Sat 11 Feb 2023
Broughton Park v WPRFC
11th February 2023 – Seven Try Park wins away from home
Broughton Park 20 – 48 WPRFC
This week Park were away at 11th in the table Broughton Park (BP) on a fine February day. Park were looking for another win to ensure we maintain position in the league and finish the season strongly.
The game kicked off by Park but were penalised with an infringement at the ruck and BP had some early possession and spun the ball out wide and into the Park 22 but Park picked up a loose ball and cleared their lines. BP continued to attack but Park defended strongly and chip through by BP was picked up by Benny Elliot and kicked down field into the BP 22 only for BP to knock on. This gave Park a scrum in a great position to attack and Park secured the scrum and with great hands through the backs Liam Geary beat two defenders to score our first converted try (0-7). A few minutes later, Park were penalised for not rolling away at the breakdown and BP kicked the penalty to close the early gap (3-7). Park was looking the stronger side and had all the possession and territory and on 13 minutes Justin Oles powered over from short range to score an unconverted try to extend the lead (3-12). BP started to get some possession and with a few errors from Park, BP kicked for the corner and attacked Parks line and rewarded with a close range try which was converted (10-12).
On 20 minutes Park indiscipline put us down to 14 with Shaun Underdown shown the yellow card and BP got some field position and pressured Park with a kick through on a loose ball and forcing a goal line drop out. BP kept the pressure on within the Park 22 and were awarded a penalty for Park being offside and successfully kicked the penalty to take the lead (13-12). From the restart Park put the pressure on with strong forward carries which took their toll on BP and Park recycled the ball quickly and put Charlie Hyde in the corner for our third try following some great hands through the backs (13-17). Park were certainly in the driving seat now and on 35 minutes a penalty and further 10 metres for BP indiscipline gave Park a lineout just inside the BP 22, Park won the lineout and set up a maul and then spun the ball out wide to Liam Geary who was tackled 5 metres out but Park recycled the ball quickly and Benny Elliot passed to Justin Oles who ran a great line and scored his second try of the game which was converted by Benny Elliot also securing a try bonus point (13-24). Park was not giving BP any room to play with the Park forwards closing every play down with good line speed. The final points of the half came from a scrum on the half way line which was spun out wide and up stepped Charlie Hyde who showed his pace and chipped forward to collect his own kick and score in the corner (13-31) which was converted by Benny Elliot.
Half time score 13 - 31
The first quarter of the second half was a more cagey affair with both sides having field position and territory but not being able to convert to points with errors slowing down the game and becoming a bit disjointed. The deadlock was broken on 52 minutes with BP scoring their second try which was converted successfully (20-31). On 64 minutes Evan Boucher was shown a yellow card for Park for taking a player out at the ruck and we needed to work hard against BP who again started to put together a few attacks but Park stood firm and still controlled the game.
Park kept the pressure on BP with a good kicking game and forcing a goal line drop out and on 65 minutes Park were awarded a penalty for BP indiscipline and Benny Elliot successfully kicked the penalty to extend the lead (20-34). From the restart Park won the ball and on the second phase Benny Elliot saw a gap in the defensive line and beating three defenders to score from 10 metres inside our own half for a great solo try which converted successfully (20-41). The game became a bit scrappy in parts and BP indiscipline cost them dearly in the last quarter of the game with two yellow cards but at this point the game was already won. BP still worked hard to gain any sort of foothold in the game and were aided with Park indiscipline giving away penalties which BP tried to take advantage but Park were too strong and another penalty in the Park 22 was taken quickly but Park ripped the ball in contact and kicked forward into the arms of a BP player but Park won the counter ruck with Evan Boucher coming away the ball 10 metres inside our half and then offloaded to Justin Oles on the half way line who powered to score his try hattrick and our seventh try of the game, Benny Elliot added the conversion to round off an impressive win (20-48).
An impressive performance all round from Park with a well-earned win away from home and also securing a 5 point win in the league which will give us confidence in the final few games of the season.
Final score Broughton Park 20 – 48 WPRFC
Team: Chris Twigg, Liam Geary, Alex Burrage, James Johnson (Captain), Charlie Hyde, Benny Elliot, Cameron Flanagan, Ross Morrin, Justin Oles, Shaun Underdown, Dave Cross, Gary Dykes, Evan Boucher, Jack England, Dan Williams, Will Morrillo, Matt Treacy, Jake Cornwell
