Rosslyn Park more than held their own against the unbeaten league-leaders in the first half, but when the Coventry machine went through the gears after the interval Park really had no answer.

An inspired piece of play from home scrum half Jack Gash got Park off to a dream start. From kick off he made a great run to catch the Coventry defence cold and, when eventually closed down, threw a wide pass to number 8 Hugo Ellis who powered over in the corner. An excellent touchline conversion from fly half Harry Leonard made it 7-0 with barely a minute on the clock.


Well held!

The lead was short-lived after Coventry turned over possession, kicked to the corner and left wing Tom Emery crossed the line. Fly half Will Maisey slotted a difficult conversion for 7-7.

Park roared back and Leonard almost scored, but was held up. But he made no mistake when the visiting scrum was penalized in the eleventh minute, nailing the penalty for 10-7.

The home forwards really had the Coventry scrum under pressure and a further penalty on 21 minutes saw Leonard increase the lead to 13-7. In response Coventry had early recourse to the subs’ bench to change their front row.

Coventry regained the lead four minutes later with a snipe from outside the 22, winger Rob Knox spotting a gap and racing through unmolested. Maisey converted for 14-13.

Park finished the half the stronger. A six-phase move near the Coventry line was ended illegally and visiting number 8 Luke Narraway sent to the sin bin. Park opted to scrum from the penalty, Coventry sinned again but appeals for a penalty try were rejected. The scrum was reset and a brilliant try saving tackle on Jack Gash by his opposite number saw Coventry reach the interval with their lead intact.

Park had the first chance after the break, kicking a penalty to the corner. But when they were penalized at the throw and Coventry restored to 15 men, from then onwards the visitors showed exactly why they are twelve points clear at the top of the table.


Park hits the Coventry defence

Denying Park any worthwhile possession they racked up three tries in 13 minutes through hooker Scott Tolmie, centre Anthony Matato and replacement Oliver Povoas, Maisey converting the last two for 33-13.

Park never gave up, and caused the visiting defence sufficient problems that they incurred a further yellow card. But Park were playing catch-up Rugby against the best side in the league. Two Coventry tries in the last six minutes, from flanker Brett Daynes and excellent scrum half Tom Kessell, took the final score to a somewhat flattering 43-13.

For all the excellent rugby Park have played in their last four matches against the top four sides, the lack of a win has seen them enter the relegation zone. Next Saturday’s long journey up to Hull Ionians (kick off 2:00PM) has become a ‘must-win’ match.

Park Head Coach, Kieran Power, said: “Our 1st half performance was encouraging, but unfortunately we didn’t have the capability to keep that up in the second half.

“There we dropped off, making multiple unforced errors on which Coventry capitalised and - to their credit - were very clinical with that possession.

“We have some key games coming up in the next two weeks, so we need to focus on those positives from the first half to bring together for a 80 minute performance”.

Park: Robinson; Marfo, Groves, Barnes, Hassel-Collins; Leonard; Gash; Nwakor, Bellamy, Lovell; Spencer, Gray; Barnard, Hudson, Ellis
Bench: Vaughan-Edwards, Higgins, Macfarlane, Crow, Atkins
Park scorers: Ellis (T), Leonard (2P, C)


Charlie Addiman

Images: David E Whittam

December 4, 2017