Another Nervy Win For Park In London Derby Weekend
National 1 Rugby Result: Esher 13-17 Rosslyn Park
Benji Marfo scores for Park
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Kieran Power vowed to get less errors from his side as Rosslyn Park saw off Esher in a nervy 17-13 win at Moseley Road.
Top-scorer Benji Marfo and Adam Frampton’s tries were enough to see off the home side. While Jack Musk and George Simpson scored for Esher as the derby went Park’s way.
This saw Park keep up pressure on the league leaders while Esher’s survival hopes dwindled.
Park attack under pressure
Power said: “It’s a London derby, so it’s always going to be a niggly game. It was a very similar affair to the game at Park where we didn’t come out the right side of it.
“People were talking about a big win but games with Park and Esher are always five-point wins.
“We started well, we defended well but through that mistakes and decisions went Esher’s way. But when you’re not playing well and win it’s the sign of a good side.”
Park got off to a flying start when Frampton hit the posts after four minutes. It was all Esher for the next half-hour but the home side were unable to capitalise on possession. This saw Park end the half with double points, Lound kicking a penalty on the whistle.
But the relegation-battlers were gifted a penalty one minute into the restart as Jack Gash stopped Jack Walsh taking a quick penalty.
With the Park scrum-half sin-binned, Paul Roberts’ kick got Esher on the board. They were two points away nine minutes later, Musk finishing a slick move from the maul. But Roberts was unable to add the extras as his conversion went wide. Park responded on 58 minutes as Marfo finished a sweeping move of passes to run in.
Esher were not done, though, as substitute Simpson kicked forward and scored two minutes later. The home side were stopped in their tracks by referee Jack Lewars as Harrison Collins was sent off for punching.
And they went to 13 men with ten minutes to go, Simpson sin-binned.
Park almost scored from a late attack but Gash kicked out for the four points as Esher gained a losing bonus.
Park have a tough encounter against Plymouth Albion to come at the Rock in two weeks time. The south-west side got back to winning ways with a 42-29 win over Darlington Mowden Park. But Park will hope for a repeat of the result at Brickfields where they came away 35-21 winners last November.
Rosslyn Park
Tries: Frampton 4, Marfo 58
Conversions: Lound 5, 59
Penalties: Lound 40
Sin Bins: Gash 41
Team (15-9/1-8): Oli Grove; Bam Fadahunsi, Henry Robinson, Peter Weightman (Connor Hayhow 52), Benji Marfo; Greg Lound, Ben Williams (Jack Gash 40); Ali Wade, Karl Gibson (Jack Barnard 14), Stewart Maguire (Nick Lovell 58); Adam Frampton, Gregor Gillanders; Henry Spencer (Hugh Tizard 58), Arthur Ellis, Hugo Ellis (C)
Attendance: 550
Referee: Jack Lewars
Warren Muggleton @WMuggleton
images: David E Whittam
March 11, 2019
