Sat 25 Oct 2025
Northwich v WPRFC
25th October 2025 – Park earn a fantastic win away in local derby
Northwich 19 – 31 WPRFC
This week Park travelled to Northwich for the much-anticipated derby clash in front of a big crowd. This was going to be a very physical and passion fuelled game on a bright October afternoon.
Park kicked off and immediately set the tone of the game with strong defence and playing flowing rugby through the phases with both forwards and backs linking up to stretch the Northwich defence. Park had a few early breaks which tested the Northwich defence and kept Northwich in their own half and also turned over the ball by targeting the breakdown which helped them keep Northwich in their own half. The first points of the game came on 7 minutes after some strong pressure by Park with excellent phase play in the Northwich 22 leading to a penalty which Cameron Flanagan kicked to take the lead (0-3). From the restart Park got a penalty and kicked for touch and won the lineout cleanly and played a couple of phases through the middle of the pitch and then went wide and Riewoldt Teabuge was released with a neat offload from Joseph Rowland and a dog leg defence, he stepped the defence from inside our own half and took us into the Northwich 22. Park went through six phases through the forwards with strong carries and quick ball and then Will Du Randt took the ball at short range on the seventh phase and scored our first try with Cameron Flanagan adding the conversion (0-10). On 14 minutes Northwich had an opportunity with a penalty at the ruck but missed the kick and gave Park a drop out from the 22, Northwich fielded the drop out and kicked into space and Park picked up the ball and took it into contact but knocked on giving Northwich a scrum 5 metres inside the Park half. Park won the scrum against the head and Dan Williams went the short side and released Alex De Keyzer who ran down the touch line to the Northwich 22 before being tackled, the ball was recycled quickly and out to the other wing and Raphael Van Osselaer kicked through forcing Northwich to touch down in the in goal and giving Park a scrum 5 metres out. Park won the scrum and captain Dan Williams picked up at the base and powered over for our second try with Cameron Flanagan adding the conversion (0-17). A mistake from Northwich from the restart kicking the ball out on the full gave Park the scrum on the half way line but we fumbled the ball and were caught off side as Northwich came through and kicked the loose ball, Northwich kicked for the corner and won the lineout and set up a driving maul and scored from short range on 22 minutes (5-17). Park regrouped and although Northwich had a bit of possession a box kick from Jack Williams was knocked by the Northwich winger and Park had the opportunity to attack from the set piece, Park went through the phases but unfortunately knocked on but Park won the penalty at the scrum on the 22 and Cameron Flanagan slotted it over to increase the lead (5-20) on 28 minutes. Park did not let Northwich play when they had possession and shut them down defensively and forced them to make errors in attack and Northwich kicked the ball out on the full which gave Park a lineout just inside the Northwich half. Park attacked through the middle of the field and then Jack Williams kicked through forcing Northwich to clear their lines which was only 10 metres out, Park won the lineout and set up a driving maul and Conor Lapniewski came up with the ball at the tail and powered over to score our third try on 35 minutes (5-25) which rounded off a fantastic first half performance from the Park squad.
Half time score 5 - 25
Northwich got the second half underway, and this was going to be a battle of attrition with Northwich having some early possession, but Park stood strong in defence and matched up well but the pressure was on. Northwich kept the pressure on, and a couple of penalties gave Northwich field position and on 45 minutes a yellow card for Jack Williams left us down to 14. Northwich kicked for the corner and Park won the ball on the floor and cleared but we were penalised, and Northwich took the ball in, but Park held the ball up over the line. Park were working hard in defence, but we gave away a series of penalties and 50 minutes Northwich kicked for the corner and scored their second try off the back of a lineout and driving maul (12-25). Both sides had a period of possession but unforced errors by Northwich did help them with continuity in the game whereas Park were far more expansive and were finding gaps, but Northwich defended well. On 64 minutes more indiscipline at the breakdown from Northwich gave Cameron Flanagan the opportunity of a kick at goal from 35 metres out and he was successful again to increase the lead (12-28). Park continued to play good rugby and were exposing the Northwich defence with excellent handing and strong carries but Northwich got their third try on 70 minutes when Park were judged to be holding on at the ruck and Northwich kicked the penalty into the Park 22 from 30 metres out from their line. Northwich won the lineout and took the ball into contact and with penalty advantage they took a couple of phases in and with quick ball they scored their third try and adding the extras (19-28). A couple of minutes later, more Northwich indiscipline in their own half gave Cameron Flanagan the opportunity to extend the lead further and he slotted the penalty (19-31). Northwich continued to have possession and territory in last few minutes of the game, but the Park defence stood firm and were not going to let Northwich in. Park controlled the game in the last few minutes and made sure that all their hard work was paid off with a fantastic win.
This was a hard-fought passionate game with a massive performance across the whole Park team who showed their rugby skill and determination to win the derby and a well-earned 4 points.
Final score Northwich 19 – 31 WPRFC
Team: Will Du Randt, Alex De Keyzer, Riewoldt Teabuge, Joseph Rowland, Raphael Van Osselaer, Cameron Flanagan, Jack Williams, Dan Williams (Captain), Matthew Treacy, Robin Lowndes, Phil Lynch, Gary Dykes, Conor Lapniewski, Eli Fakailoatonga, Joel Gaidan, Josh Gibbins, Christian Avis and Johdell Akua
