A strangely lacklustre performance saw Park slump to defeat at Loughborough last Saturday after having the better of the first half.

After the home full-back, Owen Waters, traded penalties with Park fly half Harry Leonard in the first three minutes for 3-3, the match settled into a midfield battle for possession.

Playing down the slight slope, Park looked the more dangerous in attack but it was Loughborough who broke the deadlock on 19 minutes when an interception set up home fly half Sam Ripper-Smith for a try, converted by Waters for 10-3.

The lead lasted for only seven minutes before a concerted attack from the visitors saw Leonard get over the line, converting his own effort for 10-10.


Park in defence

Park piled on the pressure but the hosts defended well, though they lost two players to successive yellow cards for their troubles.

Loughborough took a surprise lead with a Waters penalty on 29 minutes, but Park replied immediately with the move of the match that sent full-back Henry Robinson scampering in for a try to give the visitors a 15-13 lead at the interval.

Loughborough started the second half playing down the slope but it was Park’s performance that went downhill.

Eight minutes into the second period home centre Oscar Hinklij-Douglas grabbed a try, converted by Waters, to put his side into the lead at 20-15.

When the same two players struck again on 60 minutes things looked really bleak for the visitors at 27-15.

Park tried to come back, and only a fine last ditch tackle in the corner stopped Charlie Amesbury from claiming what would have been a great try.

However when Waters slotted over a penalty on 71 minutes it left Park needing more than two converted tries in the limited time remaining.

They set about the task, getting close to the line before a stray ball allowed home replacement scrum half George de Cothi to intercept and run the length of the field and score under the posts, Waters converting, to set the seal on a match that Park will want to forget.

Rosslyn Park Head Coach, Kieran Poiwer, said: “We were very much in the game at halftime and playing some of the better rugby. In the first 15 minutes of the second half we compounded errors and our discipline let us down, which allowed Loughborough to capitalise and take control of the game to get a well deserved win”.

Park: Robinson; Crane, Henderson, A Ellis, Marfo; Leonard; Gash; Nwakor, Hughes, Lovell; Spivey, Macpherson; Macfaarlane, Barnard, H Ellis.
Bench: Vaughan-Edwards, Maguire, Frampton, Brand, Amesbury.
Park scorers: Leonard (T, P, C), Robinson (T)

Next weekend Park break new have a vital league match at home to in-form Cambridge, kicking off at 3:00PM.

Charlie Addiman

Images: David E Whittam

January 29, 2018