Sat 31 Oct 2026
WPRFC v Firwood Waterloo
31st October 2026 – Park lose in close game at home
WPRFC 26 – 34 Firwood Waterloo
This week Park welcomed Firwood Waterloo (FW) to stade de Burrows Hill for game six of the season and Park were looking for the first win of the season. The conditions were fine and bright and looking forward to a good competitive game of rugby.
Park kicked off the game and immediately got the ball from a tap down by FW, Park attacked on second phase ball and got a penalty 30 metres out which Cameron Flanagan kicked to take the lead (3-0). FW attacked Park and on 3 minutes they were given a penalty which FW went for goal but struck wide of the posts. It was a cagey start to the game, but Park went ahead again on 8 minutes with another penalty for offside 40m out which Cameron Flanagan kicked (6-0). FW closed the gap on scoreboard on 12 minutes following a penalty in the Park 22 which FW kicked for the corner and won the lineout and scored from the driving maul (6-5). Park received a yellow card for the penalty so were down to 14 for the next 10 minutes. 4 minutes later FW extended their lead with their second try when they broke through the line and scored in the corner (6-12). Park had an opportunity to close the gap on 19 minutes from the boot of Cameron Flanagan but unfortunately it was wide of the posts. Park worked hard in attack and defence and forced FW into errors and indiscipline and Park got a penalty on 22 minutes which Cameron Flanagan kicked to close the gap (9-12). This was going to be a close game, and every point would matter and this reflected in both sides taking the points from the boot when offered and FW extended their lead on 27 minutes with a penalty in the Park 22 (9-15). FW extended their lead on 31 minutes with a very well executed try from their own half breaking through the line and scoring in the corner (9-22). Park regrouped and attacked FW on the fringes trying to stretch the defence and worked through the phases and on 36 minutes we got some momentum and played quick rugby in the FW half and after a few forward phases Lachlan Pethybridge seen an opportunity and picked up from the ruck and scored in the corner with the last points of the half (14-22).
Half time score 14 - 22
FW got the second half underway and had a strong start using their kicking game to pin us into our own half and indiscipline by Park in our own 22 gave FW the opportunity and they scored to extend their lead on 42 minutes from close range following a penalty (14-27). FW extended their lead again on 50 minutes with a mistake by Park and FW intercepted an inside pass from the halfway line to score a 7 point try (14-34). At this point of the game Park really needed to work through the phases with possession and territory and on 53 minutes Park had a lineout just outside the FW 22 and took a couple of strong phases in through the forwards and then out through the backs and James Wilkinson chipped through and thought he had scored but not this time but the goal line drop out was taken and driven in by Dylan McDonald and then the ball was recycled quickly and Dan Williams broke through the line and then off loaded a few metres out in the tackle to Robin Lowndes who scored in the corner (19-34). The next 18 minutes was a real arm wrestle with both sides fighting for every bit of possession and territory but neither side scored any points. On 74 minutes Park got into the FW 22 from a penalty and kicked for the corner, won the lineout and set up the driving maul, unfortunately we did not score but had another opportunity from the goal line drop out. We took the ball from the goal line drop out and worked through the phases with five strong forward carries and then Dan Williams ran a great line and scrum half Lachlan Pethybridge popped the ball to Dan Williams who scored a well worked try with Cameron Flanagan adding the extras (26-34). Park finished strongly but could not quite close the gap in the last few minutes of the game.
This was a very tough day with both sides having to work hard for every point and again it was another improvement from the whole Park squad.
Final score WPRFC 26 – 34 Firwood Waterloo
Team: Jacob Halstein, James Wilkinson, Dan Williams, Jack Williams, James Elliott, Cameron Flanagan, Lachlan Pethybridge, Robin Lowndes, Matthew Treacy (captain), Robin Lowndes, Luke Westgate, Dylan McDonald, Harry Dodd, Joel Gaidan, Tom Coleman, Ross Morrin, Ben Thorn, Ethan Prosser and Aiden Flanagan
