Sat 23 Sep 2023
WPRFC v Kirkby Lonsdale
23rd September 2023 – Narrow defeat at home
WPRFC 30 – 31 Kirkby Lonsdale
This week Park welcomed Kirkby Lonsdale (KL) to Stade de Burrows Hill on a lovely September afternoon and were looking for our first win of the season so far. Park started with a reshuffled team due to injury and unavailability and also welcomed a new face with 18-year-old debutant Ben Lilley on the bench under the captaincy of James Johnson.
Park kicked off and immediately had a scrum for a KL knock-on and Park released the backs with Tom Merrick and Charlie Hyde linking nicely in midfield to gain territory but then we were penalised on the next phase for holding on, but KL failed to kick to touch, and Chris Twigg kicked the ball into the KL 22 and unfortunately KL knocked on which gave Park an opportunity to attack. From the scrum Park went wide with a lovely pass from Charlie Hyde to Alex De Keyzer who could not quite get the score and KL cleared their lines from the scrum 5 metres out. Park won the lineout and Benny Elliot chipped through for Tom Merrick to gather the ball and score our first converted try of the day (7-0).
The game was not clinical from both sides and the mistakes were building up and not allowing either team to build up a rhythm, but Park had quite a few chances but mistakes in contact and poor passing stunted any attacking options. On 12 minutes Park had a penalty for KL being isolated and holding on and Benny Elliot stepped up and extended the lead (10-0). The next 15 minutes were a cagey affair with both sides trying to string together passages of play but both sides being frustrated by mistakes which limited any attacking opportunity. On 30 minutes indiscipline gave KL a penalty and they scored their first points of the game (10-3), but this was cancelled a few minutes later by a Park penalty which Benny Elliot slotted over (13-3). From the restart, KL kicked the ball out on the full and gave Park an attacking scrum. The scrum was won, and Tom Merrick took the ball in and made good yards getting us over the 10-metre line before contact, the ball was recycled quickly and great hands from Benny Elliot to Liam Gough to Mike Gough to Tom King and lovely missed pass to Charlie Hyde who ran 30 metres to score a great diving try in the corner which was not converted (18-3).
Half time score 18 - 3
From the restart, KL started to attack Park and our indiscipline at the ruck gave them field position and on 4 minutes from close range the KL fly half scored their first try of the game which was converted (18-10). This seemed to get their tales up and they started to really attack Park and with a few missed tackles they got themselves field position with a lineout 5 metres out and scored another converted try from close range to close the gap to one point (18-17) in the first 8 minutes of the second half. The next 10 minutes was a battle with both sides working hard in attack and defence, but mistakes were ultimately costing both sides. KL were in again on 58 minutes with another close range try to go ahead for the first time in the game (18-24) and on 70 minutes Park were 5 metres out from the KL try line but an intercept by the KL centre and he was away only to be chased down by Benny Elliot who tackled him on the 22 but he off loaded in contact and KL scored their fourth bonus point try to extend their lead (18-31).
Park were now chasing the game but could not quite convert any pressure into points because of simple errors and a penalty on 75 minutes was just pushed wide of the mark. Park regrouped and on 78 minutes from a 5-metre lineout we put together a couple of strong phases of play and Tom King powered over from close range with a converted try to close the gap to 6 points (25-31). With only minutes left to play, KL restarted the game with a long kick into the Park 22 which was picked up by Alex De Keyzer and he stepped a few players and then gained a penalty with a poor KL tackle which Benny Elliot kicked to touch. Park won the lineout and released the backs who got momentum and took the ball over the 10-metre line before contact, Park quickly recycled and with strong runs from Dan Williams who offloaded in contact to Mike Gough and passed out to Tom King to make some more yard into the KL 22. Park had to keep the ball alive as we were now overtime and the final whistle was imminent, but Park kept the pressure on with strong carries across the whole team and Chris Twigg delivered a pinpoint long pass from the back of the ruck to Alex De Keyzer who was in space, and he beat the defender to score our fourth bonus point try to bring the score to 30-31 with the conversion to come. Unfortunately, it was not to be, and the conversion was a few inches to the left of the posts.
In summary, it was a frustrating game with many opportunities that could not be converted due to handling errors and mistakes but there were some positives with 18-year-old debutant Ben Lilley having a great game off the bench with impressive carries and work rate and in part some great passages of play across the whole team.
Final score WPRFC 30 – 31 Kirkby Lonsdale
Team: Chris Twigg, Tom Merrick, Charlie Hyde, Lewis Pickering, Alex De Keyzer, Benny Elliot, James Johnson, Tom King, Mike Gough, Daniel Gregory, Jake Cornwell, Matt Treacy, Liam Gough, Luke Westgate, Dan Williams, Jordan France, Sam Blears and Ben Lilley
