Sat 4 Jan 2025
WPRFC v Widnes
4th January 2025 – Park suffer defeat at home
WPRFC 17 – 35 Widnes
This week Park welcomed Widnes to Stade de Burrows Hill for the return fixture following a 24-10 defeat away in September.
Widnes started the game and immediately put Park under pressure and Park had to work hard to get field position but unforced errors put us under pressure and Widnes struct first on 5 minutes with a converted try following a scrappy lineout from Park on our own 22 which Widnes picked up and took into contact and recycled quickly and scored on phase 2 ball (0-7). Widnes were really putting Park under pressure in the first quarter of the game, and they were also getting the better of the penalty count which kept Park defending for large parts of the first quarter. Fortunately, on 14 minutes an intercept by Chris Twigg who broke into the Widnes half was tackled high giving Park a shot at goal and reducing Widnes to 14 for 10 minutes, Cameron Flanagan kicked the penalty from 40 metres to get some points on the board (3-7). The next 20 minutes were an arm wrestle with Widnes putting Park under pressure, but Park stuck in the fight but could not turn any momentum into points, but we did get close on 25 minutes with a disallowed try for a knock on in the 22 following some good forward momentum by Park. A few minutes later Park had another opportunity from a penalty which Will Du Randt kicked for the corner, but the lineout was lost, and Widnes cleared their lines. On 32 minutes Widnes extended their lead following some sustained attack and with the help of a penalty they got into the Park 22 and from a lineout 8 metres out they went over in the corner off the back of a maul (3-14). Park worked hard in close quarters with Tom King, Gary Dykes, Phil Lynch and Dan Williams linking up to get over the gain line, but Widnes defended well and closed down our attack. Just before half time Park had an opportunity with a penalty in the Widnes 22 which we kicked for the corner, the lineout was won and the driving maul set up but unfortunately Anthony Hopley was held up over the line.
Half time score 3 - 14
With the second half underway Park really needed to attack Widnes and not get caught up in an arm wrestle but when we did get good ball errors were hampering our progress and giving Widnes opportunities. On 45 minutes Widnes broke through our defence and went wide quickly and scored their third try with a neat step to score an easy try (3-21). Park worked hard to gain some go forward but were turned over and lost the momentum. Widnes were in again on 52 minutes with their bonus point try following a forced goal line drop out by Park and Widnes capitalised with a couple of quick phases and scored (3-28). Park regrouped and had some field position into the Widnes 22 but again errors were hampering our attack and giving Widnes the opportunity to clear their lines. On 62 minutes Chris Twigg made a break and like a carbon copy of the first half a high tackle by Widnes gave Park an opportunity against 14 following another yellow card. Park opted for the scrum 15 metres out and put together a string of 8 phases of attack until Chris Twigg took the ball in against the grain and passed to Tom King who off loaded to Dan Williams who off loaded in contact to Tom King to power over the line and score our first try with Cameron Flanagan adding the extras (10-28). Widnes restarted the game, and Park took the ball cleanly and took into contact but on phase 2 the ball was lost forward and Widnes picked up and passed the ball out quickly to the winger who scored their fifth and last try of the game on 64 minutes (10-35). Park had further opportunities but errors were stunting our attack but Park continued to work hard to get another score and on 75 minutes we got our rewards following a good period of attack with the forwards working hard in the contact area and with strong carries to get over the gain line and were rewarded with a penalty which we opted for the scrum 5 metres out. Dan Williams picked up from the back of the scrum and powered over to score the try which was converted by Cameron Flanagan (17-35).
Final score WPRFC 17 – 35 Widnes
Team: Chris Twigg, Jacob Halstein, Alex Burrage, Will Du Randt, Jack Fenner, Cameron Flanagan, Richard Hart, Dan Williams, Anthony Hopley, Phil Lynch, Gary Dykes, Joe Hickey, Hanre Coetzee, Tom King, Bruce McGrogan, Matty Davenport, Alex De Keyser and Tom Wager
