Prenton 15 - Parkonians 18

Prenton 15 - Parkonians 18

Scorers - Tries - Lee Rafferty and Connor Graves
            - Conversions - B Horton x1
            - Penalties - B Horton x1

A week of torrential rain resulted in tough playing conditions last saturday with plenty of water still on the pitch despite sunny yet cool weather. However as always in this local derby it was a closely fought battle in front of a bumper crowd at the Dell.

This was evident in the number of handling errors made by both sides in what was a lacklustre first half of rugby. Old Parks were first to break the dead lock with a well worked passage of play resulting in a penalty kick. 3-0.  This was closely followed by a Prenton penalty which was also successfully converted by Barry Horton. Further handling errors and more than a few missed tackles allowed the visitors to cross the whitewash for a try from the fullback. Conversion missed, 8-3 Parkonians. An Old Parks error from the restart allowed Prenton optimum field position to take advantage of some well drilled dynamic forward play and drive Lee Rafferty over for a try before half time (his first for the 1st XV). Convertion successful from Barry Horton. 10-8 to the hosts at the break.

The second half started in the same way as the first with numerous handling errors from both teams and multiple scrum resets. However Old Parks manage to maintain pressure in the Prenton 22 with the majority of posession and field position. A massive defensive effort from the hosts, particularly the Prenton forwards, kept the visitors at bay until roughly the hour mark, when Parkonians scored two further tries in quick succession no doubt resulting from this consistent pressure and a touch of fatigue setting in to the Prenton pack. Prenton managed to capitalise on numerous penalties working up the pitch ultimately resulting in a try with roughly 10 minutes remaining. Score 18-15 in favour of Parkonians. Game on. Errors crept back into the Hosts' game however with a knock on from the restart allowing Parks to keep the Prenton boys penned in their own half for the remainder of the game.

Despite a heroic defensive shift and silky hands (at times) it just wasn't meant to be this week and we left the pitch decidedly disappointed in the outcome. But was always we live and learn and will focus on the positives when we take the short hop up the M53 to Ellesmere Port next week.