Sat 18 Feb 2023, 14:15
WPRFC v Wilmslow
19th February 2023 – Bonus point win home
WPRFC 33 – 17 Wilmslow
This week Park were at home to bottom of the table Wilmslow in the return fixture. With the end of the league season in sight, Park were looking for a strong finish to cement their position in this league and build on recent strong performances. In contrast, Wilmslow were looking for a win to lift them off the foot of the table as their last win was against Park in mid-November.
Wilmslow kicked off the game and within the first minute Shaun Underdown was forced off the field with knock to the knee so Tom King was on the field early. Wilmslow started strongly with strong carries and were awarded an early penalty but Park defended well and exited their 22 to relieve the pressure. Park got a bit of ball and with some strong carries from Ross Morrin, Gary Dykes and Alex Burrage got us field position and forced Wilmslow to concede a penalty on 7 minutes which Benny Elliot kicked to open up the scoring account (3-0). From the restart, Park tried to go wide early with a missed pass but it was read by Wilmslow who scored an easy intercept try on 9 minutes which they converted to take the lead (3-7). The game became a battle for the next 20 minutes with both sides having a good amount of possession but both sides defended well and didn’t allow much opportunity. Park broke the dead lock on 29 minutes having attacked the Wilmslow defence and were gaining metres on every carry but Wilmslow indiscipline gave away a penalty in their own 22 and Park went for the corner. The resultant line out was won cleanly and the driving maul worked well with Tom King scoring a converted try to take the lead (10-7). Park were now taking control of the game and again Wilmslow indiscipline gave Benny Elliot the opportunity to extend the lead with another penalty on 34 minutes (13-7). Wilmslow did not lie down and scored an unconverted try on just before half time with some great running from their back line to close the gap to one point (13-12).
Half time score 13 - 12
From the restart the game was still a cagey affair with both sides having a fair share of possession and territory but Wilmslow struck first in the second half with another quick back line move to score an unconverted try on 49 minutes to take the lead (13-17) but this was going to be their last points of the game as Park started to dominate the game. With Park in control of the game, we worked through the phases to gain field position with strong carries from all our forwards which put Wilmslow under pressure and forced them to give away penalties and with a penalty 5 metres out from the Wilmslow try line Park opted for the scrum and with quick ball James Johnson put Chris Twigg into space who ran a great line through the Wilmslow defence to score in the corner and put us back into the lead (18-17). From the restart Park secured the ball but a high clearance gave the ball back to Wilmslow who tried to slow the game down but a poor pass was intercepted by James Johnson and Park attacked Wilmslow with some pin point back line passing through the hands to Charlie Hyde who had a lot to do but chipped through from outside the 22 and won the foot race to score a well worked try in the corner which was converted by Benny Elliot (25-17). The bonus point try came on 65 minutes following a sustained attack on the Wilmslow try line which forced the penalty and Park opted for the scrum which was won and Cameron Flanagan picked up and passed to Benny Elliott who put Charlie Hyde into the corner for an unconverted try (30-17). Wilmslow did not back down and continued to work hard in defence and Park could not find that 5th try but the final points of the game came from the boot of Benny Elliot who kicked the penalty one minute from full time (33-17).
An impressive second half performance all round from Park with a well-earned win at home against a team who do not play like a team at the bottom of the table. A great result for Park securing a 5 point win in the league which will give us confidence in the final few games of the season.
Final score WPRFC 33 – 17 Wilmslow
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, Matt Treacy, Dan Williams, Tom King, Jake Cornwell and Ben Cann
