (38-17). The game looked to be out of reach now for Park but the whole team stepped up gear in the last quarter of the game and started to really push AK into their own half of the field and gained territory and field position. On 25 minutes, after another injury stoppage park had a scrum 10 metres out and went the short side with Tom Merrick and with a bit of great support play by the forwards Matt Treacy scored in the corner which Cameron Flanagan converted (38-24). This was now game on, with Park looking a lot sharper and on 33 minutes a Park scrum 5 metres out from the AK try line was capitalised by Charlie Hyde who walked through the AK back line to score another converted try (38-31). AK restarted the game which was taken by Joe Hickey who passed to Gary Dykes and took the ball into contact, the ball was quickly recycled and a half break by Dan Williams off loaded to Charlie Hyde who cut through the AK defence but offloaded in the tackle to Gary Dykes who offloaded to Liam Geary but was tackled 10 metres out. Park quickly recycled the ball with another run by Dan Williams and Ross Morrin and then back to Joe Hickey who broke through the AK defence and stretched over to score a great converted try to level the game (38-38). That was to be the final score.
On reflection it was definitely a game of two halves and Park dug deep in the second half to pull back a large deficit. There are definitely things to work on over the coming weeks but also some great passages of play with some very notable performances across the team including Cameron Flanagan from the boot with 13 points and a six from six.
Final score Altrincham Kersal 38 – 38 WPRFC
Team: Chris Twigg, Roan Cornwell, Charlie Hyde, Bradley Marshall, Liam Geary, Cameron Flanagan, James Johnson (captain), Ross Morrin, Gregor Purves, Daniel Gregory, Joe Hickey, Frankie Gibbons, Matt Treacy, Gary Dykes, Dan Williams, Bruce McGrogan, Tom Merrick and Kieran Taylor
