This season’s Champions, Coventry, maintained their 100% home record but not before a battling Rosslyn Park performance gave them one hell of a fright. Park became the first away side this season to leave the Butts Arena with a four-try bonus in addition to their losing bonus point.

It looked like being a long afternoon when, after some even midfield sparring, on 6 minutes Coventry left-wing Max Trimble raced away at a clever angle to dot down in the corner for 5-0.

Fears seemed to be confirmed five minutes later when, following a kick to touch, hooker Scott Tolmie broke off from a drive to go over and extend the lead to 10-0.

However Park came roaring back with two tries in two minutes from Charlie Amesbury, deployed as a centre but using his wingers’ speed to finish off two good moves, the first wide on the left and the second through the heart of the defence. Fly half Harry Leonard converted the second to give Park the lead at 12-10 on 19 minutes.

That lasted only two minutes, whereupon Cov right wing Rob Knox found space to cut in just to the left of the posts. This time fly half Will Maisey converted to restore the home side’s lead at 17-12.

Park tackled like tigers and were now putting together some moves of their own that troubled the Champions. The pack were more than holding their own, and the backs always looked dangerous. When Cov number 8 Luke Narraway intervened illegally to stop a distinctly promising move, being sin-binned for his troubles, Park were well placed to take advantage.


Mike MacFarlane eyes the defence

On 36 minutes the pack drove Coventry back over their own line for number 8 Mike Macfarlane to touch down and tie the scores at 17-17. Had the conversion gone over, Park would have gone into the interval with the lead but Leonard’s kick went tantalizingly wide of the posts.

Park started the second half really positively and reaped their reward after only eight minutes. The pack drove towards the Coventry line on the right but the home defence held solid. The ball was rapidly switched across the field and there was no stopping pacy winger Benji Marfo, cutting in a speed from the left flank to give Leonard an easier conversion, which he accepted with alacrity for a 24-17 lead and the four-try bonus point.

Park were tackling themselves to a standstill as Coventry strove to maintain their unbeaten home record. It was fresh legs that swung the match back in their direction, replacement back Tony Fenner putting in a telling kick from which full-back James Stokes out-paced everyone to score near the corner to reduce Park’s lead to 24-22.

It was another replacement, flanker Tom Jubb, who restored the lead to the home side with a try on 61 minutes, Maisey converting for 29-24.

Although clearly tiring from a supreme effort, Park were doing more than just hanging on. So it must have come as a hammer blow when, with five minutes remaining, Coventry were awarded a penalty from which Maisey added three points, which stretched the lead to eight points, thus removing the losing bonus point.

Somehow Park summoned the effort for a final attack, to gain a last-minute penalty from which Leonard bagged the three points for 32-27, restoring the richly deserved losing bonus.

At the end of the match, relieved Coventry boss Rowland Winter gave credit to Park, saying, “They’re stacked with talent and should be a lot higher up the table”.

Park Head Coach Kieran Power said, “The boys put in a very courageous performance at Coventry and came away with two well earned points with some excellent rugby played.

“Our scrum was excellent but our lineout let us down and was probably the reason why we didn't take the game.

“It does, though, give us some great momentum into our game against Hull Ionians at home next week (kick off 3:00pm)”.

Park: Robinson; Crane, Amesbury, Barnes, Marfo; Leonard; Gash; Nwakor, Bellamy, Wade; Grey, Frampton; Ovens, Hudson, Macfarlane.

Bench: Vaughan-Edwards, Lovell, Spivey, Crow, Grove

Park scorers: Amesbury (2T), Macfarlane (T), Marfo (T), Leonard (P, 2C)

Charlie Addiman

Images: David E Whittam

April 9, 2018