Nathan Thomas on the attack

Practice Match

Rosslyn Park blew off the cobwebs with a tough practice match against their full-time professional neighbours, London Scottish. The performance, rather than the final score, is the most important thing in these matches as the Coaches try different combinations and new signings. On that basis both sides will be well satisfied.

Park announced attacking intent and piled over the Scots line in only the third minute, Harry Hudson touching down, for 7-0.

However, the slickness and pace of the Championship side saw them reply quickly. They built up a 28-7 lead before Park were able to score a decent try, sending through prop Ali Wade, whose effort was converted by Harry Leonard for 26-14.

Park soon followed up with a super try, finished off by centre Dan Barnes to close the scores to 28-19.

Scots put their foot back on the accelerator to increase their lead to 47-19 but Park were never out of it and their fitness held up well against their full-time opponents, a tribute to their close-season conditioning work.

Park had the final word as a concerted attack saw fly half Harry Leonard break the Scots defence to score for 47-24, greeted by the final whistle.

Next Saturday Park face potentially an even tougher test, travelling to Gloucestershire to face another Championship side, Hatpury, who have considerably reinforced a team that went through last season unbeaten.

Park Head Coach, Kieran Power, said, “It was a solid first outing for us this season, and have some real encouraging signs to take into what will be a tougher test next week against Hartpury. But at this time of year it's about our development as a squad as we build up to our first league game”.

Park: Robinson; Crane, Barnes, Grove, Henderson; Leonard; Crow; Nwakor, Gibson, Maguire; Frampton, Spivey; Taggart, Hudson, Ellis.
Bench: Vaughn Edwards, Wade, Grey, Gash, Weir, Higgins, Gratton, Cooke, Thomas, Hutson, Smith

Charlie Addiman

Images: Charlie Addiman

August 14, 2017