Sat 12 Oct 2019
Rochdale v WPRFC 12/10/19
Park were hoping for a victory after two defeats but knew this was going to be a tough away game.
Within three minutes of the start Park were on the back foot with some good ball handling from the Rochdale backs saw them with an overlap to score the first try f the day and Park looked a bit shaky. the kick was converted.
Park could have narrowed the gap with a penalty for a high tackle but Cameron Flanagan failed to take the points.
Rochdale pushed hard and Park soaked up the pressure but the line was breached.
Rochdale kicked through and under pressure Park kicked the ball out to touch. Rochdale had a six man line out 20 metres out from Park try line. They won the line and drove over to score their second try. The kick was converted.
Park kept their composure and this paid off with the backs running the ball out from their own twenty two passing it down the line at pace then back inside for Chris Twigg to sprint over the line. The kick was converted by Cameron Flanagan.
Park came straight back at Rochdale and were awarded a penalty for a high tackle but rather than go for points went for a scrum 10 yards from the home teams try line. The tackler was given a yellow card.
Jake Cornwell the 18 year old hooker developing after every game was replaced by Andrew Evans as a result of an injury to his neck
Park failed to capitalise at the scrum but were awarded a further penalty for another high tackle and went for the points which were duly converted by Cameron Flanagan finish the first half 14 to 10.
The second half started with captain Dave Cross being replaced by Dan Snowden as a result of a blow to his neck area and had treatment.
Rochdale had the opportunity to go further ahead with a penalty but failed to convert and within minutes were given a further penalty for not releasing the ball and this time took the three points.
Park responded straight away with another high tackle on a Park player and Cameron Flanagan took the points to make it 17 to 13.
Rochdale got a penalty for a Park player being off-side but failed to convert.
Captain Dave Cross returned to the field and Dan Snowden came off.
Thirty minutes in Rochdale had a player sent off for kicking a Park player on the ground and within minutes a great run from his own half no 8 Dan Williams sprinted and darted through the Rochdale defence then kicked through and with a bit of luck the ball bounced off a Rochdale player,Williams caught the ball and off loaded to Alex Glendinning who dived over the line under the posts. Cameron Flanagan converted the points for Park to go into the lead by three points.
Rochdale composed themselves and came straight back at Park and scored the last points of the game converting the kick to go ahead 24 to 20.
Coach Farr made some changes bringing back on Dan Snowden for Mike Eaves and Charlie Smith for his first team debut for Dan Berg but the was not to be for Park and the game finished 24 to 20.
Coach Farr said "This was always going to be a tough game. We played far better than we did last week and the lads will be disappointing they did not come away with the win today. We again punched above our weight with a bigger and heavier pack but we made some silly mistakes and this cost us the game. When we went ahead with less than ten minutes to go Rochdale composed themselves and did the basics right we made the wrong options either holding onto the ball to long or panicking in the offload. This is a tough league and we need to mature and keep the discipline for 80 minutes to take the advantage in tight games."
Park are at home to Sefton next week and hopefully will get back to winnings ways.
Squad:
Mike Eaves, Jake Cornwell, Shaun Underdown, Dave Cross, Matt Treacy, Gary Dykes, Alex Glendinning,Dan Williams,Dan Berg, Alex Burrage, Ryan Williams, Cameron Flanagan,Luke Cannings, Chris Twigg and Josh Gibbons
Replacements:Charlie Smith,Dan Snowden and Andrew Evans.
