Sat 21 Dec 2024
Burnage v WPRFC
21st December 2024 – Another hat-trick from the captain in narrow loss away at Burnage
Burnage 37 – 28 WPRFC
This week Park travelled to Burnage for the last fixture before the Christmas break. With Burnage sitting mid-table this was going to be another tough encounter on an artificial pitch.
Burnage kicked off and immediately penalised for a high tackle which gave Park an opportunity to gain territory but unfortunately we did not find touch and gave the opportunity to Burnage to attack the Park defence, the defence held strong but some footwork by the Burnage flyhalf got them some field position but a loose pass was intercepted by Matt Treacy and Park cleared their lines. Burnage won the lineout and attacked Park from inside their half and were awarded a penalty which allowed them to kick for territory, they won their lineout and a break from their inside centre and a pass to the hooker gave them their first try on 5 minutes (7-0). Burnage were in again on 11 minutes to extend their lead following a knock down by Park on the 22 and the resultant penalty, Burnage scored in the corner with quick hand through the backs to the winger (14-0). The next 10 minutes were a battle with both sides having possession and territory but not being able to get over the try line and score, but Park did come close on 15 minutes, but the ball was held up over the line following a penalty in the Burnage 22. Burnage extended their lead on 20 minutes with a penalty for a high tackle on the Park 22 (17-0). Park were having some good passages of play with strong carries, but a few errors were giving Burnage the advantage and stunting our attack, but we were strong in defence in the second quarter and worked hard to gain some field position. Park had a breakthrough on 32 minutes when a penalty on the Burnage 22 was revered due to dissent and Park kicked for the corner, the lineout was won cleanly by Park and they set up a driving maul and captain Dan Williams scored our first try and Cameron Flanagan added the extras (17-7). 2 minutes later following the Burnage restart, Park were in for their second try following a ruck just inside our half and quick ball from Richard Hart to Josh Gledhill who passed to Jack Williams with space on the short side who ran through into the Burnage 22 and fixed the full back and off loaded to Jack O’Neill who scored and Cameron Flanagan added the extras (17-14). On 37 minutes a high tackle by Park on the 22 gave Burnage an easy 3 points to end the half in the lead (20-14). Park finished the half strongly with good field position but could not get over the white wash as Burnage defended well.
Half time score 20 - 14
Park restarted the second half with an error which gave Burnage a scrum on the half way line, they won the scrum and attacked Park and got through the line and with a few missed tackles and good support they scored their third try under the sticks to extend the lead (27-14). Park then had a good period of field position and possession, but Burnage held strong even with some very strong carries from our forward pack. This was always going to be an arm wrestle and Park put in the hard yards and were rewarded on 48 minutes following a great break by Ross Morrin and a cynical play by Burnage in their own 22 gave them a yellow card and Park opted for the scrum 8 metres out from the line. Park won the scrum and captain Dan Williams picked up from the back and scrum and ran in to score a great try with Cameron Flanagan adding the conversion (27-21). Burnage returned the favour a few minutes later with a try on 53 minutes following a period of play in our 22 and they had an overlap on the short side and their bonus point try to extend the lead (34-21). Park regrouped and were very much still in this game and on 68 minutes we were rewarded with our bonus point try by captain Dan Williams following Burnage indiscipline in their own 22 and Park opted for the scrum and Dan Williams picked up from the back of the scrum and powered over to score a hat-trick for the second week in row with Cameron Flanagan adding the conversions (34-28). This was now going to be a close finish, but Park could not quite find that white wash to take the lead and Burnage extended their lead a few minutes from the end with a penalty to take the win (37-28). Park did have the opportunity to close the gap in the last play of the game with penalty from the touch line, but it was wide.
This was a hard-fought game with a another much-improved performance from the whole Park squad against a strong Burnage team but we could not quite take the win.
Final score: Burnage 37 – 28 WPRFC
Team: Chris Twigg, Jack Fenner, Will Du Rant, Jack Williams, Jack O’Neill, Cameron Flanagan, Richard Hart, Ross Morrin, Tom King, Hanre Coetzee, Josh Gledhill, Joe Hickey, Phil Lynch, Matthew Treacy, Dan Williams, Frankie Davenport, Tom Dodson and Anthony Hopley
