Park charge hits tight defence

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Park were first on the scoreboard with a penalty from fly half Harry Leonard on 5 minutes. That was cancelled out by one from his opposite number, Will Maisey, seven minutes later.


Park’s Ed Milne held

Although Park looked the more dangerous side Coventry regained the lead on 14 minutes when centre Heath Stevens picked up a chip through to score for 10-3 with Maisey’s conversion.

That lasted less than five minutes when a massive Park maul was brought down illegally for a penalty try, Leonard adding the extras for 10-10.

Four minutes later home hooker Matt Price got over following a line-out for 15-10.

However, Park were not to be denied and a purple patch of attacking rugby saw wingers Sam Aspland-Robinson and Mark Kohler both run in excellent tries within three minutes of each other, Leonard converting both for 24-15.

Just as it seemed as if Park would turn round with a nine point lead, Jimmy Lichfield scored for the home side on the stroke of half time.

If Park had the better of the first half then Coventry made up for it in the second, mangling the visiting scrum to gain a useful source of penalties. Park looked to be harshly denied a try for ‘crossing’, but otherwise they were forced to defend very well indeed.

Maisey ran in a try on 53 minutes, converting it himself, for 27-24 to Coventry.

Leonard bagged a penalty on 64 minutes to equalise, but three further penalties from Maisey saw the home side secure a 37-27 win to jump over Park into fifth place in the league table.

Park Attack and defence Coach, Scott Sneddon, said, “It was a disappointing performance given how well we attacked in the first half. We simply didn't turn up in the second half and when you go away to places like Coventry a 40 minute performance is not acceptable.

“We probably played too much rugby at times and should have played in the right areas.

“We attacked well but gifted Coventry points because of exiting poorly. This meant we never had the chance to pull away in the score board.

”Credit to Coventry, they were the better team in the second 40. Errors cost in national one and we must learn from this game”.

Turning to this Saturday’s home match against Hull Ionians (kick off 3:00PM) he said, “Hull is going to be a huge game, they are fighting for survival and beat us earlier in the season.

“They are a well drilled side and have strong ball carriers, we must ensure we work hard this week in training and perform for 80 minutes on Saturday to ensure we get the win”.

Park: ; Henderson, Aspland-Robinson, Crane, Barnes, Kohler; Leonard; Gash; Nwakor, Piper, Wade; Inglis, Frampton; Milne, Ovens, Ellis
Bench: Vaughan-Edwards, Lovell, Harries, Weir, Grove Park scorers: Aspland-Robinson (T), Kohler (T), Leonard (2P, 3C), Penalty try.

Charlie Addiman

Images: David E Whittam

April 2, 2017