Park started brightly with Oli Grove slotting over a third minute penalty for 3-0.

They surrendered that lead a minute later when some questionable defence allowed Old Elthamians prop Lewis Brown in for as easy a try as he will ever score.

Park surged back, and following some super passing movements centre Andrew Henderson sprinted in for a try to regain the lead at 8-5 on ten minutes.


Park’s Adam Frampton leads an attack

Number 8 Hugo Ellis came tantalizingly close to touching down following a well-organised drive. Grove missed a penalty that he would have slotted over nine times out of ten. But all Park’s good work was undone by fifteen minutes of poor defending when OEs applied some pressure. On 23 minutes they sent the home scrum backwards for number 8 Ben King to touch down, fly half Joe Carlisle converting for 12-8.

Three minutes later centre Max Wilkins found space to go in under the posts, converted by Carlisle for 19-8.

With Park pinned back, speedy winger Dom Lespierre got over in the corner for OEs’ bonus point try, brilliantly converted by Carlisle for 26-8 on 33 minutes.

Park’s misery was compounded when their wide defence crumbled to let in left winger James Golledge for 31-8 at the interval.

Park looked determined to right a few wrongs when they emerged for the second period, but another defensive howler saw a clearance kick from just outside the 22 go out on the full. OEs set up a maul from the throw and eventually lock Fred Hosking touched down for 36-8 on 44 minutes.

After that Park put in a supreme effort that so nearly saved the match. On 54 minutes, following Park pressure, Grove kicked to touch and a neat passing move saw winger Oliver Hasselll-Collins find space to go over in the corner, Grove nailing a difficult conversion for 15-36.

Four minutes later a now-rampant Park pack drove OEs back for skipper Hugo Ellis to touch down, Grove again kicking the extras for 22-36.

Park were now all over their opponents like a rash. It looked as if Henderson had scored a magnificent try out wide but play was brought back for a foot in touch. But Park would not be denied and on 68 minutes centre Dan Barnes scored out wide for the four-try bonus point. Another magnificent kick by Grove put Park within 7 points and a losing bonus point at 29-36.

They wanted more but OEs defended magnificently. After the referee had signaled the last play, Park went through multiple phases within reach of the line but just could not breach the defence. When OEs were awarded a free-kick they hoofed it out of the ground to end proceedings.

Park must lick their wounds and make the long journey to Hull next week, where anything less than a win will see them dangerously close to the relegation zone.

Head Coach Kieran Power said, “We started the game well in attack but our defence lacked an intensity to win the collisions, which Old Elthamians took advantage of. We played some great rugby in the second half and defended better and showed some great team spirit to come back and get 2 points from the game”.

Park: Robinson; Crane, Henderson, Barnes, Amesbury; Grove; Gash; Nwakor, Gibson, Lovell; Spencer, Frampton; Macfarlane, A. Ellis, H Ellis.
Bench: Hughes, Wade, MacPhearson, Crow, Hassell-Collins.
Park scorers: Henderson (T),Hassell-Collins (T), H Ellis (T), Barnes (T) Grove (P, 3C)

Charlie Addiman

Images: David E Whittam

February 19, 2018