Sat 3 Feb 2024
WPRFC v Bowdon
3rd February 2024 – Park pull out impressive first half performance to win at home
WPRFC 33 – 28 Bowdon
This week Park welcomed 2nd place Bowdon to Stade de Burrows Hill for the return fixture which we narrowly lost earlier in the season. Park really needed a solid performance following the disappointment of last week and with a home crowd this was set up to be another feisty encounter. The conditions were fine but soft underfoot and Park needed some good points to start climbing out of the bottom half of the table and secure another win.
With the game underway, Park started with winning the ball from the kick off and immediately attacking Bowdon and within a couple of phases winning a penalty for a high tackle which Charlie Hyde took quickly and got Park into the Bowdon 22. Park kicked for the corner and won the resultant lineout which was quickly passed through the hands to right wing James Weeks who put a neat Crossfield kick in for Roan Cornwell on the left wing who scored within 2 minutes (5-0). Park were quickly in attack again and Bowdon indiscipline at the ruck gave Park the opportunity to gain territory which got us into the Bowdon 22, unfortunately the lineout went awry and Bowdon cleared their lines but Park kept the pressure on and forced a knock on but played the advantage and Chris Twigg ran the ball into midfield and we quickly recycled the ball through the hands to winger James Weeks who kicked the ball into the 22 and the Bowdon full-back hesitated and let the ball bounce and Benny Elliot ran through regained the ball scored under the posts (12-0) after just 8 minutes. Park continued to pressure Bowdon and restricted their play with great defence and smart play to shut them down and when we had possession, we attacked with real intent with the forward pack making yards with great carries and getting the better of Bowdon. The game was very much one sided at this point and on 20 minutes a great break by Park forced Bowdon to make a tackle illegally high and gave Park a penalty 10 metres out and a yellow card for Bowdon. Park kicked for the corner and won the lineout and set up a great maul and drove Bowdon over the line and captain Matt Treacy scoring our third try in 31 minutes with Benny Elliot adding the extras (19-0). This was Park at its best and again from the restart another powerful run by Evan Retief got Park on the front foot and great hands through the backs we attacked Bowdon, this time kicking the ball through and narrowly missing out on a try but Bowdon managed to get back and touch the ball over the line giving Park a 5 metre scrum. Park won the scrum and Cameron Flanagan picked up and passed to Charlie Hyde who passed a short ball to Lewis Pickering who cut through the defensive line with an easy score to earn a try bonus point (26-0) on 26 minutes. On 30 minutes Bowdon had some possession and also penalty for Park indiscipline and kicked for the corner, Bowdon continued to attack and worked Park in defence and the pressure was too much and on the fourth phase of attack they went wide quickly and scored in the corner to get their first points on the board (26-7). Park continued to pressure Bowdon in all aspects of the game and kept them pinned down in their half and looked like scoring when Dan Williams made a great run down the left wing only to be tackled into touch. The resultant Bowdon lineout was overthrown and picked up by Evan Retief and Park attacked forcing Bowdon to make an error and having to touch the ball down in goal and giving Park a 5-metre scrum. Park attacked the Bowdon line with powerful carries and again Charlie Hyde was there to take a short ball and score another great try under the sticks (33-7) with only a few minutes to half time. With only a few minutes left on the clock Park attacked again with powerful carries through the heart of Bowdon and Roan Cornwell was on the end of some great passing and powered over the line to score but unfortunately it was judged to be held up and that rounded off a very impressive first 40 minutes.
Half time score 33 - 7
The second half started well for Bowdon, and they were up for a fightback and on 43 minutes they had a lineout 5 metres out and attacked Park and within a couple of phases they scored their second try (33-14). On 46 minutes Park indiscipline cost us with Tom King being shown a yellow card but Park continued to work hard in defence, but Bowdon seemed to have their tails up and pressured Park with territory and possession. Bowdon got themselves into the Park 22 and from the lineout they set up the maul and drove over the line to score their third try on 56 minutes to close the gap on the scoreboard (33-21). It was definitely a tense second half with Bowdon having more possession and opportunity and challenging Park but Park stood firm for parts of the second half and soaked up the pressure, but we could not quite reach the rhythm of the first half with errors creeping into the game as the weather turned with some lite rain. On 66 minutes after some sustained pressure from Bowdon in the Park 22 they got over the line from short range with their fourth bonus point try to close the gap and tee things up for a very tense last 14 minutes (33-28). The game became a little bit scrappy due to a number of stoppages for injury with Jake Cornwell going off for a shoulder injury but both sides continued to fight for every opportunity to play flowing rugby, but Park stood strong in the last minutes of the game and defended their lead to take the win. A yellow card for both sides in the dying minutes rounded off the game and an impressive Park performance to beat the second place team in the league.
In summary this was a tough game and definitely a game of two halves but the impressive first half performance was enough to give Park a well-earned bonus point win. Park showed some great attacking rugby in the first half of the game with great performances across the whole team, but we lost our rhythm in the second half of the game and let Bowdon challenge us to the wire.
Final score WPRFC 33 – 28 Bowdon
Team: Chris Twigg, Roan Cornwell, Charlie Hyde, Lewis Pickering, James Weeks, Benny Elliot, Cameron Flanagan, Tom King, Jake Cornwell, Ross Morrin, Jarred Lange, Frank Gibbons, Evan Retief, Matt Treacy, Dan Williams, Sam Blears, Richard Hart and Ryan Gibson
