Sat 28 Jan 2023
WPRFC v Vale of Lune
28th January 2023 – Park taken to the wire for a win at home
WPRFC 42 – 36 Vale of Lune
This week Park welcomed Vale of Lune (VoL) to Stade de Burrows Hill for the return fixture of the league, with Vale of Lune currently mid-table. Park needed the win to overturn the defeat to VoL away from home back in October. The conditions were good and promised to be a good game with a big home crowd supporting all three senior teams at home.
With the game underway, Park had the early possession and the back line making ground with Liam Geary taking the ball into the opposition 22 but a spill forward halted an early attack. Park continued to attack and were awarded a penalty on 4 minutes which Benny Elliot converted to open up the scoring account (3-0). From the restart VoL showed their intention with strong tackles and turned the ball over and attacked Park but could not execute as an error stunted their attack but Park won the scrum and Alex Burrage made ground with a great run but the ball was lost forward. VoL scrummaged well but errors were preventing them from making any headway in the early exchanges but on 22 minutes they had a scrum 5 metres out from the Park try line and scored a converted try on the second phase with a walk in from the ruck (3-7). On 26 minutes Park were awarded a penalty try and a VoL yellow card following a great break by Charlie Hyde who chipped through towards the VoL try line and Benny Elliot was pushed off the ball to prevent a try (10-7). VoL responded within a few minutes with an easy intercept try following a loose pass by Park on our own 22 (10-12). From the restart, Justin Oles picked up a loose ball and powered into the VoL 22 and Dave Cross picked up and dived over the try line but was disallowed due to an injury. Park put this behind them and kicked for corner and won the lineout and Justin Oles powered over to score a converted try in the corner (17-12). A mistake by Park at the restart gave VoL a scrum on the 22 and Park could not quite get the ball away and were caught holding on in the ruck and VoL kicked for the corner from the penalty. VoL won the lineout and scored a converted try off the back of the maul (17-19). The last points of a very entertaining first half came from the boot of VoL to extend their lead (17-22).
Half time score 17 - 22
Park restarted the second half and a poor box kick by VoL was cleaned up by Gary Dykes who took the ball into contact and Park attacked VoL but they spilled the ball forward from the counter ruck. Park won the scrum and Dan Williams took the ball into contact and then Park quickly recycled the ball from Cameron Flanagan to James Johnson who connected with Chris Twigg and a lovely pass to Charlie Hyde who beat the winger and scored a great well worked try in the corner to level the game on 42 minutes (22-22). Park put VoL under pressure and Liam Geary blocking a VoL clearance kick gave Park some territory and Justin Oles making a tackle on the 22 won the ball in the ruck and the ball was quickly recycled with Dan Williams denied a try with a foot in touch. The game was certainly in the balance but VoL were persistent in their attack and defence and were rewarded on 51 minutes with a converted try to take the lead with an easy walk in (22-29). This was further extended by VoL with a breakaway converted try on 55 minutes following a turnover in the Park half (22-36).
Park were on the back foot but worked hard at the breakdown to win a penalty and kick for territory, the lineout was secured and Evan Boucher powered through the defence on the first phase and ran 30 metres but was tackled 5 metres out but Dave Cross quickly recycled the ball to Benny Elliot who passed to James Johnson who put Alex Burrage into the corner for a well worked unconverted try and a try bonus point (27-36). Park were now on the front foot and with some great hard yards made by Tom King the ball was spun out wide through the backs and Charlie Hyde made 30 metres with a great run to put Park just short of the 22 and again Tom King and Matt Treacy taking the ball into contact and with quick recycling from Cameron Flanagan to Benny Elliot who put Justin Oles into a gap with a great direct run to score a converted try to put us within two points (34-36). VoL had an opportunity to extend their lead from the boot on 65 minutes but was wide of the posts. On 67 minutes both sides fell foul of indiscipline with a yellow card for each team and with the game in the balance it was going to be a tense finish. Park dug deep and with strong carries by the forwards made ground and put VoL under pressure and Benny Elliot made a great break to get us into the VoL 22 and the ball was quickly recycled through a couple of phases by Dan Williams and Justin Oles and then the ball was spun out to James Johnson who picked up the ball and passed to Alex Burrage who again put Charlie Hyde into the corner for our sixth try of the game which was not converted (39-36). The final points of the game came from the boot of Benny Elliot who kicked the penalty to secure the win in the final kick of the game. A tough win with some great tries and again an improved performance from Park to move up to 9th place in the league.
Final score WPRFC 42 – 36 Vale of Lune
Team: Chris Twigg, Liam Geary, Alex Burrage, James Johnson (Captain), Charlie Hyde, Benny Elliot, Cameron Flanagan, Dan Williams, Matt Treacy, Gary Dykes, Dave Cross, Ben Cann, Shaun Underdown, Justin Oles, Ross Morrin, Tom King, Jack England and Evan Boucher
