Sat 14 Dec 2024
WPRFC v Firwood Waterloo
14th December 2024 – Park suffer defeat at home with spirited performance
WPRFC 26 – 55 Firwood Waterloo
This week Park hosted top of the league Firwood Waterloo (FW) to stade de Burrows Hill for the return fixture following defeat away in the early part of the season.
FW kicked off and immediately Park took on FW through some strong carries and neat off load by Ross Morrin to get us back up to the half way line but a couple of errors by both sides gave Park an early scrum on the half way line and an opportunity to challenge our opposition. The scrum worked and a break from flanker Phil Lynch got us into the FW 22 but a knock on halted our attack. Park pressured the FW scrum and FW cleared to just inside their 22, the lineout worked well with Joe Hickey taking the ball cleanly and Park setting up the driving maul and captain Dan Williams scored our first converted try off the back of the maul on 3 minutes (7-0). FW restarted the game and put pressure on Park, but Cameron Flanagan exited the 22 with a clearance to release the pressure. FW continued with their pressure in the Park half and a couple of errors gave FW more opportunities and they capitalised with a converted try on 13 minutes to level up the score (7-7). Both sides had good periods of possession, but Park were unlucky with some decisions which and FW capitalised on 19 minutes with a little chip over in the right-hand corner for the winger to score and take the lead (7-12). FW were in again on 22 minutes from their own 22 with quick ball through the hands and the winger breaking on the left side and passing to an inside supporting runner to score under the sticks to extend the lead (7-19). Park really needed to challenge FW and get possession and territory and from the FW restart Park challenged the ruck and Josh Gledhill got a well-earned penalty with a jackal at the ruck. This gave Park the opportunity they needed and attached the FW line but even with a couple of penalties we could not score but instead went to the corner and with a carbon copy lineout, captain Dan Williams scored our second try from the driving maul (12-19) in text book style. Park really got out of the blocks now and on 34 minutes and quick tap penalty from Richard Hart with Tom King taking the ball and passing lo Matt Treacy who passed to Phil Lynch and off loaded to Gary Dykes and on to Hanre Coetzee and Dan Williams who got tackled on the FW 22, the ball was recycled to Josh Gledhill who took the ball into contact and then the ball went out to Cameron Flanagan who put Phil Lynch through a gap with a great line and he off loaded to Gary Dykes and he off loaded to supporting runner Matt Treacy to score a great forwards try and level the game (19-19). These were the last points of the first half which was a great half of rugby.
Half time score 19 - 19
Park restarted the second half and immediately had some opportunities, but some unforced errors stunted their attack, and FW challenged every ruck and got the benefit with Park having to hold on and forcing a penalty. This led to FW scoring on 46 minutes from a lineout which was won and the FW centre scored under the sticks after some missed tackles from Park in defence (19-26). Park regrouped and challenged FW and put them under pressure and indiscipline by FW gave Park further opportunities in the FW 22, but the FW defence held up. On 53 minutes FW indiscipline put their prop in the bin for 10 minutes and Park kicked for the corner, the lineout worked well and Park set up a driving maul and with a further penalty in the offering, it was not needed as Dan Williams scored his third try of the day off the back of the maul on 56 minutes which was converted by Cameron Flanagan to level the scores (26-26). This was a nail-biting game, but FW went ahead on 61 minutes with a breakaway try with a Park missed tackle in midfield and the winger running in for easy score (26-33). Park had a good period of territory and possession, but we could not score with the FW defence working hard to stop Park. Park had worked hard for 60 minutes and matching FW, but the last quarter of the game went to FW who opened up the Park defence with some great footwork and scored tries on 67, 72, 75 and 78 minutes to win the game (25-55).
On reflection the score line did not fully reflect the work rate of the Park squad in the first 60 or so minutes and credit to our forwards who put in another gritty performance with some great ball handling and direct running, and not to mention our current top try scorer this season captain Dan Williams who added another three to his tally today.
Final score WPRFC 26 – 55 Firwood Waterloo
Team: Will Du Randt, Jack O’Neill, Chris Twigg, Jack Williams, Jack Fenner, Cameron Flanagan, Richard Hart, Dan Williams (captain), Phil Lynch, Matt Treacy, Gary Dykes, Joe Hickey, Ross Morrin, Tom King, Hanre Coetzee, Anthony Hopley, Frankie Davenport and Josh Gledhill
