Sat 7 Dec 2019
WPRFC v Anselmians
After a week off Park were keen to resume winning ways and were in for a tough match against Anselmians who are fifth in the league with eight points difference between the teams.
Within two minutes of the start Park were on the back foot with Anslemians backs looking sharp passing the ball down the line to create a overlap and score in the corner the kick was missed.
The game settled but ten minutes in Park conceded a penalty for holding on in the tackle the penalty was kicked.
Park wows continued with some poor tackling allowed the visitors to coast in through the middle and score under the posts. The kick was converted.
Anselmians continued with the pressure playing some attractive rugby in the backs and again broke through with ease and scored again under the posts and kicked the conversion.
Park had still not started to play anywhere like they can and Anselmians were back on the scoreboard after winning there line out ball and slipping the ball down the blindside to score in the corner. The kick was missed.
The game went bad to worse with prop forward Shaun Underdown being shown the yellow card for decent.
Anselmians continued to play attractive rugby and with some further powerful running by there backs to score and convert the kick.
This was beginning to look like a whitewash with 34 points to nil but with Shaun Underdown back on with minutes to go till half time he mustered the troops and the pack drove over for the first points of the match with Underdown touching down. The kick was converted with the score finishing at 7 to 34 at half time with some work to do to get back into the game.
Park started the second half like a new team and scored the fist points with pressure on the Anselmians line and for powerhouse Shaun Underdown to go over for his second try. The kick was converted.
Park continued the pressure and again with some good ball handling across the pitch linking in Shaun Underdown who powered over the try line with three players trying to take him down. The kick was converted and the crowd were in for an exiting last 30 minutes.
The visitors composed themselves and again with some strong running from there backs were allowed in after some poor tackling for another try under the posts. The kick was converted.
Park replied straight away with a try with Joe Cook bursting through a gap after some strong mauling from the Park forwards. The kick was converted.
Unfortunately Park took there eye off the ball and allowed the visitors back in again with a further try.
Shortly after a Anselmians player was given a yellow card and Park capitalised with the penalty 10 metres out Dan Williams went over the line in the corner. The kick was missed and it looked like Park could possibly do the unthinkable and pinch this game from the visitors.
With five minutes to go Park pushed forward with some good running with the ball down the backs for Jimmy Moran to go over the touch line but the kick was missed.
The score was to end 38 to 48 and a entertaining second half for the spectators.
Coach Farr said, It was a very disappointing first half the players took 30 minutes to get into the game and get focused and this was to late with an up hill battle to get back into the game. We played well in the second half and looked like a different team.
Shaun Underdown had a fantastic game along with Gary Dykes who tackled his heart out today. I am disappointed with the loss and the team need to play and be focused from the start of the game if we are to stay in this league which is tough."
Team:
Mike Eaves,Jake Cornwell, Shaun Underdown, Matt Treacy, Dan Williams ,Dave Cross (Captain), Sam Brookes, Cameron Flanagan,Chris Twigg , Alex Burrage, Gary Dykes,Dan Berg,Matt Cross ,Matt Fowler and Luke Cannings
Replacements: Alex Glendinning,Joe Cook and Jimmy Moran.
