Sat 5 Apr 2025
Altrincham Kersal v WPRFC
5th April 2025 – Park finish season with impressive win away
Altrincham Kersal (AK) 31 – 52 WPRFC
This week Park travelled to Altrincham Kersal (AK) for the final game of the league season hoping to turn around the 28-32 loss on the opening day of the season back in September and maintain their position in this league. The conditions were sunny and dry, and Park needed a win or at least two points to ensure playing at this level next season.
AK got the game underway, and Park started strongly with some good carries to get ourselves on the front foot but an error with a knock on gave AK an attacking opportunity with a scrum 35 metres out. AK won the scrum and challenged Park but a high tackle from Park gave AK the opportunity to kick for the corner and they attacked Park with four phases down the left and found a gap on the fifth phase to score their first try on 4 minutes (7-0). Park restarted the game, and Matt Treacy knocked the ball back for Joel Gaiden to carry into the midfield, AK were penalised for not releasing but the penalty was missed which gave AK a drop out from the 22. Park secured the lineout, and Genesis Iuli made a great break, and the ball went wide but AK tried intercepted but kicked through but out on the full. Park regrouped and won the lineout cleanly and attacked AK, but AK indiscipline gave away another penalty which Phil Lynch took quickly and with lovely off loads from Elyjah Sa’u and then Joel Gaiden put Chris Twigg into the corner to score with Cameron Flanagan adding the conversion (7-7). AK restarted the game and immediately Park were penalised at the ruck and AK kicked for the corner, they secured the ball and attacked Park in the 22 and with six phases of play they went route 1 and then they went wide and scored in the corner on 13 minutes (14-7). 10 minutes later AK were in again for their third try when their centre broke a few tackles and strolled in to extend their lead (21-7). These were nerve racking moments, but Park regrouped and got some field position, and on 27 minutes AK indiscipline in their ow 22 gave Park an opportunity. Park elected for the scrum and with a text book move captain Dan Williams picked up at the base of the scrum went right and passed to Cameron Flanagan who passed to Jack Williams who ran a great line to beat the defence and score in the corner with Cameron Flanagan adding the conversion (21-14). AK restarted the game and immediately won the ball and attacked Park into our 22 and Park tried to jackal the ball but knocked on and AK had the scrum, Park shoved AK back and won the penalty to release the pressure with Will Du Randt kicking to touch to the AL 10 metre line. Park won the lineout cleanly through Phil Lynch but the ball out to the backs didn’t go to hand, but Will Du Randt picked up and broke two tackles and off loaded to Lewis Pickering to score a great try to level the game on 31 minutes. (21-21). This was now game on and Park were starting to get a grip of the game and play rugby on their terms and on 38 minutes, Park had a scrum on the AK 10 metre line and Cameron Flanagan passed to Jack Williams who dropped off the ball to Will Du Randt who powered through the defence with a lovely line but was tackled 5 metres out illegally and AK had a yellow card and Park had the opportunity of going I at half time in the lead. Park took the scrum, and they went to the right-hand side but the pass was knocked on by AK forcing another scrum. Park won the scrum and went out to the backs, but the defence held but Park continued through the forwards and Genesis Iuli saw an opportunity and scored our bonus point try and take the lead at half time with Cameron Flanagan adding the conversion (21-28).
Half time score 21 - 28
Park got the second half underway and got an opportunity within a few minutes when a clearance kick from Jack Williams was knocked on by the AK full back just outside their 22. The scrum worked well and Dan Williams picked up from the base and took it into contact and Will Du Randt picked up and took it into contact, the forward took in a few more drives then the ball went out to the left through the hands to Alex De Keyser who scored in the corner on 43 minutes with Cameron Flangan adding the conversion from out wide (21-35). Park were now getting good field position and territory, and AK were getting frustrated and a penalty 35 metres out on 49 minutes gave Cameron Flanagan the chance to extend the lead which he did with another great strike (21-38). Park came under a little pressure from AK on our line on 52 minutes but they held up defensively and Dan Williams ripped the ball from the AK hands two metres out and with two passes the ball went to Alex De Keyser 10 metres from our line and he set the after burners through three defenders to score a sensational 90 metre try to further extend the lead and again Cameron Flanagan adding the conversion (21-45). AK did not let this affect their game even though Park had now scored 38 unanswered points in 28 minutes but on 55 minutes they responded with try number 4 for them to give them a bonus point (26-45). The game was not won just yet, but Park had the upper hand and were controlling the game and kept their discipline and played their own game. On 69 minutes Park had field position in the AK 22 and a knock on by AK gave Park a scrum, the scrum worked well again like it had done all day and captain Dan Williams picked up at the base of the scrum and powered through the defence to score our 7th try of the day with Cameron Flanagan kicking the conversion from out wide with another superb strike of the ball (26 -52). With only 10 minutes left on the clock the game was almost won but AK worked hard in the final few minutes to score another try on 79 minutes (31-52) to round off an impressive and well-deserved win.
In summary it was an impressive final game of the season which required the whole team to put in a performance of the season to seal the victory and maintain our position in this league. Well done to the whole squad who did us proud today.
Final score Altrincham Kersal (AK) 31 – 52 WPRFC
Team: Chris Twigg, Jacob Halstein, Will Du Randt, Lewis Pickering, Alex De Keyser, Jack Williams, Cameron Flanagan, Dan Williams (Captain), Genesis Iuli, Anthony Hopley, Phil Lynch, Matthew Treacy, Elyjah Sa’u, Tom King, Joel Gaiden, Josh Gledhill, Sanele Mtetwa, Tom Dodson
