Sat 27 Oct 2018
West Park 1st XV 22 pts V Heaton Moor 1st XV 21 pts
This top of the table fixture proved , as expected, a close and exciting affair, reflected
in the final score. The visitors had the majority of possession, particularly in the first
half, but Park’s strong and determined defence told in the end.
Undefeated on the road so far this season, Heaton Moor were first to break the deadlock
after some 30 mins, when a rare missed tackle during a cross field movement found the
visitors prop forward in space to score a try, which though not converted was added to
moments later with a penalty for offside to provide the visitors with an 8 point lead.
On the stroke of half time a neat pass from scrum half Smith provided space for Park’s
young prop Duddle to squeeze in at the corner for an unconverted try, leaving the half
time score at 8 pts to 5 pts in favour of the visitors.
Early in the second half they stretched that lead with another successful penalty for offside.
After good work by the forwards, Park found their way back into contention as full back
Pape broke through the defence at speed allowing centre Hill to finish with a fine try, but
again not converted.
The visitors aided by Park having a forward sent to the sin bin , used their superior strength
to drive over from a scrum under the posts, the conversion hitting the posts to miss.
Heaton Moor’s pack were becoming increasingly dominant and continued to play a forwards game,
but as they too were reduced to 14 men Park took the lead with a try following a powerful burst by
prop Berry, duly converted by winger Holland.
An expertly fielded kick from defence by Pape was returned at speed, and handled finally by Berry whose pass to the supporting wing Holland brought
a fourth try and bonus point, though the conversion hit the post and thus did not add to the score.
Despite the game being extended by almost 9 mins, Park steadfastly tackled multiple forward
drives by the visitors, but their line was eventually breached wide out in the last seconds, the
attempted conversion being unsuccessful, the hard earned spoils thus going to the home side.
Next week West Park travel to near neighbours and rivals LSH, with a 2.15 pm kick off
This top of the table fixture proved , as expected, a close and exciting affair, reflected
in the final score. The visitors had the majority of possession, particularly in the first
half, but Park’s strong and determined defence told in the end.
Undefeated on the road so far this season, Heaton Moor were first to break the deadlock
after some 30 mins, when a rare missed tackle during a cross field movement found the
visitors prop forward in space to score a try, which though not converted was added to
moments later with a penalty for offside to provide the visitors with an 8 point lead.
On the stroke of half time a neat pass from scrum half Smith provided space for Park’s
young prop Duddle to squeeze in at the corner for an unconverted try, leaving the half
time score at 8 pts to 5 pts in favour of the visitors.
Early in the second half they stretched that lead with another successful penalty for offside.
After good work by the forwards, Park found their way back into contention as full back
Pape broke through the defence at speed allowing centre Hill to finish with a fine try, but
again not converted.
The visitors aided by Park having a forward sent to the sin bin , used their superior strength
to drive over from a scrum under the posts, the conversion hitting the posts to miss.
Heaton Moor’s pack were becoming increasingly dominant and continued to play a forwards game,
but as they too were reduced to 14 men Park took the lead with a try following a powerful burst by
prop Berry, duly converted by winger Holland.
An expertly fielded kick from defence by Pape was returned at speed, and handled finally by Berry whose pass to the supporting wing Holland brought
a fourth try and bonus point, though the conversion hit the post and thus did not add to the score.
Despite the game being extended by almost 9 mins, Park steadfastly tackled multiple forward
drives by the visitors, but their line was eventually breached wide out in the last seconds, the
attempted conversion being unsuccessful, the hard earned spoils thus going to the home side.
Next week West Park travel to near neighbours and rivals LSH, with a 2.15 pm kick off
