Sat 17 Oct 2026
WPRFC v Douglas
17th October 2026 – Park draw an exciting game at home
WPRFC 34 – 34 Douglas
This week Park welcomed Douglas to Stade de Burrows Hill for the first fixture with the IoM club this season. After a tough start to the season Park were looking to bounce back and match the home win against Douglas exactly 9 months ago.
Park started the game playing away from the clubhouse and got into a good rhythm with strong attacking and wanting to play flowing rugby, but this was not going to be an easy game as Douglas always seem a tough and resilient opponent. On 7 minutes Douglas struck first with a charge down of a Park clearance kick from our 22 and they took the lead (0-7). It was not the start we were looking for but we regrouped and worked hard in both attack and defence and were rewarded on 14 minutes with a penalty just inside our half. Park kicked for territory and won the lineout and the ball was taken in by Dan Williams on phase 1 from the centre, the ball was quickly recycled with Joel Gaidan taking the ball into contact and then on phase 3 the ball was off loaded by Harry Dodd to Ross Morrin who sliced through the defence with a great line from the 10 metre line and then off loaded to supporting runner Lachlan Pethybridge who scored under the sticks with Cameron Flanagan adding the extras (7-7). On 21 minutes Park worked hard through the phases and worked into the Douglas 22 with strong carries and great work through the backs but again Ross Morrin was on hand to take the defence on and step through the Douglas line and score a well worked try to take the lead with Cameron Flanagan adding the extras (14-7). Douglas replied on 28 minutes with a well worked try down the right side with the winger scoring from 40 metres out (14-12). Park did have a chance to extend the lead just before half time with a penalty but unfortunately was wide.
Half time score 14 - 12
Douglas kicked of the second half and Park cleared their lines, but Douglas ran a great line and sliced through our defence to score within a minute and take the lead (14-19). Park put that behind them and immediately attacked Douglas in their own half and on 45 minutes Park won a penalty on the Douglas 22 for Douglas holding on at the ruck. Park kicked for the corner and won the lineout; we worked hard through 4 phases through the forwards and then Joel Gaidan picked up and powered over to score a well worked try and take the lead with Cameron Flanagan adding the extras (21-19). This was an arm wrestle of a game with both sides working through the phases and looked like it could down to the wire. Park extended their lead on 55 minutes through Dan Williams following a penalty 30 metres out and Park kicking for territory and the lineout. The line out was won cleanly and Park attacked for 5 phases and won another penalty 15 metres out which Park went for the scrum, Dan Williams picked up from the base of the scrum and went down the short side to score a great try and extend the lead (26-19). 4 minutes later Douglas closed the gap on the scoreboard with another try from a scrum just inside the Park half where they went wide quickly and scored down the right side (26-24). With 20 minutes left on the clock this was going to be a close finish. On 62 minutes after some strong runs from Park into the Douglas defence, Douglas made a high tackle and Cameron Flanagan stepped up to extend the lead from the tee (29-24). On 65 minutes an error by Park 30 metres out gave Douglas a shot at goal and they closed the gap again to within 2 points (29-27). This was going to be a close finish. Douglas worked hard and got their reward on 76 minutes with a well worked try in the corner to take the lead (29-34). Park had to dig deep if they were going to get some points out of this game and in the 78-minute Park had a penalty 30 metres out and elected for the scrum. Park worked through 15 phases before another penalty and yellow card for Douglas, Park took the scrum which was 5 metres out and Dan Williams picked up and went down the short side and passed to Harry Sheard on the wing to score our 5th try in the corner and level the game with the conversion to potentially win the game, unfortunately it was not to be and ended in a draw (34-34).
It was a very close game, but Park put in a much-improved gritty performance to take the game down to the wire.
Final score WPRFC 34 – 34 Douglas
Team: Teddie McCaffery, Dan Davenport, James Wilkinson, Dan Williams, Harry Sheard, Cameron Flanagan, Lachlan Pethybridge, Robin Lowndes, Ben Thorn, James Elliot, Matthew Treacy (captain), Harry Dodd, Joel Gaidan, Tom King, Ross Morrin, Tom Coleman, Ethan Prosser and Tom Lawrence
