After a dour error-strewn first 25 minutes, in which Birmingham Moseley had marginally the better of the play, thanks to a dominant scrum, the game burst into life after fly half Harry Leonard took advantage of a penalty to kick his side into a 3-0 lead. After that we were treated to another Rock thriller that could have gone either way.


Tough going for Park

Park were under severe pressure in the scrums, due partly to the highly experienced Tom Fidler at loose-head for the visitors. On 28 minutes, Head Coach Kieran Power used a substitution to move Paul Doran-Jones across to tight-head and the former England International showed all his consummate skills to negate the threat and possibly change the course of the match.

Two minutes later Park scored a try out of the top drawer. Winger Nev Edwards fielded a high clearance just inside his own half, slipping the ball outside to full-back Henry Robinson who cut in past a defender before finding Edwards outside him in support. Edwards flew up the wing and, when caught, another exchange of passes with Robinson saw him run round behind the posts. Leonard converted for 10-0 on 30 minutes.

The home pack were now rampant and a maul to the line saw hooker Tom Vaughan-Edwards touch down on 38 minutes for a 15-0 lead at the interval.

That lead flattered Park on the balance of play, and there was a feeling that the job was not yet done.

That fact was underlined only three minutes into the second period when a good Moseley attack saw lock Lewis Bean touch down, converted by fly half Jim Williams for 15-7.


Park hit the defence

Park came back only four minutes later, camping in the visiting 22 until flanker Mike Macfarlane spotted a gap and tore through it like a bullet. With Leonard nursing an injury, scrum half Russ Weir nailed the conversion for 22-7.

That looked like wrapping up the game for the home side, but Moseley had other ideas. Winger Benji Marfo made a tackle that incurred the displeasure of the referee, gaining a yellow card for his troubles. Park’s reduced numbers defended bravely until replacement Taraiasi Wara got over on 56 minutes for 22-12.

Park went back on the attack, but a combination of Park errors and the blinding speed of Moseley left wing Sam Pointon instead set up a grandstand finish. First the winger picked up a ball around half way and streaked up the left beating the defence by sheer speed to touch down for 22-17 on 63 minutes.

Five minutes later he repeated the trick, caught just before the line but able to offload to flanker Lawrence Cowan to complete the job and tie the scores at 22-22 with 12 minutes remaining.

It set up a sensational finish when with the last move of the match, to the noisy delight of their supporters, Park set up a fierce maul that pumped its way to the line for Macfarlane to touch down for his second try and Park’s fourth to grab a bonus point as well as the win.

This was a thrilling match for the spectators, but far from Park’s best performance of the season. It leaves them plenty to work on before the long trip to play Sale next Saturday.
Park: Robinson; Edwards, Barnes, Munro, Marfo; Leonard; Weir; Nwakor, Doran-Jones, Hughes, Lovell; Frampton, Gillanders; Macfarlane, Barnard, Laventure.
Bench: Vaughan-Edwards, Wade, Spencer, Grove, Weightman
Park scorers:

Sale are the core of the club from which Sale Sharks split when the famous Heywood Road lacked the capacity to host Premiership rugby. Those who remained have prospered sufficiently to emerge as Champions of Division 2 (North) last season. They hit the ground running this season in National 1 with a 36-36 draw away to Cambridge, and have had no problem scoring points – their lowest total thus far being 22, in a 22-8 home defeat of Bishops Stortford. They boast a 100% home record, having been undefeated there for more than a season. They have also taken the scalps of Caldy (26-24) and Old Elthamians (42-38) at home. Their only defeats have come at Cinderford (31-40) and Rotherham (27-32). Last Saturday they recorded a 31-29 away win at title-favourites Darlington Mowden Park.

It will be the first time that Park have played at Heywood Road since a 19-3 defeat there in a Cup match in 1983. They will know they are going to have to be on top form if they are to become the first away side to win there in more than a year.



Charlie Addiman

Images: David Whittam

October 14, 2018