Ross Laidlaw won it for Park with the last kick of the match in this pulsating clash.

The action took place in the most atrocious conditions - a muddy, slippery pitch, a gale force diagonal wind and squally showers.

Shelford were pretty much an identikit of the sort of physical team you just don’t want to play in those circumstances.

However, those who would be champions have to show mastery of all conditions throughout the season; Park prevailed, but came perilously close to missing out.

With the advantage of the wind in the first half, Shelford worked a slight territorial advantage from kick off and won a penalty after only 2 minutes to grab a 3-0 lead via Ed Gough’s well-struck penalty.

Park came back with a scrum on the Shelford 22, gained a line-out but were penalised before they could exploit the advantage.

The visitors were then caught offside, the penalty hammered to the corner but Park conceded a scum and then, again, a penalty.

A promising attack through the middle had a similar end, and when a further penalty on 20 minutes allowed Shelford a 6-0 lead, via Gough’s boot, the referee warned against persistent technical infringements. It is becoming a problem.

That score, though, seemed to galvanise Park who created a good move through the middle to win a penalty but Ross Laidlaw’s kick was blown off target.

A great move up the left saw Ant Fenner bundled into touch. Concerted pressure saw Shelford concede another penalty, kicked to the corner by Laidlaw and Park again drove to the line and prop Nick Huggett was driven over for the hard-earned try.

In the wind the conversion was impossible.

Park began to look sharp, but were nearly undone again when conceding another penalty but Gough hit this one wide.

However, it was Shelford who seized the initiative on the stroke of half time, hitting Park with a good try, with number 8 Aki Lea battering a path and a useful combination of what in the conditions counts as slick passing saw them over the line, via lock Ed Mills.

The conversion was missed but it sent the visitors in with an 11-5 lead.

Park started the second half strongly. Shelford were caught offside and Laidlaw converted from about 40 metres out.

Six minutes later a penalty in an almost identical position, also for offside, was missed.

This was a good period for Park, though, and a great move nearly put Ant Fenner in before Laidlaw tied things at 11-11 with another penalty on 59 minutes.

Shelford put together a good attack of their own after Park were again penalised, but they were then themselves zapped for not releasing.

Park drove a rolling maul to the line, but again fell foul of the whistle.

Laidlaw had another chance with a penalty, but missed again – unusual for him, but the squally wind was making his job nigh on impossible.

Indeed the fact that he was being asked to take so many pots at goal in such unfriendly circumstances was a great compliment to Shelford’s defensive organisation and Park’s inability to penetrate it ball-in-hand..

Park looked useful in the three-quarters but rarely really troubled the visiting defence through that route.

It was stick-it-up-your jumper weather – and there are no points for style. Park looked most dangerous when their forwards were rumbling near the line. Perhaps they should have followed that route a bit more.

Park were now in total control but showing signs of frustration that they just couldn’t seem to close the victory.

But they stuck to their task and Shelford – now themselves leaking penalties - were again penalised and again Laidlaw couldn’t quite nail it.

There was a good attack up the right, with Huggett nearly going in but a knock-on was spotted.

Another good attack led to concerted pressure 10 metres out, but again Park conceded a penalty just as things looked distinctly promising.

James Strong was sent away from near half-way but the pass to him was ruled to be forward. Park continued to press into injury time and gained a penalty, which again Laidlaw couldn’t convert.

It looked all over, but Park raised one last attack and Shelford were penalised to the left of their posts.

It was the last kick of the match – and Laidlaw kept his nerve and nailed it.

Park: Davies; Strong, Sweeney, Jewell, Fenner; Laidlaw; Barr; Huggett, Ritchie, Williams; Quigley, Slade; Jones, Barrett, Lock.

Subs not used: Blemings, Kearns, Anayi, Cannon, Unseld.