Sat 29 Nov 2025
WPRFC v Sandbach
29th November 2025 – Park deliver gritty win at home to league leaders
WPRFC 21 – 19 Sandbach
This week Park welcomed league leaders Sandbach to Stade de Burrows Hill for the first meeting this season on game ten of the season. This was going to be another good test for Park with Sandbach winning seven out of nine this season but Park on a four-match winning run.
Park got off to a good start with a pressure in the Sandbach half in the first minute and leading to a penalty on the Sandbach 22 and Cameron Flanagan taking the early points (3-0). Park worked hard in defence from the restart and cleared their lines, but Sandbach won their lineout and set up their maul, and they went down the short side, but Jack Williams knocked the ball on in the attempted tackle giving Sandbach a penalty. Sandbach went for the corner and the resultant over throw by Sandbach was field by Park and they cleared their lines. The game was very tense during the first 15 minutes but Park performing well in all aspects of the game but could not quite get onto the scoreboard. The breakthrough came on 17 minutes from another attack by Park and indiscipline by Sandbach at the breakdown gave Park a penalty and we opted for the corner, the lineout was a short throw to Robin Lowndes who was not part of the lineout and he went through the gap in the lineout but was tackled short of the line. Park recycled the ball quickly and went through three phases and then switched to the short side and a quick ball to Robin Lowndes and he powered over from short range to score our first try (8-0). Sandbach put some pressure on Park, but Park stood firm in defence but on 25 minutes Sandbach had a ruck 10 metres out and the scrum half kicked through for the winger to score in the corner (8-5). Park needed to get some points on the board and from the restart they worked to get the ball back from Sandbach and then put the pressure on in attack with powerful carries by the forwards into the heart of the Sandach defence and pressure took its toll following a number of phases in the Sandbach 22 and on 28 minutes Park spread the ball wide and Will Du Randt stepped through the line to score out second try (13-5). Park were in control at this stage, but the Sandbach defence was strong, but Park continued to stifle their attack and pin them back in their own half. Sandbach indiscipline on 38 minutes gave Cameron Flanagan the opportunity on extend the lead from the boot which he did successfully to round off a great first half performance (16-5).
Half time score 16 - 5
Sandbach got the second half underway and first few minutes were like a pendulum of attack and defence from both sides with penalties to both sides in the middle third of the pitch. Park took advantage with a penalty on 45 minutes on the Sandbach 10 metre line, Park kicked just inside the Sandbach 22 and won the lineout cleanly and set up a driving maul which was illegally brought down by Sandbach and gave Park another opportunity. Park opted for the scrum this time 5 metres out and put a big drive on and push Sandbach over their line and captain Dan Williams controlled the ball at the back of the scrum and scored our third try and extended our lead (21-5). A mistake by Sandbach on the restart gave Park a scrum on the half way line and we won the scrum and Jack Williams got the ball to Alex De Keyzer who passed to full back Will Du Randt who kicked through forcing Sandbach to take the ball in goal and touch the ball down giving Park the scrum on the 5 metre line. The scrum went well again, and the ball came out to the back line but was unfortunately knocked on in contact and allowed Sandbach to clear their lines by running the ball out wide and then chipping the ball in field, but Dan Williams was there to collect the ball. The ball was taken in for a few phases, but we lost possession on phase four with a rushed pass which was judged to have gone forward. This gave Sandbach an opportunity and Sandbach attacked but lost the ball in touch with an error in the back line, but they got another opportunity when Park knocked on in contact following the line out. Sandbach got a penalty at the scrum and kicked for the corner on 55 minutes, they won the line out and set up a driving maul and got within a few metres and recycled the ball and were awarded a penalty try (21-12). Unfortunately, Lewis Owens was shown a yellow during that play. The next 10 minutes were very tense with Park down to 14 men and had to step up their game, but the penalty count went against Park and Sandbach had a period of possession in our 22 but Park held firm and defended every attack. Park were definitely on the wrong end of the penalties and were very much under pressure but defended everything that Sandbach threw at us. Park were stuck in their own 22 and Sandbach had opportunities with a couple of penalties and Lewis Owens was shown a second yellow and Sandbach kept the pressure on and scored their third try (21-19) on 70 minutes. With Park down to 14 again, this was going to be a very tense final 10 minutes. Park dug deep and played as a team and even though were still on the wrong end of penalties we kept defending every attack and when in possession we still showed true grit and determination to close out the game and take a very well-earned win.
This was a fantastic result for the team showing what they can achieve when they work together as a unit with every player putting in a great performance to win a hard-fought game.
Final score WPRFC 21 – 19 Sandbach Team: Will Du Randt, Alex De Keyzer, Riewoldt Teabuge, Lewis Owens, Teddie McCaffery, Cameron Flanagan, Jack Williams, Dan Williams (Captain), Matthew Treacy, Robin Lowndes, Phil Lynch, Johdell Akua, Conor Lapniewski, Eli Fakailoatonga, Joel Gaidan, Joseph Rowlands, Frankie Davenport and Joshua Gibbins
