Sat 28 Sep 2024
Widnes v WPRFC
28th September 2024 – Park suffer defeat away from home at newly promoted Widnes
Widnes 24 – 10 WPRFC
This week Park travelled to newly promoted Widnes for the first time this season and looking for our first win of the season with a rearranged squad due to unavailability. The conditions were good but with a few showers before kick-off made the conditions a bit greasy.
Park got the game underway and won the ball and made the first attack, unfortunately lost the ball in contact and Widnes cleared their lines. Widnes held firm in the early exchanges and used the boot to gain territory, unfortunately fly half Alex Burrage was injured in the first 5 minutes from a clearance kick and had to be substituted shortly afterwards. Widnes continued to attack with quick ball through their backs, but Park stood firm and defended well in the early exchanges. Widnes gave Park an opportunity with a clearance kick which went out on the full on 7 minutes and Park won the lineout cleanly and on the 22 and set up a driving maul which drove Widnes back to 5 metres out and Park carried in 3 phases before Hanre Coetzee took the ball at short range and scored the first well executed try of the game, Chris Twigg added the extras (0-7). A few minutes later Widnes indiscipline gave away a penalty on their 22 straight in front of the posts and Chris Twigg took the 3 points to extend the lead on 10 minutes (0-10). Widnes worked hard in attack and showed their hand with flowing rugby through their back line, but Park met them with good defence denying them early opportunities. On 14 minutes Widnes broke the line with a long-missed pass to their Number 8 who stepped inside and our defence and scored their first try of the game (7-10). Park needed to work hard to get field position and on 20 minutes Park indiscipline at the ruck gave Widnes the opportunity for territory and a lineout on the Park 22, Park tried to disrupt the play with quick defence and Widnes were forced to kick which was easily taken by Chris Twigg who called the mark and cleared to touch. Park got field position and were setting up to attack the Widnes defence, unfortunately we got the ball stripped in contact and Widnes raced 70 metres to score a hammer blow try to take the narrow lead (12-10). These were to be the last points of the first half with both sides not quite being able to capitalise on field position and territory and Park not being able to use their dominate scrum to take back the lead. Park certainly had opportunities later in the half but just could not convert the pressure into points.
Half time score 12 - 10
With the second half underway Park really needed to convert field position and territory into points but this was not their day and the first quarter of the second half was pointless for both sides with no side breaking the deadlock. On 56 minutes Park did have an opportunity to take the lead from the boot but unfortunately missed. The game was very nip and tuck, and Park were being hampered by errors which gave them no platform. The deadlock was broken on 67 minutes when Widnes had a platform to attack Park in our half with a few attacking phases they were into the 22 and with quick ball through their back line and a long-missed pass put their winger in the corner to score their third try and extend the lead (17-10). This was definitely not our day and although Park worked hard in defence and attack, we just could not get over the try line and convert any pressure into points. Another injury in the last quarter of the half to Tom King forced another reshuffle which did not help the continuity of the game but this was still a game in the balance, but Widnes finished the game with a bonus point try on 77 minutes to seal a victory (24-10).
It was a disappointing result for Park who needed a win going into the first break of the season prior to the home derby against Northwich in two weeks’ time but this was a clunky performance with errors stunting our attacking opportunities.
Final score Widnes 24 – 10 WPRFC
Team: Chris Twigg, Alex De Keyzer, Lewis Pickering, Will Du Rand, Dan Daley, Alex Burrage, Richard Hart, Phil Lynch, Matt Treacy, Mike Burr, Josh Gledhill, Frank Gibbons, Hanre Coetzee, Freddie Kenyon, Tom King, Joe Hickey, Tom Richardson, Tom Dodson
