This match was ruined as a spectacle when a deluge opened up just before kick off and only abated in the latter part of the second half. There was little chance of slick handling in the near tropical conditions, but that didn’t stop Park from trying.

The Wild Geese adopted a more pragmatic approach based on possession which, aided by Park being a bit too ready to kick, kept the visitors very much in the game for the first half.


Lineout battle

Irish grabbed a chance to take an early lead with a lightning break out of defence up the wing on 5 minutes for a 5-0 lead, which they held for most of the first period.

Park attacked across the width of the pitch but Irish defended well which, added to Park errors, kept the home side at bay. Irish did concede their fair share of penalties, eventually leading to a yellow card. Park consistently chose to kick these to touch only for the subsequent move to break down.

As the interval beckoned without a home score, fly half Greg Lound converted the next two penalties to send Park into the interval with a 6-5 lead.

The second half was different altogether. Park concentrated on possession and it paid rich dividends. Their forwards asserted their superiority, twice driving Irish back over their own line, touched down by Arthur Ellis and Maurice Nwakor to stretch the lead to 20-5 early in the second period.

A Wild Geese defence that had been excellent in the first period wilted under the pressure and Park added four more tries through Mike Macfarlane, Henry Robinson, Huw Morgan and Adam Frampton with Greg Lound and Oli Grove adding conversions for the final score of 42-5.

Park: Robinson; Marfo, Edwards, Morgan, Sema; Lound; Williams; Nwakor, Hughes, Wade; Walton, Gillanders; Spencer, A Ellis, Macfarlane.
Bench: Smith, Gibson, Gratton, Gray, Robson, Frampton, Laventure, Grove, Hayhow, Barnes, Nieto, Fadhunsi
Park scorers: Ellis (T), Nwakor (T), Macfarlane (T), Robinson (T), Morgan (T), Frampton (T), Lound (2P, 2C) Grove (2C)

Rosslyn Park’s League season kicks off on Saturday with a very difficult match, away to Cinderford. The Gloucestershire side were Champions of National Two South last season and have reinforced their title-winning squad for their return to National One.

Park have started the season with three wins out of three in their practice matches, but know that will count for nothing when they take the field at Dockham Road on Saturday, where passionate home supporters always reserve a particularly ‘warm’ welcome for London teams. Park have never found it easy there and another hard physical match is in prospect.

With Cinderford having signed players from Championship side Hartpury, along with having seven players dually-registered with Premiership Gloucester, Park will need to be at their very best to return with the points.



Charlie Addiman

Images: David Whittam

August 30, 2018