Park stroll to victory despite resting players

Despite resting several players, Park cruised to victory over the bottom club without ever really going through the gears.

Poor Bridgwater could not even field a full complement of replacements, but they had spirit by the bucketful and that – and some less-than-clinical play by the home side - just about kept the score within reasonable bounds.

As Ealing could only draw at Henley, the win puts Park three points clear in second place Almost from kick-off, the hosts won a penalty 10m inside the Bridgwater half, but Ross Laidlaw’s kick fell short.

They were soon on the scoreboard anyway, when a good move up the right saw the ball moved inside for Billy O’Driscoll to score, Laidlaw adding the conversion.

Park were straight back and a golden chance was missed when the ball was dropped after a super move.

Then the home side lay siege to the visitors’ line but somehow they survived the onslaught.

Bridgwater hit back with a sucker punch after seven minutes.

A poor clearance kick by Park, under no real pressure, saw the visitors move the ball quickly and scrum-half Jack Kohler – celebrating his 18th birthday – could hardly believe his luck as he went through unchallenged to score with a theatrical dive.

Number eight Greg Charlton added a simple conversion and the scores were level.

Almost immediately, Park gained a penalty for Laidlaw to put them back in front.

Then, on 15 minutes, some good running rugby was rewarded when Howard Quigley got over, Laidlaw added the extras.

Park were soon back, and a kick up the right saw early replacement full-back Anthony Fenner scoot in to touch down only for his effort to be disallowed for an earlier knock on.

No matter, Park soon won the ball back, bundled the visitors backwards for Morgan Jones to score.

In truth, this was ‘sweets from kids’ stuff and, after the previous week’s demanding battle with Ealing, the Park players seemed to have difficulty in maintaining total focus in this match.

Several times, there were promising breaks from which Park ceded possession because they ran away from their support.

Just as a cricket score seemed possible, Bridgwater brought them back to earth with a great move up their left flank that saw hooker Matt Hastie crash over to reduce the arrears to 24-12 on 34 minutes.

That served only to goad Park, and a great run from Laidlaw found skipper Rob Jewell in support, to go over for a super try out wide to bring up Park’s four-try bonus and make the score 29-12 at the interval.

Park were immediately in the Bridgwater half when play restarted, spurned a kickable penalty to kick for the corner.

Park exerted tremendous pressure on the visitors’ line and eventually it was Morgan Jones who got over for the try, Laidlaw’s touchline conversion extending the lead to 36-12.

Park were straight back, running at the visitors from all angles.

A particularly fine run from O’Driscoll set up another siege on the visiting line.

Bridgwater gave everything in resistance, managed to break upfield and, with the complicity of some poor defending, full-back Will Topps provided the extra man for a good try, converted by Kohler.

When Bridgwater needed a second front row replacement, they had no one qualified on the bench so the game went to uncontested scrummages.

The referee seemed unaware of a change in the laws that means teams cannot use a replacement in these circumstances, and there was a long delay while this was sorted out with the touch judges and Fourth official.

Eventually, play restarted with the visitors reduced to 14 men.

From the first uncontested scrum, Laidlaw made good use of the space it allowed him, to score a good try that he made look easy, converting himself for 43-19.

Replacement scrum-half Allen Chilten nearly repeated the trick at the next scrum but was stopped; Laidlaw took the ball on and released winger James Strong to add to his points tally, Laidlaw’s conversion bringing up the 50.

Park were now threatening to run riot, and prop Will Collier showed some neat skills with a good run up the right wing to get over for 55-19.

Park attacked again and this time they went through the middle, Jonny Barrett scoring under the posts and Laidlaw added a conversion for 62-19.

Deep into injury time, Bridgwater gained a penalty, which they hefted into to touch deep into Park territory.

Park offended again, and a quick tap caught the home defence flat-footed and Hastie got over for the visitors’ fourth try and their first point away from home this season.

In truth, the final score flattered Bridgwater’s ability, but the spirit and bravery with which they pursued a hopeless task surely deserved something.

Park: Lyndsey-Hague (Fenner), Strong, Jewell, O’Driscoll, Unseld; Laidlaw; Barr (Chilten); Daw, Ritchie (Tauialo), Collier; Quigley, A Jones; M Jones, Barratt, Gates (Lock).

Sub (did not play): Huggett

Park scorers: M Jones (2T), Laidlaw (T, P, 7C), O’Driscoll (T), Quigley (T), Jewell (T), Strong (T), Barrett (T)