Sat 7 Jan 2023
Birkenhead Park v WPRFC
7th January 2023 – Battle of the Parks
Birkenhead Park 37 – 30 WPRFC
Following a lengthy month long break due to the weather pre-Christmas break, for the first game of 2023 we travelled to fourth in the table Birkenhead Park (BP). We also welcomed our new South African recruit in teenager Evan Boucher for his First XV debut who came off the bench and put in a solid performance and scored a great try on his debut! The conditions were not great in the warm up but the rain held off for the match.
BP started the game strongly with some strong runs, but Park worked hard in defence under pressure from BP and kept the home team out. The first 8 minutes was all BP who maintained the pressure in our half of the field and were rewarded with a penalty on 9 minutes to open up the scoring (3-0). Park finally got some ball, and the forwards made some impact and rewarded with a penalty for a high tackle which Benny Elliot slotted home from 45 metres to level up the score line (3-3). On 14 minutes Park were awarded another penalty for BP holding on in the ruck and Benny Elliot kicked another long-range penalty to take the lead (3-6). BP then stepped up a gear and put the pressure on Park with a sustained attack in our 22 and were rewarded with a well worked converted try on 19 minutes to take the lead (10-6). The next 10 minutes was a battle with both sides working hard in both attack and defence, but BP were edging the kicking game to put us under pressure.
BP continued their pressure on Park and on 31 minutes were rewarded with a penalty 5 metres out which they elected to take the scrum and showed their power and scored a converted try to extend their lead (17-6). Park needed to get a foothold in this game, but BP defended well but indiscipline gave away another penalty and Benny Elliot slotted another to keep the scoreboard ticking over (17-9). A mistake at the restart gave Park a platform off a scrum on the halfway line with Dan Williams picking up from 8 and making 20 metres and quick ball giving our forwards the momentum with Justin Oles and Shaun Underdown making metres with strong runs in the heart of the BP defence. Quick thinking from debutant Evan Boucher at the ruck saw him pick up and score a great try which was converted by Benny Elliot to make it a 1-point game at the break (17-16).
Half time score 17 - 16
BP started the second half strongly with an unconverted try within 2 minutes to extend their lead (22-16). Park stepped up and had a good period of possession and field position but were held up in the tackle and gave away possession, BP capitalised on this and made good ground into the Park half but a forward pass halting their progression. On 53 minutes BP scored again with a well worked converted try following some strong running and missed tackles by Park (29-16). A mistake by Park at the restart gave BP the advantage and they capitalised on this with another unconverted try on 58 minutes to extend their lead further (34-16). At this point Park were definitely on the back foot with 17 unanswered points against us in the first quarter of the second half but Park got a break with BP indiscipline giving us some field position and possession. From the penalty, Benny Elliot kicked for the corner and Park secured the line out and strong drives from Dave Cross and Jack England gave us the momentum and another penalty 10 metres out. Park elected to tap and go and the forwards made the hard yards but just could not break down the BP defence at close quarters so the ball was spun out to Benny Elliot who passed to Charlie Hyde who come off the right wing with a great angled run beating the defence and scoring a converted try to close the gap (34-23).
Park knew that this game was now in the balance and a forward pass by BP gave Park the opportunity to attack from the scrum on the 10-metre line. The scrum was won, and Cameron Flanagan went the short side and Benny Elliot beat the first defender and passed to Charlie Hyde on the right wing who fixed the defender and passed back inside to Benny Elliot on a supporting run to score under the sticks and convert to set up a 4 point last 10 minutes (34-30). Unfortunately, indiscipline from Park at the ruck (side entry) gave away a penalty and BP slotted a long-range kick to extend their lead (37-30). It was to be the last points of the game and although it was a bonus point loss, Park showed some great character and effort against a strong BP side and shows the progression that Park have made so far this season.
Final score Birkenhead Park 37 – 30 WPRFC
Team: Chris Twigg, Liam Geary, Will Morrillo, Tom Merrick, Charlie Hyde, Benny Elliot, Cameron Flanagan, Dan Williams, Jack England, Matt Treacy, Ben Cann, Dave Cross, Shaun Underdown, Justin Oles, Ross Morrin, James Johnson, Gary Dykes and Evan Boucher
