Sat 11 Sep 2021
After the excellent 19-19 draw vs New Brighton on the opening weekend of the season, the 3rd XV travelled to Ellesmere Port 2nds.
With 11 of last week’s squad unavailable, Park arrived with just 16 players and a pack with a few miles on the clock!
Port looked organised from the off, a well drilled line out and a solid patient forwards game pushing Park back into their half. Scrums went uncontested with the premature departure of Jase to injury and Park had no subs left to rotate players.
With immense tackling around the ruck and disciplined defence all round Park held firm for the 1st quarter. With skipper Tony King drilling a penalty into Port’s 5 meter area (no I didn’t slice it!), Park then applied some lengthy pressure of their own in the Port half. Eventually a penalty in the Port 22 and Park elected a scrum to give the backs a platform. Gareth Lewis crashed into the Port back line and quick ball was spun right for Mike Morrisey to touch down in the corner. King slotting the conversion from the touchline, which would prove vital for the losing bonus point.
Half time, Park up by 7 against the run of play slightly but very much deserved for the huge effort.
Sadly after the restart that effort started to take it’s toll. Port rotated their pack and kept pressing, eventually scoring two tries against the tiring Park team. Also Port’s first team game had an earlier kick off so the home crowd was bolstered for the second half by all their spectators and players. With 20 minutes to go Park lost Nick Canham to injury and were down to fourteen. Park were up against it and the crowd sensed a runaway victory.
This is where the pride came in. Park kept playing, tackled everything that moved and repelled everything thrown at them. With minutes to go Park rolled the dice and launched the backs. Speedster Charlie Dexter breaking the line and accelerating into the space, only to be collared by the Port fullback with a try saving tackle on the 22. Port cleared and that was the last real action as the match ended 14-7 to the home side. Park gaining a losing bonus point as reward for their valour.
Some big positives to take. Youngsters, Morgan Slinger in the back row, Mike Morrissey his first senior try and Joe Lowe showing great potential and tenacity in only his second ever competitive game. Great to have the big man, Kirky, and a certain club legend Pheeno back on the pitch again plus the last minute addition of Liam Gough really added some experience and power.
It’s hard to win a game of rugby when you don’t have a bench and the opposition can rotate their pack with all five subs. I cannot fault the determination and commitment of those who played. To a man we didn’t give up and took the game to the home side. It’s time for the remainder of the playing squad to show the same commitment and make yourself available to both Saturdays and training.
M.o.m. Morgan Slinger. Great energy, tackled his heart out and was still smiling and running hard at the final whistle.
Tony King
