Sat 6 Jan 2024
Kirkby Lonsdale v WPRFC
6th January 2024 – Disappointing defeat away to start the New Year
Kirkby Lonsdale 26 -18 WPRFC
This week Park travelled away to Kirkby Lonsdale (KL) for the first game of 2024 and trying to avenge the narrow defeat back in September at home and looking to kick start 2024 with a good win to bottom of the table KL.
KL started the game and Park took the ball and cleared their lines but were penalised when KL fielded the ball from the exit and attacked the Park line. Park regrouped and a nice break from Evan Retief got us to the KL 22, the ball was quickly recycled, and Park went wide but the KL defence stood their ground. Park continued their phase play and caught the opposition off side and were awarded a penalty on the KL 22. After a short injury break in play, Park went for the corner but the lineout misfired, and KL had the opportunity to clear their lines, but KL indiscipline got a yellow card upgraded to red with 6 minutes on the clock. Park went for the corner with the penalty but again the lineout misfired, and KL cleared their lines. Park attacked KL but small errors in their game took the pressure off and gave KL the opportunity to attack Park and they kept Park in our own half. On 14 minutes their pressure paid off and after a number of phases with their off-load game got them to 5 metres out and a quick pick up at the ruck, they scored their first converted try (7-0). Park tried hard to put some phases of attack together, but again small errors stunted our play and gave KL the opportunity to attack which they did and made good ground with their off-load game and quick ruck ball. On 23 minutes this paid off for KL and with strong running they scored their second converted try to extend their lead with an easy try (14-0). The next 10 minutes were a bit of a battle with KL continuing to pile on the pressure, but Park worked hard defensively and forced KL into a few errors giving Park the opportunity to attack. KL continued to attack Park and a couple of line breaks got them into our 22 and a penalty at the ruck gave KL an easy 3 points (17-0). This was a turning point in the first half and Park from the restart worked hard in attack with the forwards making real ground on every play and forcing indiscipline from KL with a poor tackle on Matt Treacy giving us a penalty. Charlie Hyde took the penalty quickly and the ball was recycled and through the hands of the backs for Chris Twigg to score in the corner making the most of the one-man advantage (17-5). Park continued to fight their way into this game and were stretching KL across the field with quick hands and good ball retention and this led to our second try with good running lines and great passing put Nathan Taylor in to score another unconverted try in the opposite corner to end the half (17-10).
Half time score 17 - 10
Park restarted the second half and were looking to play quick rugby, but a few errors again stunted our attacking opportunities and adding our penalty count we could not get any decent field position in the early exchanges. When we did get field position our set piece didn’t work and we gave up our attacking opportunities. The game was very fragmented at this early stage in the second half and KL had the first opportunity with a penalty at the ruck on the 40-metre line, but indiscipline gave away another 10 metres and KL converted (20-10). From the restart Park looked a bit more in control and attacked KL and stretched them across the field and got the benefit of a penalty, Park took the scrum and Dan Williams picked up at the back of the scrum and went on the short side and a neat pass to Charlie Hyde who scored in the corner which was unconverted (20-15). Park continued to attack and put some good phases of play and forced KL to defend and on 61 minutes a high tackle gave Park the chance to close the gap which Benny Elliot converted (20-18). This was going to be a close finish and Park needed to work hard to win this game. Unfortunately, on 65 minutes a yellow card for Joe Hickey set us back and gave KL the opportunity for the posts which they converted to extend their lead (23-18). From the restart we did get field position after a few kicks back and forth and KL kicking the ball out on the full, but our lineout went awry, and we gave away possession. With only about 10 minutes left of the game it became a bit scrappy with both sides making errors at crucial times and giving away opportunities. KL had the last opportunity in the dying minutes of the game with a penalty for offside at the ruck which KL converted to close out the game (26-18).
Final score Kirkby Lonsdale 26 -18 WPRFC
Team: Chris Twigg, James Weeks, Cameron Flanagan, Charlie Hyde, Nathan Taylor, Benny Elliot, Harley Aston, Tom King, Jake Cornwell, Evan Retief, Joe Hickey, Jarred Lange, Gary Dykes, Matt Treacy, Dan Williams, Bruce McGrogan, Frank Gibbons and Jack England
