SEDGLEY PARK 28-0 ROSSLYN PARK

07/10/24

By RHYS STRATTON

The 1st XV fell to defeat in Manchester in a match dictated by the difficult conditions caused by Storm Darragh.

The 1st XV, playing into the strong wind in the first half, almost opened the scoring on 5 minutes when Josh Bragman sent Jack Digby through a hole on the fringes of the breakdown before the ball was popped to Tom Stanton. The elusive centre was dragged down just short of the line, however, and the recovering Sedgley defence were able to force a turnover and escape the danger. Matt Sturgess got the hosts on the scoreboard from the tee before two near identical tries in quick succession for winger Albert Bradshaw saw the lead extended to 15. With the 1st XV unable to get the kicking game going due to the powerful headwind, play continued to be contained within the Park half. The hosts were held out for a while but eventually added to their tally with another Sturgess penalty and maul try scored by Adam Malinson within the final few minutes of the half. Still looking for a way back into the contest, the 1st XV kept the ball alive for several minutes with the clock in the red and multiple quick penalties helped to work play into the Sedgley final third. However, just as it looked like Park were about to re-capture the momentum heading into half time thanks to a Jack Digby tap-and-go that was stopped inches short of the line, a knock on at the next phase allowed the hosts to escape unscathed.

In the second half, the weather continued to worsen with a heavy downpour that turned the pitch into a bog which slowed the game to a near standstill at points. Three times within the first 15 minutes we had a repeat of the final play of the 1st half as promising attacks deep in Sedgley territory stalled due to spillages caused by the slick, mud-coated ball. Stanton almost went over once more when he came within inches of dotting down a kick in behind the Sedgley defence, but with neither team able to string any phases together or play any sort of attacking rugby, both sides remained scoreless in the second half. Finally, late on in the game Sedgley found paydirt once more in just their second real foray into Park territory since the break as they broke away down the right-hand side following a scrum and crossed over through Rhys Henderson.

ROSSLYN PARK

Team: Cade, Keasey, Charalambous, Cleet, Gillanders, Digby, Ellis, Hosking, C. Mulchrone, Bragman, Marfo, Kennaugh, Stanton, Cordy-Redden, Walker

Replacements: Cameron, Woodward, Bell, Davies, James

SEDGLEY PARK

Tries: Bradshaw (14’, 27’), Mallinson (38’), Henderson (72’)
Conversions: Sturgess (15’)
Penalties: Sturgess (9’, 36’)
Yellow Cards: Logan (43’)

Team: Downham, Mallinson, Rylance, Birtwell, James, Benbattouche, Deans, Ailes, Sturgess, Wardle, Bradshaw, M. Riley, Law, Henderson, A. Riley

Replacements: Blanchard, Gregory, Chatterton, Wooton, Pope

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Birmingham Moseley P – P Esher
Bishop’s Stortford 14 – 7 Sale FC
Leicester Lions 22 – 15 Dings Crusaders
Plymouth Albion 24 – 14 Darlington Mowden Park
Rotherham Titans 15 – 12 Blackheath
Rams 5 – 7 Richmond

This week in National One rugby saw the fewest points scored across the league in a single matchweek this season, in large part due to the inclement conditions. Plymouth were the only side to join Sedgley Park in picking up a try bonus point during their win over DMP. Elsewhere, Bishop’s Stortford, Leicester and Rotherham all ran out as narrow victors in one-score games at home, beating Sale, Dings and Blackheath respectively. Finally, Richmond won a nail-biter in Reading as they squeezed past Rams to remain unbeaten and cement their place at the top of the table.

Up Next for Park is a tough matchup with a Rams side who will be looking to get back to winning ways after a two-game skid.