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Gregor Bretag-Norris’ last gasp interception denied Rosslyn Park an astonishing comeback win against Cambridge at Volac Park.

After conceding three first-half tries, Kieran Power’s boys scored two of their own unanswered in the second half but could not find the winner.

Cambridge stated their intent after two minutes, Matt Hema finishing off a break from the forwards.

Top-scorer Ben Penfold got the extras – and added three more points from a penalty in the next five minutes.
Park built for an attack but a spill allowed Hema to kick forward and feed Lawrence Rayner on 15 minutes.

Greg Lound put the visitors on the board 10 minutes later, scoring two penalties in quick succession. But the momentum was snapped on the half-hour as Joe Green finished off a slick move in the left corner.

Park, though, were the dominant force at the start of the second half. And they were rewarded on 56 minutes, Joe Munro’s run creating space for Craig Holland to burst towards the line.
Cambridge’s day took a bad turn as Henry Peck was sin-binned for repeated breakdown errors on 67 minutes. And the gap was cut to four points three minutes when Dan Laventure ran over from a long lineout, Lound adding the extras.

Park peppered the Blood and Sand’s defence but were let down by repeated knock-ons and spills.

An all-or-nothing moment came with seconds to go as Arthur Ellis took a line-out on the five-metre line. But it was stolen by Cambridge captain Bretag-Norris and the following kick out consigned Park to a losing bonus.

Park’s return to the Rock sees them host Birmingham Moseley, who put pressure on the top three. The west Midlands side managed to see off a battling Canterbury with their 25-21 win at Billesley Common. Fans were treated to a spectacle when these two met at the Rock last October as Mike Macfarlane’s last maul finish sealed a 27-22 win.

Stats
Rosslyn Park
Tries: Holland 56, Laventure 70
Conversions: Lound 57, 71
Penalties: Lound 25, 29
Sin Bins:
Team (15-9/1-8): Ben Howard; Craig Holland, Henry Robinson, Henry Cheeseman, Benji Marfo (Joe Munro 48); Greg Lound, Dave Lewis (Jack Gash 48); Kyle Traynor, Owen Hughes (Sam Riley 50), Stewart Maguire (Paul Doran-Jones 4); Henry Spencer, Gregor Gillanders ©; James Freeman (Arthur Ellis 38), Jack Barnard, Dan Laventure

Attendance:
Referee: James Clarke
HT: 24-6
Star Man: Penfold - Cambridge

Warren Muggleton @WMuggleton


October 22, 2019