Sat 7 Sep 2024
WPRFC v Altrincham Kersal
7th September 2024 – Park start off season with a narrow loss at home
WPRFC 28 – 32 Altrincham Kersal (AK)
The start of a new season on a lovely September day and this week Park welcomed Altrincham Kersal (AK) to Stade de Burrows Hill for the first game of the season. Under our new head coach, Mike Penny and captain Dan Williams we welcomed some new players to the club in 19-year-old South African front row Hanre Coetzee, back rower Phil Lynch, centre Will Du Randt and winger Jacob Halstein.
AK got the game underway, and Park took the ball into contact and cleared their lines, but AK immediately countered and kicked the ball into the corner which Chris Twigg picked up and kicked to touch. The early exchanges were solid by both teams, but AK gave away a few penalties which allowed Park to kick for territory. A few early mistakes by Park allowed AK to gain field position and the early scrums were tough with AK having the edge on Park. We defended well in the early stages of the game and probably allowed AK to have more possession but indiscipline at the ruck on 12 minutes gave AK the chance to go for points and they went ahead (0-3). A mistake by Park at the restart gave AK a scrum on half way and we were dominated at the scrum forcing a penalty and AK made good use with kicking deep into our 22 and having the lineout, unfortunately AK knocked on at the line out and Park tried to clear their lines from the scrum but did not find touch and AK attacked but Park turned over the ball on our 22 but knocked the ball on in the first phase. AK won the scrum and attacked our 22 with 8 phases of play which Park defended well but they were now only a couple of metres out and scored an unconverted try on the ninth phase with a short carry over the line on 18 minutes (0-8). The following 15 minutes were a great battle with both sides defending well and some strong carries by the Park forward pack but a few mistakes and indiscipline were giving AK too much possession and territory and gave them a platform to attack but Park defended their lines. Park had an opportunity with quick hands through the backs but unfortunately the last pass did not go to hand and knocked on. AK won the scrum on their 22 and tried to clear their lines but lost the ball in contact which Park tried to capitalise but the ball went to ground in the tackle and AK cleaned up the ball and kicked down field with a good chase, Alex de Keyser picked up the ball 5 metres out and was tackled by AK but secured the ball and we cleared the ball with a box kick but AK took the ball cleanly and attacked Park down the right side. AK had quick ball and exposed the Park defence on the left side and scored and unconverted try on 33 minutes (0-13). AK had their tails up at this point and continued to put pressure on the Park defence and just before half time they scored their third try which was converted to extend their lead (0-20).
Half time score 0 - 20
Park got the second half underway and needed to step up their performance in order to get some points on the board. Park got an early penalty for AK indiscipline and kicked for territory, the lineout was won cleanly and immediately Park attacked with Dan Williams taking a strong carry into the AK defence. With quick ball Gary Dykes linked up with Frank Gibbons to get us on the front foot and with another quick ball from the ruck, Cameron Flanagan put Alex Burrage through on a great line who fixed the full back and passed a lovely inside ball to Will Du Randt to run the first try which was converted by Cameron Flanagan on 46 minutes (7-20). From the restart, Park secured the ball but got turned over and AK immediately attacked wide, but the pass was intercepted by Jacob Halstein who ran 30 metres down the right hand side and then kicked through with Will Du Randt chasing but was just beaten by AK who grounded the ball in the in goal area. This was great start by Park, and they began to show their determination to get back into this game. Park continued to pressure AK and had an opportunity on 50 minutes, but an unforced error thwarted our attack from a penalty 5m from the AK line. This was definitely a better second half performance and Park began to build the momentum with strong carries and good attacking lines. On 56 minutes Park had a scrum inside the AK 10 metre line and Dan Williams picked up from the base of the scrum and went on the short side beating three defenders and scoring a fantastic solo effort try which was converted by Cameron Flanagan (14-20). On 59 minutes, we were in again with a great 40 metre carry from Freddie Kenyon to get us into the AK 22 and with quick ruck ball to Gary Dykes who passed out to full back Chris Twigg to run through the AK defence and score another well worked converted try and put us in the lead for the first time in the game (21-20). AK tried to attack but the Park defence stood strong, and we were definitely looking a different team in the second half. On 65 minutes Park had a scrum on the AK 10 metre line and attacked the AK line through carries from Will Du Randt and Phil Lynch and with quick ball from Freddie Kenyon offloading to Chris Twigg who kicked the ball through and chased his kick which beat the AK defence and bounced up nicely into Chris Twiggs hand to score another great (bonus point) try which was converted by Cameron Flanagan (28-20). Unfortunately, on 70 minutes AK were putting pressure on Park and with field position they scored their fourth try to close the gap (28-25) with a run down the left side. This was going to be a tense final 10 minutes but AK persevered and were rewarded just before the final whistle with a converted try to win the game (28-32).
In summary it was a game of two halves and definitely a much improved second half performance but not quite enough to overturn the first half deficit. Congratulations to Player of the match Phil Lynch on his first league game for Park.
Final score WPRFC 28 – 32 Altrincham Kersal
Team: Chris Twigg, Jacob Halstein, Alex Burrage, Will Du Randt, Alex De Keyser, Cameron Flanagan, Richard Hart, Dan Williams (Captain), Phil Lynch, Gary Dykes, Josh Gledhill, Frank Gibbons, Hanre Coetzee, Freddie Kenyon and Bruce McGrogan
