Sat 15 Feb 2025
WPRFC v Vale of Lune
15th February 2025 – Second half fight back in narrow home defeat
WPRFC 21 – 24 VoL
This week Park welcomed fourth in the table Vale of Lune (VoL) to Stade de Burrows Hill for the return fixture following a narrow defeat away in November. The conditions were wet and greasy, but we were looking forward to another tough encounter with James Wilkinson making his senior debut at home and also Hanre Coetzee playing his last game for the club before heading back to South Africa.
Park kicked off the game and put pressure on VoL and won a penalty which was taken quickly but we spilled the ball in contact and allowed VoL to clear the ball but the ball did not go to touch and Park attacked again but again we spilled the ball and VoL released the pressure. The early exchanges of the game were very cagey but errors from Park were giving VoL the opportunity to release the pressure. VoL had a break on the left on 12 minutes which gave them an opportunity but an obstruction by Park gave them a penalty and they kicked for the corner. VoL won the lineout and went wide through the hands and a missed tackle gave the away side their first try on 15 minutes (0-5). On 19 minutes after a number of phases by VoL they were back in the Park 22 and scored their second try when they broke through the defensive line and with one offload they scored (0-12). A few minutes later VoL broke the line again, but captain Dan Williams mad a great cover tackle to prevent a another try. Park were working hard in attack but were not quite getting into a scoring opportunity and VoL were matching up with their defence. On 28 minutes Park were caught offside and VoL kicked for the corner, they won the lineout and set up a driving maul and scored their third try (0-17). This was a tough first half for Park and unforced errors were stunting our possession and attacking opportunities. With 8 minutes left in the first half Joel Gaiden was shown the yellow card and we were down to 14 and a few minutes later VoL were awarded a penalty in our 22 when Dan Williams was adjudged to have tackled their winger late, VoL kicked for the corner and maintained the pressure on Park and this paid off for them and scored their bonus point fourth try on 39 minutes to round off the first half (0-24).
Half time score 0 - 24
VoL restarted the second half with tails up and Park had a massive uphill fight if we were going to get anything from this game but Park looked a different team and started to build some field position and pressure and Will Du Randt having an early opportunity with a kick through and VoL having to touch down in goal and having scrum 5 metres out. Park took this opportunity and Dan Williams nearly scored but his out stretched arm was short of the try line. Park continued to pressure the VoL line, but a combination of their defence and some unforced errors let the pressure off. The breakthrough came on 53 minutes when some sustained pressure from Park in the VoL 22, VoL indiscipline gave Park a penalty and Elijah S’au took the penalty quickly and powered over for our first points of the game with Cameron Flanagan getting the extras (7-24). Park were now looking like a different team and were putting VoL under pressure and their discipline started to affect their game with them giving away a penalty and then an extra 10 metres for back chat. Park capitalised on this and kicked for touch on the VoL 22. Park attacked VoL and Alex De Keyser almost broke through but Park kept the pressure on and were awarded a penalty which they opted for the scrum, Dan Williams picked up and passed to brother Jack Williams who passed to Will Du Randt who was tackled short of the line but we recycled quickly and Tom King took the pass and passed to Joe Hickey who scored in the corner on 60 minutes and Cameron Flanagan adding the extras from near the touch line (14-24). This was quite a turn around and was going to be a nail-biting finish. Park were now in the driving seat and were working hard in defence and attack and were spoiling any opportunities that VoL had, and forward pack were giving the backs an opportunity to attack. On 71 minutes Park had a lineout 7 metres out and they won the ball and Elijah S’au broke free and powered over for his second try of the game with Cameron Flanagan nailing the conversion from near the touch line again (21-24). Park were really pushing for the win but could not quite get the final points to win the game.
It was a very tough and physical day with Park showing some great rugby in the second half to come back from 24 points down.
Final score WPRFC 21 – 24 VoL
Team: Will Du Randt, Alex De Keyser, Genesis Iuli, Alex Burrage, Sanele Mtetwa, Cameron Flanagan, Jack Williams, Dan Williams, Matthew Treacy, Matty Davenport, Gary Dykes, Joe Hickey, Tom King, Joel Gaiden, Elijah Sau, Hanre Coetzee, Anthony Hopley and James Wilkinson
