Sat 1 Feb 2020
Sitting top of the league the 3’s headed the short distance to play “The Gentlemen of Moore”. Looking at the table, Moore would be a stern test to the 3’s winning run and so it proved.
Testament to the squad availability, despite a few players stepping up to support the 2’s the team travelled with a strong 18 and a pack containing a few club legends teased out of retirement.
Things started well, good ball retention and driving in the forwards set up Rich Murdin to cross for the opening try. Murdin’s next contribution to the game was to attempt a kick downfield and instead felling the young referee with the ball from close range. Credit to the referee for getting up and continuing with a blooded nose and a fat lip. However the prolonged break seemed to galvanise the home size as they started to get their big runners into the game.
The next 25 minutes, are best forgotten. 3 Moore tries, all down to disciplined powerful forward play. Park missing tackles, mistakes in possession and maybe painting the wrong picture to the referee, culminating in a first ever yellow card for “Big Bad” Brad Alston for a high tackle. Half time 19-5 to the hosts.
Park knew they needed to score next but it wasn’t to be as the hosts pressed again, and with more adventure a “flat” pass enabling the winger to break a poor tackle to score .
Credit to Park, finally we managed to turn frustration into a bit of anger and slowly got elements of our game together. Notably the scrum, driving the opposition backwards on their own ball and setting good platform for our own. From a scrum on the 22, “new boy” Harry Stubbs picked up and crashed through to score.
The comeback didn’t last as the Moore fullback scored a sensational solo try. Park on the receiving end of a try like couple our fast men have ran in this season.
Credit to the team spirit, Park didn’t give up and continued to take the game to the hosts. Unfortunately losing Stubbs for 10 minutes in the bin for a difference of opinion over the rules. Even without the big No8, Park’s scrum kept moving forwards, leading to ever reliable Barry Collins picking up and being held up inches from the line. Quick recycle and Ed Wilkinson drove over low to score.
Further chances for Park came and went as time slowly ran out. Murdin also receiving a yellow in the latter stages. Sadly no more score and Park left to reflect on a frustrating afternoon.
Credit to Moore, strong, disciplined and played to their strengths.
Park left to reflect. You don’t win many games if you don’t win line out ball and also collect 3 yellows. We remain top, but sides below have games in hand, albeit difficult games in Moore’s case.
MoM - Harry Stubbs. Good to see in a Park shirt once more.
DoD - Rich “Murder” Murdin, for nearly decapitating the referee !!!!
Tony
