Sat 10 Jan 2026
Widnes v WPRFC
10th January 2026 – Park suffer defeat away
Widnes 18 – 8 WPRFC
This week Park travelled to Widnes for the first game of 2026 on a fine and dry January afternoon. With a couple of changes due to unavailability, Park were looking for a good start to the second half of the season.
Park started the game and Widnes had a penalty at the first ruck and took the tap quickly and reset and then went wide with a long cut off pass, but Joe Rowland read the pass and intercepted and gave Park an opportunity to attack just outside the Widnes 22. Park went through 10 phases in the 22 moving the ball well but the Widnes defence stayed strong but ventured offside and gave Park another opportunity which they took the scrum, unfortunately we were held up in the tackle on the second phase and Widnes cleared their lines from the scrum. Park won the lineout and took the ball into contact and then went down the short side with a neat cut out pass from Tom King to Eli Fakailoatonga who drew the winger and passed but the ball did not go to hand and the referee brought the play back for a Widnes offside. Unfortunately, the penalty did not go to touch and Widnes were forced to kick to touch, Park won the lineout cleanly and put in some great phases but a knock on 5 metres out gave Widnes the chance to exit their 22. Park had more of the possession in the early exchanges but could not get over the line and on 20 minutes after a couple of errors, Widnes got some field position and possession and put pressure on the Park defence but Park defended the attack but a penalty gave Widnes the lead when they went for the points (3-0). This was a tense game with very little in it, but Park had the greater possession and territory, but a few errors stunted our attack. Park kept the pressure on and were the more threatening side and on 31 minutes Widnes had a scrum on their 22 following a knock on by Park, Widnes cleared the ball but Jacob Halstein field the ball just on our 10 metre line and who passed out to Alex De Keyzer who beat three defenders from the half way line to score a great try in the corner (3-5). Widnes got some territory and possession and stretched Park with their attack, but Park stayed strong in defence but on 35 minutes we were caught offside in our 22 and Widnes opted for the points to take a slim lead at half time (6-5).
Half time score 6 - 5
The second half got underway, and Park continued to make hard yards through the forwards in the early part of the second half. The game was definitely on a knife edge at this point and either side had opportunities to attack but a few minor errors and composure were affecting the attack. Widnes had an early period of territory and Park had to defend and held them up over the line on 46 minutes. The pressure was on for Park, but we defended well and on 52 minutes a series of penalties and a strong attack through the phases gave Park the opportunity to kick for goal and take a two-point lead (6-8). The next quarter of an hour was a dog fight with a couple of glimpses of what Park could bring but again errors were stunting our ability for points. On 67 minutes Widnes had a free play and kick across field forcing Park to take the ball into touch 5 metres out from our line, Widnes won their lineout and put in three phases through the forwards and scored from close range to take the lead (11-8). This was going to be a close finish and a mistake from the restart gave Widnes the advantage, they kept the pressure on and were in the Park half but Park earned a penalty but were then penalised following the lineout for blocking at the maul. Widnes had the penalty on 75 minutes just inside the Park half and attacked directly down the middle for four phases then their fly half made a break with support from their centre, and they scored under the posts to extend their lead (18-8) and ultimately win the game.
It was a frustrating day for Park in a hard-fought game, and we could not quite break the defence on the day.
Final score Widnes 18 – 8 WPRFC
Team: Alex De Keyzer, Teddie McCaffery, Joseph Rowland, Lewis Owens, Jacob Halstein, Jack Williams, Harry Sheard, Dan Williams (Captain), Matthew Treacy, Robin Lowndes, Johdell Akua, Joel Gaidan, Conor Lapniewski, Tom King, Eli Fakailoatonga, Josh Gibbins, Frankie Davenport and Harry Dodd
