Sat 19 Oct 2024, 15:00
Eccles v WPRFC
19th October 2024 – Park bonus point win away at Eccles
Eccles 29 – 34 WPRFC
This week Park travelled to newly promoted Eccles still looking for our first win of the season. The conditions were bright and sunny, and we were looking forward to a great game of rugby and building on our improved performances each week. Park got the game underway in and Eccles secured the ball and attacked Park from within their own half, Park met them with solid defence and forced an error with their line speed and got the first scrum of the game. Park won the scrum with Dan Williams picking up from number 8 and attacking and linking up with brother Jack and Chris Twigg who took the ball into contact and won a penalty. We kicked for the corner and won the lineout and set up a driving maul, the maul went to ground but we recycled the ball quickly and quick hands through the backs which did not go to hand but Chris Twigg picked up and stepped inside and passed to winger Jack O’Neill who scored in the corner for a great start which was unconverted (0-5) on 5 minutes. Eccles restarted and Park secured the ball and took a couple of phases in before clearing the ball, the ball did not go to touch and Eccles attacked Park but Park again challenged at every breakdown and again forced an error from Eccles. Park won the scrum but Eccles intercepted a short pass and tried to attack but a loose carry gave Park another opportunity, unfortunately we failed to clear the ball with kicks being charged down on 3 attempts and Eccles picked up the ball and ran in to score down the righthand side (5-5) after only 8 minutes. The game settled in after a couple of early tries with both sides having possession, but Park were strong in defence and had to be to keep the Eccles winger at bay as he was definitely the danger man on their side and some good defence by Park stopped him on a couple of occasions. Eccles had some early opportunities with some good breaks through the middle and Park had to work hard to stop them in defence. On 18 minutes Park broke the deadlock from a lineout on own 22, Park took the ball in through the forwards for a couple of phases then went wide with Lewis Pickering making ground and getting Park into a great position, the ball was quickly recycled to Dan Williams who made good ground on the lefthand side and offloaded to Jack O’Neill supporting and he made good ground into the opposition 22 and drew the man and passed to supporting runner Jack Williams who scored a great try in the corner (5-10). The next 10 minutes were very cagey and both sides took points from the penalty on 24 and 28 minutes to take the score to (8-13). On 33 minutes Park had a penalty on the halfway line and kicked for territory, we won the lineout and set up the driving maul but Eccles indiscipline coming from the side gave Park another penalty which we kicked for the corner. We won the lineout and set up another driving maul and powered over with hooker Freddie Kenyon getting the try which was converted by Cameron Flanagan (8-20). We extended the lead on 37 minutes from the boot of Cameron Flanagan (8-23) but with only minutes left on the clock Eccles attacked and got a penalty and kicked for the corner, they won the lineout and set up to attack with one phase through the forwards and then went to the backs on phase two and scored an easy try through poor defence to close the gap (15-23).
Half time score 15 - 23
Eccles kicked off the second half and immediately indiscipline gave away a penalty, unfortunately our kick did not go to touch and Eccles went wide quickly through the hands to their danger man on the wing who showed his pace from just inside the Park half to score a great try under the sticks (22-23). Park worked hard in defence but did give Eccles a bit too much room to play and some indiscipline gave them opportunities, but we maintained our structure and closed them down with line speed and defence. Park had an opportunity on 50 and 53 minutes from the boot of Cameron Flanagan who slotted over the penalties to extend the lead (22-29). This was a much more measured performance from Park and the work rate from the whole team was much higher. Park dug in deep and on 57 minutes we got an opportunity following a scrum for Eccles in the Eccles 22 which we disrupted with great work from Jack Williams who challenged the scrum half and turned him over, we secured the ball and set up in attack with Dan Williams on first phase ball and then two more phases 5 metres out and then quick ball out the backs to Will Du Randt who powered over in the corner for an unconverted bonus point try (22-34). The game was still on a knife edge with Eccles still looking dangerous in loose open play, but Park worked hard in defence to stunt any Eccles attack. On 65 minutes we did have another opportunity from the boot of Cameron Flanagan but unfortunately it was wide. Eccles continued to attack Park and when they got field position and possession, they threw everything at Park. With minutes on the clock, Eccles got a break through with an error from Park being offside from a clearance kick out of the 22, Eccles took a quick tap and immediately offloaded to through their centre to the danger man on the wing who caught us off guard and they scored their forth bonus try (29-34).
This was another much-improved performance from the whole squad and the hard work in the last few weeks in training paying off with a bonus point win to lift us off the bottom of the table. It was a tough and physical day with Park showing some great rugby both in attack and defence to get a well-earned win.
Final score Eccles 29 – 34 WPRFC
Team: Chris Twigg, Jacob Halstein, Lewis Pickering, Will Du Randt, Jack O’Neill, Cameron Flanagan, Jack Williams, Dan Williams, Matt Treacy, Phil Lynch, Josh Gledhill, Gary Dykes, Hanre Coetzee, Freddie Kenyon, Tom King, Joe Hickey, Anthony Hopley and Jack Fenner
