Sat 20 Sep 2025
Burnage v WPRFC
21st September 2025 – Park suffer narrow loss away at Burnage
Burnage 23 – 17 WPRFC
This week Park travelled to Burnage for game three of the season with a couple injuries we saw a couple of new faces in the team with Harry Dodd, James Wilkinson and Rafa Van Osselaer. The conditions were very wet with rain throughout the game and was going to be another tough encounter on an artificial pitch.
Park kicked off and had some early possession following Burnage exiting their 22 and giving possession back to Park. Park had an early opportunity following a kick through by Jack Williams which was not taken by Burnage and Phil Lynch picked up and passed to Riewoldt Teabuge who ran down the left wing but was tackled in the Burnage 22. Unfortunately, the ball was lost, and Burnage cleared their lines. A few minutes later another infringement by Burnage on their 22 gave Cameron Flanagan a shot at points which he kicked to take the lead (0-3). Burnage had a period of possession and with the aid of a penalty got a lineout 5m out, but Park defended well and forced an error which gave Park a scrum and we cleared our lines, it did not go to touch but the Burnage winger spilled the ball and gave Park the scrum. The scrum was strong by Park, and we were awarded a penalty which Dan Williams took quickly ran on the short side and kick through to the 22 but Burnage picked up and cleared to touch but inside their 22. Park won the lineout and took a few phases in but indiscipline, but Burnage gave away another penalty in their 22 and Cameron Flanagan extended the lead from the tee (0-6). Burnage had a penalty opportunity 35 metres out on 15 minutes but was unsuccessful. Both teams were working hard in the conditions but on 22 minutes Park were caught off side and Burnage kicked to touch 30 metres out. They won the lineout and took the ball through 4 phases until the fly half took the ball into contact and off loaded to their full back who ran through and passed to a supporting runner who scored the first try of the game (7-6). A few minutes later Park indiscipline just outside the 22 gave away a penalty but Burnage missed off the tee. The game was a bit scrappy in places due to the conditions and further indiscipline by Park on 32 and 36 minutes gave Burnage the opportunity to extend the lead from the tee to finish up at half time (13-6).
Half time score 13 - 6
Burnage restarted the game and had a bit of possession but Park continued to pressure Burnage and a poor clearance by Burnage gave Park an in road through Will Du Randt who took the ball and stepped a few players and took into contact, the ball was recycled quickly through the nads to Dan Williams who ran through on the right hand side and passed inside to Phil Lynch 7 metres out but the ball was spilled forward just outside his grasp. Park had a period in the Burnage half on 47 minutes Park had a scrum 25 metres out which we won with a penalty and Dan Williams took quickly into the Burnage 22 and powered through and off loaded a few metres out to Will Du Randt who scored but the conversion was unsuccessful (13-11). Both teams traded penalties on 54 minutes (16-11) and 56 minutes (16-14), but the game was relatively even at this stage with both sides having possession and territory and not able to convert into points. Park were making good ground in attack through strong carries from our forward pack, but we could not quite get into scoring positions, and the conditions were not very conducive to open flowing rugby, but we defended well. We had an opportunity on 70 minutes when we forced a goal line drop out which Burnage kicked out on the full, we won the scrum but were penalised in the first ruck for holding on and Burnage cleared their lines. A few minutes later Burnage had a penalty and kicked for touch within our 22 they won the lineout but lost the ball in contact on the first phase, Park had the scrum and tried to kick a short ball through but the Burnage scrum half picked the ball up and took into contact and we were penalised at the break down and Burnage took quickly and scored under the posts (23-14). With only 3 minutes on the clock, Park had a penalty on the 22 in the centre of the field and kicked for the corner but unfortunately, we kicked too deep, and the ball went dead and so did the opportunity to close the gap on the scoreboard. Park had one last opportunity with a penalty on our 10 metre line which Jack Williams kicked for touch and got a massive kick to 5 metres out from the Burnage line, we won the lineout and set up a maul but the maul went to ground but Park kept the ball alive through four phases and caught Burnage offside and Park elected to take the points from the tee through Cameron Flanagan (23-17). With only minutes on the clock Park had a penalty and kicked to touch but the lineout was not straight, and Burnage kicked the ball out to win the game.
This was a hard-fought game with a another very close contest, but a losing bonus point keeps us in third position in the league.
Final score: Burnage 23 – 17 WPRFC
Team: Alex De Keyzer, Riewoldt Teabuge, Lewis Pickering, Will Du Randt, Rafa Van Osselaer, Jack Williams, Cameron Flanagan, Dan Williams (Captain), Matthew Treacy, Johdell Akua, Phil Lynch, Anthony Hopley, Conor Lapniewski, Eli Fakailoatonga, Joel Gaidan, Josh Gibbins, Harry Dodd and James Wilkinson
