Sat 7 Nov 2026
Widnes v WPRFC
7th November 2026 – Park win away at Widnes
Widnes 22 – 32 WPRFC
This week Park travelled to Widnes looking for our first win of the season on a fine and dry November afternoon. We have not had a win against Widnes for the last two seasons, so it was going to be another hard-fought game.
Park kicked off the game and immediately were penalised at the first ruck for being caught on the wrong side and Widnes kicked for territory with the lineout on the Park 10 metre line. Widnes went through the phases and looked to go wide quickly but lost the ball and Park kicked through but Widnes picked and countered and the ball went to the winger who ran down the touch line and scored on 2 minutes (7-0). Widnes continued to play quick rugby and using their backs to stretch the Park defence and they did this on 5 minutes on the opposite wing to score their second try in quick succession (14-0). The game settled down in the next 15 minutes, and Park did get some opportunities, but we could not quite string it together and with a few penalties against us and a few errors we could not get a foot hold in the game. Widnes extended their lead on 23 minutes from the tee following a penalty for a high tackle (17-0). This was starting to look like a very difficult day but Park had a penalty on the half way line and Dan Williams took in quickly and went through the hands to Cameron Flanagan and Joe Rowland and then to James Wilkinson, the ball was recycled quickly and Widnes indiscipline at the ruck gave away another penalty and yellow card which Park kicked for the corner. Park won the lineout and Dan Williams powered through to score our first try with Cameron Flanagan adding the extras (17-7). Widnes kept the pressure on with the help of a few Park penalties and they got with a metre of the line, but Park stood firm and won the ball through a Dan Williams jackal. Unfortunately our clearance penalty did not go to touch and Widnes ran the ball into contact but Park held him up and got the scrum, we won the scrum and Dan Williams picked up and passed to Lachlan Pethybridge who kicked through for a lovely 50:22. Lachlan took it quickly but a Widnes player got in the way and gave away a penalty which Lachlan took quickly and Ross Morrin took the ball to 5 metres out Widnes gave away another penalty which Park took the scrum and Dan Williams picked up from the back of the scrum and passed to Lachlan Pethybridge who scored with Cameron Flanagan adding the conversion (17-14). Park were dominating the scrums and with only a few minutes before half time we won a scrum penalty and kicked for the corner, the lineout was not clean but we secured the ball and were patient going through six phases until we were a metre out and Ross Morrin powered over from short range to take the lead at half time (17-21).
Half time score 17 - 21
If the first half was anything to go by then this was going to be a great second half. Widnes restarted the second half and were out the blocks quicker than Park with pressure and territory and then a high tackle by Jack Williams gave away a penalty 10 metres out and a yellow card. Widnes went through the phases and got another penalty, but Park stood firm and turned the ball over and cleared their lines. This was a battle of attrition with both sides working hard but with the one player advantage Widnes had more possession and territory, but Park were defiant in defence. It took Widnes 10 minutes before they broke the dead lock and scored on 52 minutes to take the lead by one point (22-21). With Park back to 15 players, they really needed to turn territory into points and on 57 minutes Park won a penalty with another jackal this time by Robin Lowndes. Cameron Flanagan stepped up and kicked the penalty to take back the lead (22-24). Park continued to pressure Widnes and another jackal by Ethan Prosser gave Park the opportunity for territory which they won the lineout and attacked Widnes with quick ball and within two phases Wides were caught off side and Cameron Flanagan kicked the penalty to extend the lead (22-27) on 63 minutes. Park were in the lead and were dominating large parts of the game but we needed another score to secure a win and a try bonus point but Widnes would not give up that easy and continued to attack Park and get into the right part of the field to take the lead but Park were defiant in defence and won crucial penalties to get out of their own half. This was such a close finish but Park were determined on coming away with the points and on 78 minutes we had a scrum on our own 10 metre line and won the scrum with Dan Williams picking up from the scrum and then going the short side and got into the 22 before kicking through but Widnes secured the ball and passed along the back line but knocked the ball on 5 metres from their line. Park had the scrum right in front of the posts and secured the ball with Dan Williams passing to Lachlan Pethybridge and then a long pass out to James Elliott on the wing who scored a great winning try (22-32).
It was a slow start for Park in the first 25 minutes, but we fought hard and played great rugby and came away with our first win of the season and the first win against Widnes.
Final score Widnes 22 – 32 WPRFC
Team: Teddie McCaffery, James Wilkinson, Joseph Rowland, Jack Williams, James Elliott, Cameron Flanagan, Lachlan Pethybridge, Dan Williams, Ben Thorn, Robin Lowndes, Matthew Treacy (Captain), Gary Dykes, Joel Gaidan, Tom Coleman, Ross Morrin, Jacob Halstein, Ethan Prosser and Luke Westgate
