SaqTHOSE who attended the first match of the new rugby season at Winnington Park certainly came away entertained.
It was certainly an eventful game at Burrows Hill, with Park appearing to have kicked off his new era under new head coach Mike Penny by overcoming a 20-point halftime deficit to win.
However, visitors Altrincham Kersal had other ideas and a winning try just before the final whistle saw them come away with a 35-28 victory.
It was a goal that always looked possible in the first half, when they scored three tries – two of them converted – to go into the break with a convincing lead.
Park needed an answer, and they got a great one as they improved greatly in the second half.
After new captain Dan Williams, Frank Gibbons and Gary Dykes got them on track, Cameron Flanagan set up Alex Burrage on the line and he found centre Will Du Randt in support to touch down and put the hosts on the board, with Flanagan converting.
They reduced the deficit again just before the hour mark, with Williams scoring a fine individual try from the scrum to bring them within a point of their visitors.
Park then took the lead when, after Freddie Kenyon’s excellent 40-metre run, Dykes found full-back Chris Twigg, who burst through the defence with Flanagan’s conversion putting them a point ahead.
Remarkably, the bonus point was then secured when Twigg followed up his own kick and took advantage of a favourable bounce to score his second try.
Park looked set for victory but as the game entered the final 10 minutes Altrincham scored to seal their own four-try bonus point and reduce Park’s lead to just three points.
A tense end to the match awaited the home side and unfortunately they were unable to hold on as the visitors scored a late try to seal the victory.
Park’s next game sees them travel to Firwood Waterloo on Saturday.
Winnington Park: Chris Twigg, Jacob Halstein, Alex Burrage, Will Du Randt, Alex De Keyser, Cameron Flanagan, Richard Hart, Dan Williams, Phil Lynch, Gary Dykes, Josh Gledhill, Frank Gibbons, Hanre Coetzee, Freddie Kenyon, Bruce McGrogan
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