Rosslyn Park proved too strong in every department for a game and skillful, but completely out-played, Leicester Lions side.

Park were on the scoreboard after only seven minutes when new-signing winger Bam Bam Fadhunsi used his speed and power to get over in the corner, converted by fly half Greg Lound for 7-0.

Five minutes later Fadhunsi repeated the trick for 12-0, this time Lound’s conversion attempt hitting the near post.


Jack Gash breaks through

With Leicester reeling under an assault of sparkling attacking rugby, it took only nineteen minutes for the flying winger to complete his hat-trick. He will surely trouble some National One defences this season. Lound over-compensated with his conversion attempt and shaved the far post to leave the score at 17-0.

Maintaining the pressure, hooker Tom Vaughan-Edwards got on the end of a good attack as Park drove at the opposition, converted by Lound for 24-0.

Leicester tried to break, but Park’s defensive tackling was superb. But Lions eventually got a try their efforts deserved when their pack drove over just before the interval and an excellent touchline conversion reduced the deficit to 24-7.

Park emptied the bench for the second period and in doing so perhaps lost a bit of the superb cohesion of the first half but still looked very comfortable.

A kick through the Lions’ defence looked like creating a certain try but for an illegal intervention which saw the Leicester flanker sin binned. Park opted for a scrum at the penalty and worked the ball across for flanker Gregor Gillanders – a close-season signing from London Scottish – to go over. Lound added the extras for 29-7.

The Park pack dominated their opposite numbers all afternoon and asserted themselves to drive over, hooker Owen Hughes claiming the try, for 34-7.

Full-back / winger Nev Edwards, returning to Park after spells in Premiership and top-level French rugby, completed the home scoring after some good work by Henry Robinson to make it 39-7.

There was just time for Lions to gain a consolation try, courtesy of their pack forcing their way over in the final play to make it 39-12.

Park complete their pre-season preparations with a home match against London Irish Wild Geese this Friday 24th August at 7:45PM. Admission to the match is free.



Charlie Addiman

Images: David Whittam

August 20, 2018