Sat 18 Oct 2025
WPRFC v West Park (St Helens)
18th October 2025 – Park deliver win at home
WPRFC 44 – 24 West Park
This week Park welcomed newly promoted West Park (St Helens) to Stade de Burrows Hill for the first encounter on game six of the season.
Park started the game strongly with an early break from Riewoldt Teabuge which gave Park some field position but a knock on released the early pressure and allowed West Park to clear their lines to touch. Park kept the early pressure on with excellent ball retention through the phases and got into the West Park 22 and Raphael Van Osselaer kicked through but the full back could not collect the ball and knocked on giving Park the scrum 10 metres out. Unfortunately, Johdell Akua was forced off with an injury and replaced with Gary Dykes. The scrum was won and Jack Williams passed to Cameron Flanagan who passed inside to Riewoldt Teabuge who ran a great line against the grain and cut straight through the defence to score on 7 minutes with Cameron Flanagan added the conversion (7-0). Park continued their pressure from the restart and released Alex De Keyzer down the wing who made good yards but stepped in touch. Park were working hard in defence and attack and were putting in strong carries forcing West Park to commit defenders to the tackle. On 14 minutes, West Park were attacking through the phases and went wide but Riewoldt Teabuge read the play and intercepted the pass 40 metres out and raced in the corner for another try (12-0). Park made an error with a kick down field which unfortunately was too strong and went dead but the forward pack forced the penalty at the scrum and gave Park the opportunity to kick for territory which they got into the west Park 22. The lineout was won and Park set up the driving maul and indiscipline from West Park gave Park the penalty advantage and the ball was held up over the line, Park kicked for the corner and again were held up over the line forcing a West Park goal line drop out. Park had the advantage here and put together some great phases to get back to 10 metres out from the line and up pops stalwart Gary Dykes who saw opportunity and picked up from the ruck and dived over the line to score out third try on 22 minutes with Cameron Flanagan adding the conversion (19-0). West Park hit back 3 minutes later with some strong carries into the Park half and with quick hands they went to the short side with a simple two on one to score their first try (19-7). From the restart, unfortunately an injury to West Park halted the game while the player was stretchered off the field. The game restarted and both sides traded penalties on 30 minutes (22-7) and 39 minutes (22-10) to end a much improved first half performance by the home side.
Half time score 22 - 10
With the second half underway both sides started strongly but the balance did swing towards West Park with early territory putting Park under pressure, but Park responded well and exited their 22. West Park continued to pressurise Park and indiscipline gave them a penalty which they kicked to the corner and won the lineout and scored on their third phase to close the gap on the scoreboard on 48 minutes (22-17). West Park were having a bit of a resurgence and on 53 minutes they took the lead from just outside the Park 22 where they recycled the ball quickly and spotted that park were short in defence and with quick hands through the back they scored their third try and conversion to tack the lead (22-24). Park needed to step up now, and they got into the West Park half and made good ground and were rewarded with a penalty on 58 minutes which Cameron Flanagan slotted over to regain the lead (25-24). Park did step up the intensity with the forwards making ground with every phase and on 64 minutes we had a lineout on our 10 metre line and took three phases into contact and Cameron Flanagan saw some space behind West Park and kicked through and Raphael Van Osselaer chased through with West Park knocking the ball backwards over the line and Raphael Van Osselaer beating the West Park defence and scoring our bonus point try (30-24). Park did step up a gear and continued to pressurise West Park in their own half and forced a knock on and with the advantage they kept their heads and went through 10 phases within 5 metres but the pressure was too much for West Park and on 70 minutes Phil Lynch saw an opportunity from the ruck and scored with Cameron Flanagan adding the conversion 37-24). Further indiscipline by West Park on 75 minutes gave Park the opportunity to kick for territory, the lineout was won at the front with Matt Treacy but we gave away a penalty but West Park missed touch and Will Du Randt fielded the ball 30 metres out from our line and ran through the West Park defence stepping three defenders and 30 metres out passed to Joel Gaidan who picked up with one hand and offloaded a classy pass in the tackle to supporting runner Jack Williams who sealed the win with our sixth try of the day in the corner and Cameron Flanagan adding the conversion from near the touchline (44-24). West Park continued to pressure Park in the last few minutes, but we stood strong in defence and finished the game with a great win.
A great result for the team showing what they can achieve when they work together as a unit.
Final score WPRFC 44 – 24 West Park
Team: Will Du Randt, Alex De Keyzer, Riewoldt Teabuge, Christian Avis, Raphael Van Osselaer, Cameron Flanagan, Jack Williams, Dan Williams (Captain), Matthew Treacy, Anthony Hopley, Phil Lynch, Johdell Akua, Conor Lapniewski, Eli Fakailoatonga, Joel Gaidan, Josh Gibbins, Gary Dykes and Jack Fenner
