Rugby Result: Rosslyn Park 30 Birmingham Moseley 26
Park battle to get a much needed win
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Park got the win they needed, but they had to battle through concerted Moseley pressure for the last nine minutes, whilst two men short, in order to deliver for the home fans.
The early play was with the visitors, and a mis-fielded catch gave them an attacking scrum with only a minute on the clock. From the set piece they worked the ball wide and right wing Mark Harrison scored wide of the posts for 5-0.
Park saw out the early pressure and gradually took over the dominant role. On 21 minutes Park gained a penalty which they kicked to touch. Retaining the ball they drove to the Moseley line but, unable to find a way though, they switched the ball across the face of the goal for centre Dan Barnes to defy three tacklers to score a fine try. Fly half Jacob Atkins converted for 7-5.
The home side were now looking good. Atkins slotted over a long-range penalty on 29 minutes for 10-5, then repeated the trick two minutes later for 13-5.
Moseley were proving resilient and mounted a good attack of their own 4 minutes before the interval and their pack managed to bundle over for lock Brendon Snyman to score, fly half James Dixon converting for 13-12.
The visitors had a chance to take the lead against the run of play when awarded a penalty just before the interval but Dixon pulled it slightly wide, allowing Park to turn round a solitary point in front.
The visitors made a great effort at the start of the second period but Park defended well and regained the ascendency to generally control procedings.
Pressure finally told after 57 minutes when the Park pack used all its power to drive relentlessly to the line. Moseley stopped the drive illegally and a Penalty Try was awarded to stretch Park’s lead to 20-12, and a Moseley defender given ten minutes in the bin.
Park continued to press and Harry Leonard bagged a penalty on 61 minutes for 23-12.
However, Moseley caught Park flat-footed, turning defence into attack with a clever chip-and-chase, followed by a pass inside for replacement Jacques le Roux to score on 64 minutes, converted by Dixon for 23-19.
Park replied with a big forward drive, gained a scrum and pushed the Moseley pack backwards. Just as a push-over try looked inevitable the ball emerged and replacement scrum half Jack Gash grabbed it and dived over, Leonard converted for 30-19.
Moseley refused to lie down and a tremendous drive was stopped illegally at the cost of a Penalty Try on 71 minutes to make it 30-26, with skipper Hugo Ellis and flanker Jack Barnard sent to the sin bin for good measure.
Park had to battle out the final seven minutes two men short to hold on to a match they had looked to have won well. Moseley really ratcheted up the pressure but Park showed great character and resolve to hang on for a win they well deserved.
Park Head Coach, Kieran Power said, “This was a must win game for us, and any form of result we would have taken - although we did make things hard for ourselves through ill-discipline.
“We can take that result and go into next week, and a big London derby, with no fear and nothing to lose. If we’re disciplined and keep players on the pitch we have shown are a match for anyone”.
Next Saturday Park visit neighbours Blackheath for what should be a hotly-contested London Derby.
Park: Robinson; Henderson, Grove, Barnes, Hassel-Collins; Atkins; Crow; Nwakor, Gibson, Maguire; Spencer, Spivey; Barnard, Hudson, Ellis.
Bench: Bellamy, Wade, Macfarlane, Gash, Leonard
Park scorers: Barnes (T), Crow (T), Atkins (2P, C), Leonard ((P, C), Penalty Try
Charlie
Addiman
Images: David E Whittam
December 18, 2017
