After the opening week’s victory over Launceston, Park travelled to renew ancient rivalries with Blackheath full of hopes of bringing back the spoils.

However they suffered a rude awakening and went down to an emphatic defeat.

On a pleasant, sunny afternoon Park encountered a fierce blitz from the first whistle.

After only two minutes a splendid passing movement by the home side led to speedy winger Tyson Lewis going over for a converted try and then, only three minutes later, the Blackheath pack steam rollered the Park defence and carried flanker Allen over the line for a second try.

This was also converted and with only five minutes on the clock Park were fourteen points down- ‘Welcome to the real division one !!’ If anything the pressure now increased and for twenty minutes Park were overwhelmed, hanging on desperately by the skin of their teeth, and miraculously it seemed there were no further scores.

Then the shell shocked but brave Park team managed to put together an attacking move and Amo Tauialo went over the line with a typically robust run and Ross Laidlaw converted.

The home support were further frustrated and quietened four minutes later when a superb run by John Rudd and some improvisation by Howard Quigley with an overhead pass led to Amo picking a splendid line and scoring again.

When the conversion followed from Ross Laidlaw’s trusty boot Park- much against the run of play- were level with half time looming.

Stung by this reverse the home side put together some scintillating passing movements with Lewis and full back Ransom particularly prominent.

After one such move Lewis inexplicably dropped the ball with the line open in front of him and then another pacy movement carved open the Park defence and this time Lewis made no mistake and scored a converted try.

The opening exchanges of the second half were rather more even and the first fifteen minutes saw only an exchange of penalties.

Gradually though ‘Club’ regained and increased their stranglehold on the game and Park seemed to be losing out in all facets despite only conceding a further penalty.

The Park management brought on all of the replacements to revitalise things and in the last ten minutes or so , with a real effort of will, Park started to threaten.

With the final whistle approaching they produced a promising movement but only to have their hopes dashed when a Blackheath centre intercepted and ran almost the length of the pitch to score.

A cruel blow but in truth despite their valiant efforts they had been thoroughly outplayed over the piece. Preparations for the local derby next week against London Scottish will have to be urgent and focused.

RP Team: Richard Davies; Oliver Lindsay-Hague, Marc Sweeney (Rep: Jonah Holmes), Charlie Gower (Rep: Chris Lewis), John Rudd; Ross Laidlaw, Michael Baxter; Nick Huggett , Amo Tuaialo (Rep: Ben Gotting), Ollie Mines (Rep: Steve Millard); Howard Quigley (Rep: Russ Forster), Steve Pape; Joe Burton, Jonnie Barrett, Mark Lock (Capt) .

RP Scorers: Tries: 2 Tualiao Conversions: 2 Laidlaw Pens: 1 Laidlaw