Park took the lead on 11 minutes through a catch-and-drive from a line out deep in Cambridge territory, prop Mark Lilley getting the ball down for 5-0.

The home side soon equalised through flanker Jake McCloud, fly half Dan Lewis converting for a 7-5 lead.

Harry Leonard restored Park’s lead with a penalty for 8-7, but Cambridge refused to knuckle under and centre Matt Hema breached the visiting defences, Lewis again converting for 14-8 to the home side.


Hands off Cambridge .....

Park were beginning to take control and on 37 minutes centre Andy Reay cut through to score, Leonard converting for a 15-14 lead that the visitors took into half time.

Ten minutes into the second half full-back Andrew Henderson capped a period of Park pressure with a fine try for 20-14.

Cambridge bravely tried to fight back but were undone when a stray pass was seized upon by Mark Kohler who out-sprinted everyone to touch down for the fourth try to bring a bonus point. Leonard’s conversion made it 27-14 with around 20 minutes remaining.

Park were now well in command and a further try from flanker Ed Milne brought the final score of 32-14.

Park: Henderson; Watkins, Morris, Reay, Kohler; Leonard; Crow; Lilley, Vaughan-Edwards, Maguire; Spivey, Frampton; Milne, Broadbent, Ellis.
Bench: Wade, Nwakor, Boyle, Gash, Sneddon
Park scorers: Lilley (T), Kohler (T) Henderson (T) Reay (T) Milne (T) Leonard (P, 2C)

Park Attack and Defence coach, Scott Sneddon, said:
“We knew that Cambridge was a tough place to come given the way they have been playing this season. We talked all week about backing up the result from Blaydon and I thought the boys certainly did that, especially in the second half”.

He went on, “We started the first half well but then fell off a couple of poor tackles which led to Cambridge moving ahead.

“At half time we talked about being more direct and playing in right areas. There was a turning point in the game where we were defending our own line and Mark Kohler made a great read to intercept to go the length.

“After this, we controlled the game and could have got a couple more scores on the board which was pleasing. Again we picked up some injuries which meant people playing out of position but credit to the boys for the shift they put in for 80 minutes”.

Charlie Addiman

Images: David Whittam

December 18, 2016