Sat 22 Oct 2022
WPRFC v Bowdon
22nd October 2022 – Park pays the price for indiscipline
WPRFC 17 – 34 Bowdon
This week Park welcomed Bowdon to Stade de Burrows Hill who currently sit mid table in the league. The conditions were fine and dry, and a reshuffled Park side were looking for a second win in a tough league, unfortunately captain James Johnson was ruled out through injury just before the game and Park started with a reduced bench with Shaun Underdown stepping back up to captain.
With the game underway, Bowdon had more of the ball in the early exchanges and put pressure on Park but a knock on by Bowdon gave Park a chance to clear their lines from the scrum 5 metres out, but Bowdon won the scrum against the head and scored their first try in the corner (0-5). The restart by Park did not go 10 so the possession was given away and some missed tackles in mid field gave Bowdon possession and territory, but Park cleared their lines. Bowdon continued to pressure Park and scored their second try off a scrum in the Park 22 (0-10) to increase their lead within the first 15 minutes. Park started to get some possession and territory but indiscipline at the ruck was giving Bowdon a platform to attack from penalties.
Park put pressure on Bowdon and a chip over got Park into the 22 but Bowdon collected the ball and broke through the mid-field and made a break only to be brought down by Justin Oles who chased back and made the tackle 10 metres from the Park line but the damage was done and Bowdon recycled the ball and scored their third try (0-15) on 27 minutes. Park needed to reset and start playing their own game and a penalty gave us field position in the Bowdon 22 but even with a number of penalties in the Bowdon 22 Park could not get over the line and errors were giving Bowdon the chance to clear their lines.
Half time score 0 - 15
The second half started with Park being penalised for holding just on in the ruck just outside our 22 and Bowdon kicked the penalty to extend their lead (0-18). From the kick off Bowdon broke through the mid-field, but the ball was turned over and break from the Park half saw us into the Bowdon 22 and with great phase play Park scored an unconverted try in the corner with Shaun Underdown driving over the line on 12th phase of ball (5-18). Park started to get some good rhythm going with the forwards starting to break the gain line and make good ground and with a penalty at the ruck Park were in the Bowdon 22 and with the line out secured Park scored in the corner with an unconverted try from Jack Williams to reduce the deficit (10-18) on 47 minutes. Indiscipline allowed Bowdon to extend their lead with three penalties within kicking range which hurt Park (10-27) in the first quarter of the second half.
Bowdon struck again on 60 minutes with a further converted try to extend their lead further (10-34). Park fought back with a penalty to take us into the Bowdon 22 but were held up over the line, but Park kept up the pressure as pride was at stake now. With lineout just outside the Bowdon 22 which was won cleanly by Matt Treacy, Park launched an attack into the Bowdon mid-field and then quick ball to full back Chris Twigg who found Will Morrillo on the wing who took the tackle and passed back inside to Chris Twigg to score Parks third try which was converted by Benny Elliot (17-34). It was an improved performance by Park with a much better set piece, but indiscipline cost us with a high penalty count allowing Bowdon to capitalise from the boot.
Final score WPRFC 17 – 34 Bowdon
Team: Chris Twigg, Charlie Hyde, Alex Burrage, Jack Williams, Will Morrillo, Benny Elliot, Cameron Flanagan, Jack England, James Wood, Gary Dykes, Jake Cornwell, Matt Treacy, Shaun Underdown (Captain), Justin Oles, Ross Morrin, Dave Cross and Tom King
