Sat 13 Dec 2025
Firwood Waterloo v WPRFC
13th December 2025 – Park win a tight game away at Waterloo
Firwood Waterloo 33 – 36 WPRFC
This week Park travelled to Firwood Waterloo (FW) for the return fixture of this season and Park were looking to bounce back after the loss last week and try and do the double at FW following the 58 – 17 win at home 3 months ago. We also had a debut for Lucca Benedetti-Mathews.
Park got the game underway and won the ball from the kick off and set themselves up for an attacking set with strong carries and spreading the ball wide quickly but unfortunately an error with the kick through gave FW the lineout. FW had their own opportunity and showed what they are capable of with quick hands and releasing their back line, but our defence stayed strong. On 6 minutes FW had some possession and field position and got into our 22 with a line break but they spilled the ball and gave Park the opportunity to clear our lines. We secured the ball and ran ourselves out of our half with Dan Williams linking up with Jack Williams and Riewoldt Teabuge, unfortunately we lost the ball forward and FW picked and with two passes out to their winger he went around the defence and stepped inside and scored the first try (7-0). Park regrouped and following a good attacking phase from FW we got a penalty at the ruck on our own 22 through Tom King. On 14 minutes Park had a good attacking phase and with good ball retention we got to the FW 22 but opted to kick through and FW secured the ball and tried to clear their lines but Will Du Randt field the ball on our 22 and made a great run breaking the defensive line and getting through to the FW 22 and passing to support runner Matthew Treacy who passed to Alex De Keyzer who saw Rafael Van Osselaer out wide and passed out to the wing for Rafael Van Osselaer to score a well worked try (7-5). This was a tough game and FW were using their kicking game with a great 50:22 but Park defended the attack and got the penalty for FW indiscipline at the ruck. Park kicked the penalty and won the lineout 10 metres outside our 22, Park attacked FW with great carries from our forwards and Eli Fakailoatonga made a great break and got just outside the FW 22 and we continued to carry through our forwards making FW defend and their indiscipline gave us a penalty and Dan Williams took the quick tap and powered over the line (7-10). , Park fielded the deep restart from FW and Dan Williams made good yards and passed to Robin Lowndes who ran a great line and got us into the FW half and continued attack with power and again more indiscipline from FW gave us a penalty which we kicked for the corner, secured the lineout and set up a driving maul and Eli Fakailoatonga scored another well worked try on 23 minutes (7-17) with Jack Williams adding the conversion. The next 15 minutes were a battle with both sides working hard in defence and attack but neither side could score any points. The last points of the game went to FW who powered over the line from short range a few minutes before half time (14-17).
Half time score 14 - 17
FW restarted the second half and won the ball back in the air and set up an attack but their handling let them down and allowed Park to get themselves out of their own half through Alex De Keyzer who weaved through the defence and linking with Joseph Rowland and Rafael Van Osselaer to make a break but the ball was spilled on the next phase stunting our attack. The first points of the second half came on 47 minutes by FW following a penalty at the ruck which gave them field position, and they attacked Park in the 22 but Park stayed strong in defence and held them up forcing a goal line drop out. We kicked the ball long and FW field the ball and took it into contact, they recycled quickly and a neat off load in the contact released their centre who beat our defence to score and take a slim lead (21-17). This was a really tight game with both sides working tirelessly to gain momentum, but a few unforced errors were hampering both sides efforts. On 58 minutes Park got a scrum on the FW 10 metre line following a knock on and Park secured the ball through Dan Williams who linked up with Will Du Randt and some quick ball through Harry Sheard helped Park stretch the FW defence through six phases of attack with good carries and excellent support, on the seventh phase Riewoldt Teabuge ran a great line across the pitch and across the face of the ruck and Harry Sheard popped the ball to him and he split the defence close to the ruck and beat two defenders to score a great bonus point try with Jack Williams adding the extras to take the lead (21-24). Park lost a bit of momentum and FW stepped up their game and it was a battle of attrition at this point with end-to-end rugby. FW had a breakthrough on 68 minutes when they had a penalty in their own 22 and took it quickly as they saw Park were not set and with a couple of passes out wide, they scored their bonus point try to take back the lead (26-24). On 74 minutes FW had another penalty just inside their half and kicked for touch, they won the lineout and played seven phases into the heart of the Park 22 but Park defended well and held them up forcing a goal line drop out. FW fielded the ball and set up to attack Park through three phases and then a missed tackle allowed FW to score their fifth try and extend their lead (33-24). Park showed great character and responded by defending from the restart and then getting a penalty for FW indiscipline at the ruck, Dan Williams took the quick tap and recycled the ball, and Park went through seven phases of attack through the forwards and the backs, stretching the FW defence. On the eight phase, Eli Fakailoatonga took the ball to the defensive line passed to Dan Williams who shipped it on to Joseph Rowland and he passed to supporting runner Joshua Gibbins who was not going to be stopped and scored to close the gap (33-29). With only 4 minutes or so the clock, this was going to be a very tense finish. FW restarted the game and Park secured the ball and Will Du Randt cleared the ball into touch just inside the FW 10 metre line, Matthew Treach stole the ball at the lineout and Park attacked the FW defence, FW were penalised at the ruck and Phil Lynch took a quick tap and got to the 22. The ball was recycled quickly and Park went through six phases from one side of the pitch to the other and by this point Park had the numerical advantage by sucking in the FW defence and Harry Sheard passed to Jack Williams from the ruck and he saw that there was space outside and he threw a long pass to Eli Fakailoatonga who passed out to Matthew Treacy who scored and excellent try to take the lead and ultimately win the game with Jack Williams adding the conversion (33-36).
This was a very hard-fought game with Park showing their character to win a game away from home in the last few minutes. All credit to the team who really earned the win.
Final score Firwood Waterloo 33 – 36 WPRFC
Team: Will Du Randt, Alex De Keyzer, Riewoldt Teabuge, Joseph Rowland, Rafael Van Osselaer, Jack Williams, Harry Sheard, Dan Williams (Captain), Matthew Treacy, Robin Lowndes, Phil Lynch, Lucca Benedetti-Mathews, Joel Gaidan, Tom King, Eli Fakailoatonga, Teddie McCaffery, Frankie Davenport and Joshua Gibbins
