This was a match that Rosslyn Park could – and should – have won, but in the end they were let down by their own indiscipline as Rotherham’s Australian full-back, Alex Dolly landed eight-out-of-eight penalty kicks to win the match.

Park started really well, playing some enterprising rugby on a rough, sloping pitch. The visitors took an early lead when a sweeping attack was driven on and Hugo Ellis got over the line. Fly half Greg Lound converted against his former club for 7-0 on three minutes.

Park had the lion’s share of attacking play at this stage, but met with a well-organised home defence.

The visitors received a wake up call when Titans put together a good attack and winger Henry Roberts grabbed a try in the corner for 7-5.

The visitors returned to the attack, putting the home defence under pressure eventually resulting in a yellow card for a defender. But Park failed to exploit the numerical advantage. They went close when a superb grubber kick from Lound almost provided a try for flying winger Bam Bam Fadahuunsi but a combination of unlucky bounce and a tiny in-goal area saw it go begging.

Instead Park contrived to concede a penalty, excellently struck by Dolly, to give the home side an unlikely lead at 8-7 on 22 minutes.

Restored to full complement, Titans began to put together some moves of their own. Park’s defence put in some fine tackles to keep them out. Some sparkling moves out of defence were met with equally stout defending.

Had Park been able to exploit some attacking line-out opportunities they would have stretched ahead, but another penalty on the stroke of half-time allowed Dolly to send his side into the interval with a lead of 11-7.

Park secure their lineout

Park started the second half as they ended the first, conceding another unnecessary penalty on half way and Dolly made it look easy to increase the lead to 14-7.

The visitors continued to try to play expensive rugby, and still looked the more likely winners. A kick to the corner saw them knock-on at the line-out. Under pressure two more penalties were conceded by the Titans and kicked to touch. This time Park took a short low throw and the excellent Arthur Ellis scored in the corner. Lound’s conversion attempt shaved the post, but at 14-12 Park were right back into the match.

They made it more difficult for themselves when conceding another penalty on 62 minutes for 17-12.

As frustration grew discipline declined and four penalties in the last ten minutes allowed Dolly to kick his team to a 29-12 win. The final margin may have flattered the Titans, but Park have only themselves to blame.

Park: Robinson; Fadahunsi, Nieto, Turner-Hall, Edwards; Lound; Grove; Nwakor, Vaughan-Edwards, Doran-Jones; Mills, Gillanders; Frampton, A Ellis, H Ellis.

Bench: Hughes, Lovell, Barnard, Booth, Barnes

Park scorers: H Ellis (T), A Ellis (T), Lound (C)

Next Saturday Park play at home to Old Elthamians, a Club that makes no secret of its ambition to secure Championship Rugby and has the resources to match that ambition. Coached by former Rosslyn Park favourite Sam Howard, Elthamians made an impressive start to the season with successive away wins at Rotherham Titans and local rivals Blackheath to set up a top-of-the-table clash with favourites Darlington Mowden Park last Saturday, which saw them win by 31-22 to be one of only two unbeaten clubs in the League.

Charlie Addiman

Images: David Whittam

September 17, 2018