Sat 26 Sep 2026
WPRFC v Burnage
26th September 2026 – Park suffer loss at home in first game of the delayed season
WPRFC 38 – 54 Burnage
This week Park welcomed Burnage to The Will Glendinning Memorial Ground for the delayed start to the 2026-27 season. We welcome Lachlan Pethybridge, Ethan Prosser and Sam Lilley for club debuts.
Park kicked off the game and the new season and immediately claimed the ball through captain Matt Treacy and attacked Burnage but were turned over on the second phase after some good forward interplays. Burnage had the opportunity to attack Park and put a number of phases together slowly working up the pitch but knocked on just outside the Park 22. Both sides were working hard in both attack and defence, but early errors were stunting any platform in the early stages. Park broke the dead lock on 17 minutes following a good period of possession and territory and getting into the Burnage 22 with a little chip through which Burnage knocked into touch. Park won the lineout and set up a maul then went down the short side and recycled quick to Ross Morrin who powered over from short range with Cameron Flanagan added the conversion (7-0). Burnage levelled the scores 4 minutes later from a lineout in the Park 22 which they won and scored on the second phase attack (7-7). Park retook the lead on 25 minutes following a penalty at the scrum from the Burnage scrum half which Park kicked for territory and won the lineout and the forwards made yards on the first 3 phases and then offload from Ross Morrin to supporting second row Frank Gibbons to score and Cameron Flanangan to add the conversion (14-7). 5 minutes later Burnage levelled the scores from short-range following a Park penalty and a Burnage lineout in the Park 22 (14-14). Park took the lead again on 35 minutes through Ross Morrin following a period of pressure from Park in the Burnage 22 (19-14). Unfortunately, Burnage scored on 39 minutes to take the lead into the second half by 2 points (19-21).
Half time score 19 - 21
Burnage restarted the second half and immediately extended their lead on 42 minutes following a couple of Park penalties which gave Burnage the territory to attack and score under the posts (19-28). Burnage extended their lead further on 45 minutes with a breakaway try from a penalty in their own 22 following Park getting into a good position in the Burnage 22 (19-33). Park worked hard and rewarded on 49 minutes with a try from debutant scrum half Lachlan Pethybridge after a sustained attack by Park with some great phase play and putting Burnage under pressure and forcing them in to giving away a penalty 10 metres out which Park went for the scrum with two phases and Lachlan Pethybridge dived over from short range (24-33). This was a rollercoaster of a game, but Burnage extended their lead again in a short period on 53 and 57 minutes to possibly take the game away from Park (24-47). Park had to dig deep now and worked hard in attacking Burnage and getting into field position which they did on 61 minutes, and Robin Lowndes scored off the back of the scrum following Burnage indiscipline and a penalty 5 metres out (31-47). Both sides continued to work hard in both defence and attack but a few errors were hampering our game but on 70 minutes we closed the scoreboard gap through a hattrick try from Ross Morrin following a penalty on our 10 metre line which we kicked to touch and won the lineout after losing it initially but Joel Gaidan winning the ball back in the ruck, Park then went through 8 phases to grind their way to within a few metres and Ross Morrin taking a short ball from the ruck to score (38-47). Unfortunately, this was not the last points of the day as Burnage scored the final points on 76 minutes to round off a 14 try game with a win (38-54).
This was a good game of rugby in parts by Park, but both teams suffered with errors at times which reflected in the scoreline.
Final score: WPRFC 38 – 54 Burnage
Team: Jacob Halstein, Teddie McCaffery, Dan Davenport, Jack Williams, Charlie Dexter, Cameron Flanagan, Lachlan Pethybridge, Robin Lowndes, Ben Thorne, Matthew Treacy, Frank Gibbons, Harry Dodd, Joel Gaidan, Tom King, Ross Morrin, Ethan Prosser, Sam Lilley and James Wilkinson
