Park make light of absences with 13-try romp

Rosslyn Park recorded their largest away league win to date on Saturday.

The trip to Kent did not start auspiciously: already without regular half-back pairing Graham Barr and Ross Laidlaw, when replacement Dylan Pugh - also the only recognised kicker - had to cry off with a severe stomach upset, emergency measures were needed.

Full-back Richard Davies moved to stand-off and Anthony Fenner came in at full-back and took over kicking duties.

With Ollie Lyndsey-Hague unavailable, centre Marc Sweeney played on the wing.

Things immediately improved once the game started.

The pack served notice of intent with a massive maul to the line.

They went over but the referee was unsighted; they then pushed the scrum back over the line but the home defence somehow prevented the score.

Such was the panic engendered that a home defender actually stood behind the dead ball line to receive a pass, thus conceding another 5m scrum.

Park went over again, but again the referee had no clear sight until eventually, after more than five minutes' solid pressure, Mark Lock forced his way over close to the posts, with Fenner adding the conversion.

Almost straight from the kick-off Park conceded a penalty, stroked over by fly-half Lee Audis for 7-3.

But Park were straight back at them. A panic attempt to clear was charged down by skipper Rob Jewell, who easily won the race to the ball to score, Fenner’s kick making it 14–3 after 11 minutes.

The Park pack were magnificent, overwhelming their opponents in every aspect and creating the sort of space that backs usually only dream of.

A great run out of defence by Paul Unseld came to nothing, then Billy O’Driscoll made light of the quagmire of a pitch with an incisive run through the middle.

A fine passing move went through the home defence and O’Driscoll claimed the try, Fenner stretching it to 21-3 after 20 minutes.

A super run up the wing and kick on by Jewell failed to bear fruit, and there were signs of stirring from the home side, who showed great character in overwhelming defeat.

Park simply ratcheted things up a gear. They forced a scrum close to the home 22, from which the ball was shipped to Unseld, who ran a great angle to secure the four-try bonus after only 35 minutes.

Westcombe made a rare foray upfield but it came to nothing, before a super pass from scrum-half Allen Chilten set up a move for Jewell to cross the line at top speed, converted by Fenner for 33-3 as the first half went into injury-time.

However, Park were not yet done: the home side, desperately trying to get a foothold in the match, lost control of the ball and Marc Sweeney swooped to pick it up and sprint away to score for 38-3 at the interval.

It should be reported that spectators around the outside of the pitch had their shoes caked with mud: the conditions on the pitch itself were pretty bad.

In these circumstances, the rugby to which Rosslyn Park were treating the crowd was absolutely superb.

Skipper Jewell withdrew at the interval having taken a knock, so Sweeney reverted to centre and Nick Canty came on the wing.

From the restart, great interplay between Chilten and Lock saw the latter go over in the corner for 43–3.

Park were now playing sparkling stuff, Canty nearly scoring down the right with his first touch.

Tired ‘Coombe were leaking penalties, which were either quickly tapped or belted to the corner.

Jon Underwood announced his arrival by going over, but his effort was ruled held up.

Park took the scrummage and Adam Gates went over with the same result but, from the reset scrum, the ball was picked up by Underwood who this time clearly grounded the ball.

Fenner added an excellent conversion to bring up the 50.

Another super run by Canty saw Adam Jones mark his arrival with some clever handling but Park were ruled to have rolled over the ball.

The home side, utterly overwhelmed, were caught offside and a quick tap saw the visitors probe for openings, then a long pass was flung left for Unseld to scoot in for 55-3.

A further penalty was hoofed to the corner and the pack drove over for Chris Ritchie to claim a try.

Game Westcombe almost scored with a rare break but the winger could not gather a low pass and back came Park.

Nick Huggett was prominent in shipping the ball to the other end, where another strategic foul saw the referee reach for yellow and hapless hosts were reduced to 14 men.

Park drove over and again it was Ritchie who touched down. A flying run up the left by Unseld saw the lead increased to 55-3.

To their everlasting credit credit, Westcombe strove mightily to restore some pride and gave everything to ship the ball close to the visitors’ line but when the Rugby Gods are against you they show no mercy.

The home side momentarily lost control and Unseld swooped on the ball close to his own line and just lit the after-burners.

The Westcombe winger – no slouch himself – had a start on the Park man but could not so much as lay a hand on him.

It wasn’t quite Usain Bolt, but then again the great Jamaican doesn’t have to do it over a quagmire, wearing muddy rugby boots and carrying an oval ball.

A fitting end for Park to a superb display and a 75-3 victory.

Rosslyn Park: Fenner (Simmons); Sweeney, O’Driscoll, Jewell (Canty), Unseld; Davies; Chilten; Collier (DAW), Ritchie, Huggett; Pape, Quigley (Jones); Gates, Barrett, Lock (Underwood).

Park scorers: Unseld (4T), Lock (2T), Jewell (2T), Ritchie (2T), O’Driscoll (T), Sweeney (T), Underwood (T), Fenner (5C).