DESPITE suffering another defeat, West Park can take some comfort from an improved performance against
an established Wilmslow side, the score perhaps being much closer if they had played to their potential and
controlled the ball to better effect when in possession.
The home side had the lion’s share of possession, especially in the first half, but some excellent defensive work
particularly by the visitors backs kept the visitors score line to just two penalties until just prior to half time.
After falling behind to an early penalty, the visitors added one of their own from full back John Pape, and shortly
afterwards took the lead with a try from winger Lee Rosney who gathered a kick from scrum half Adam Smith
to outpace the cover defence to score wide out.
The try was not converted , but another penalty conceded by Park saw the Wilmslow fly half MacCallum successful, reducing the visitor’s lead to only two points.
Wilmslow’s greater possession proved advantageous, and despite a valiant defensive effort, the visitors fell
behind when No 8 Taylor finished off a good cross field move to score a try that MacCallum converted.
On the stroke of half time, as the visitors were very much getting back into the game, Park won a scrum against
the head only to see the ball turned over in the tackle, gathered by the home side and re-cycled across the back
line for full back Westaway to cross wide out, leaving the score at half time at 18-8.
The second half proved a much more evenly contested affair, although the visitors were too often guilty of
uncharacteristically losing possession in both loose play and line out play.
West Park however reduced the deficit to only three points with an excellent try by 2nd row Lewis Harris who
followed up his own charge down to scamper over from 25 metres, John Pape converting.
Despite a fair share of the game at this point, and showing courage and commitment, unforced errors often
saw the visitors promising attack break down, and from one of these a penalty was awarded to the home side
who kicked into touch only 5 metres from Park’s try line.
Winning the line out Wilmslow forwards drove over from close range, No 8 Taylor getting his second try which MacCallum converted, to stretch their lead to 10 pts and deny the visitors anything from the game as time ran out.
Next week Northwich are he visitors to Red Rocks, renewing a contest from last season, but one in which West Park this season can confidently compete.
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