Sat 27 Jan 2024
Liverpool St Helens v WPRFC 27th January 2024 – Narrow defeat away from home
Liverpool St Helens 36 – 35 WPRFC
This week Park travelled to bottom of the table Liverpool St Helens (LSH) for our second encounter and hoping to emulate the 66-26 win at home earlier in the season. Following a great performance two weeks ago against the top of the table, Park really needed a win to help push on with the last 6 games of the season. Park fielded a slightly reshuffled side due to injury and unavailability but welcomed back Jack England from injury and Roan Cornwell with his first start for Park in a league game.
With the game underway, Park immediately gave away a kickable penalty which put the home side ahead (3-0). Unfortunately, Jack England suffered an injury in the first contact and had to leave the field. LSH carried the ball well in the first exchanges, but their indiscipline saw two yellow cards in the first 10 minutes of the game. Park looked to attack and had a couple of really good chances to score but poor decisions allowed LSH to close us down with solid defence. The game was a battle for the first 15 minutes with both sides having opportunity but not being able to turn possession and field position into points. On 15 minutes, Park had the opportunity during the yellow cards and Evan Retief powered over from short-range following a decent driving maul with Benny Elliot adding the extras (3-7). LSH kept up the pressure in defence and attack and capitalised on 21 minutes from Park indiscipline with a quick tap penalty and scoring a converted try to take the lead (10-7). This really was a battle and 6 minutes later Park capitalised on LSH indiscipline with a kickable penalty which Benny Elliot scored to level the game (10-10). LSH certainly had their tails up now and Park seemed to be working hard in attack but were not clinical enough to convert any pressure or territory into points and LSH struck twice on 30 minutes and 33 minutes with two converted tries to open up a 14-point lead (24-10). The remainder of the first half was just a battle with LSH maintaining their lead and Park were getting into the right part of the field but not able to get over the white wash due to errors.
Half time score 24 - 10
The second started with Park looking to attack from deep and got into a great position but a handling error thwarted our attack on this occasion. Park seemed to step up a gear in the early exchanges of the second half but still could not quite convert the opportunities into points but continued to pressure LSH, but they stood firm and defended well. On 50 minutes, Park broke the deadlock with a try from Dan Williams powering over from short range with Benny Elliot converting to close the gap on scoreboard (24-17). 4 minutes later we were on the scoreboard again with a neat try from scrum half Harley Aston which levelled up the scores following the successful conversion from Benny Elliot (24-24). Park were definitely looking a better side in the second half and were competing but a yellow card for Ross Morrin gave LSH a bit of impetus and they scored their fourth bonus point try on 22 minutes to take the lead again (31-24). We continued to pressure the LSH line but again could not quite convert the territory into points, but LSH indiscipline gave Benny Elliot the opportunity to close the gap from the boot on 70 minutes (31-27). This was going to be a nail biting final ten minutes, but LSH pushed Park all the way and on 75 minutes with possession in our half they scored their 5th try near the touch line which they could not convert (36-27). The time was ticking away but again LSH indiscipline gave Park the opportunity of three points with a penalty which Benny Elliot successfully kicked (36-30). Park continued to attack and in the dying minutes of the game Dan Williams and Ross Morrin made good ground with great runs through the LSH line and Charlie Hyde finished off with a great try in the corner to bring us within one point with the conversion to follow as the last kick of the game, unfortunately the kick was just wide of the uprights (36-35). In summary, it was a disappointing and tough day for Park who could not quite secure a win away from home.
Final score Liverpool St Helens 36 – 35 WPRFC
Team: Chris Twigg, Charlie Hyde, Cameron Flanagan, Lewis Pickering, Roan Cornwell, Benny Elliot, Harley Aston, Tom King, Evan Retief, Ross Morrin, Jarred Lange, Gary Dykes, Jack England, Matt Treacy, Dan Williams, Ben Lilley, Sam Blears and Joe Hickey
