West Park 1st XV 13 Warrington 1st XV 25 (From St Helens Star)

West Park 1st XV 13 Warrington 1st XV 25

9:41am Monday 18th March 2013 in Sport

 

Despite having to field a heavily depleted team West Park put up a valiant show against top of the table Warrington.

With a little luck the home side’s efforts could have been rewarded with league points had not the visitors scored a last minute try to extend the winning margin beyond the 7pts.

An early try from the visitors was well converted from wide out, but Park were not unduly fazed at going behind, and their continuing pressure was subsequently rewarded with a penalty from Warren Hunt and an excellent try from fly half Lee Rosney which was not converted. Their lead was however short lived as Park were caught offside in front of the posts and the visitors nudged ahead from the resultant penalty to lead by two points at the half time interval.

At this time the score was a fair reflection of a very equal contest and Park could be well satisfied with their first half efforts considering the disruption to more appropriate player selection for the game.

Acting prop Chris Dyson was unable to start the second half due to a head injury, and a relieving kick from Matt Savage was fielded and returned with interest by the visitors whose lively winger rounded his opposite number Hunt with ease to score .

Dyson returned, and was joined by centre Kal Warburton seemingly recovered from the shoulder injury sustained last week, and these additions helped to give West Park fresh impetus as they took the game to the visitors.

Warrington, who have only lost one match in over a year matched Park’s determination, and after an intense period of pressure Park’s magnificent defensive efforts were undone with a try resulting from a series of close range drives by the visitors forwards.

West Park however continues to press and were eventually rewarded with an excellent try as the ball passed through several pairs of hands, the final pass from Savage finding prop Dyson lurking on the wing to score a valuable try and narrow the gap to 7pts.

On the stroke of full time however Park’s luck ran out as an injured player who was also trapped was penalised for not rolling away from the ruck, and with the resultant possession Warrington backs handled well to cross for their fourth if fortuitous try to take maximum points, leaving the home side with nothing to show for their excellent efforts against all odds.

Next week West Park 1st XV entertain Wigan at Red Rocks, kick off 3pm