BLACKHEATH 27 – 31 ROSSLYN PARK
27/09/25
Rosslyn Park maintained their unbeaten start to the 2025/26 National 1 season with a thrilling comeback victory over a strong Blackheath side. Trailing 13–7 at the break, Park turned on the style in the second half to secure a 31–27 win. Standout performances from Steff James, Charlie Walker, and the in-form Luke Mehson proved pivotal.
The opening 20 minutes were feisty, with Park coming off second best. Discipline issues plagued the visitors early on, allowing Blackheath to take a 3-point lead through the boot of Ed Dunford. A spell of kick tennis followed, but Park continued to struggle, and a high shot from Mo Nwakor gave the hosts a chance to kick to our 5-metre line. From the resulting maul, Dunford added another three points to extend the lead to 10.
Around the half-hour mark, Park began to build phases and were awarded a penalty for not rolling away but couldn’t capitalise. More discipline issues followed, and an offside from a box kick allowed Dunford to slot another penalty, making it 13–0.
Just before the break, Park finally found their moment. A penalty deep in Blackheath’s 22 set the platform for Jack Digby to crash over from close range, with Steff James adding the extras. We headed into the sheds trailing by six.
The second half was a different story. Park came out firing, piling on the pressure early. Slick hands from Charlie Walker and Ewan Fenley set up Luke Mehson, who dotted down in style. James converted to level the scores. But Blackheath weren’t backing down. Straight from the restart, a dropped ball on the wing allowed centre Raff Hollister to scoop it up and score in the corner.
Park’s momentum didn’t falter. After winning a scrum penalty on halfway, James kicked to within 10 metres. A few phases off the lineout saw James dart through a gap before offloading to Tom Stanton, who claimed his first try of the afternoon.
Moments later, Mehson fielded a clearing kick inside Park’s half, beat six defenders on a dazzling run, and offloaded to Stanton for his second. Park continued to dominate. After Blackheath’s Archie Smeaton was penalised for a high shot, we kicked to the corner. The resulting maul was worked infield before James played it blind, allowing Charlie Walker to score in the corner. Park took a commanding 11-point lead into the final 10 minutes.
But Blackheath weren’t done yet. Sustained pressure in our 22 led to multiple penalties, and an offside from Mulchrone saw him sent to the bin. The hosts capitalised, with their No. 8 powering over and the conversion narrowing the gap to six points with a tense six minutes to play.
Despite being a man down, Park held firm. The hosts couldn’t find another breakthrough, and we survived to claim another hard-fought win in National 1. This game was ultimately decided by an outstanding second-half performance from the visitors showing exactly why Park remain one of the few unbeaten sides in the league.
ROSSLYN PARK
Tries: Digby (40’), Mehson (45’), Tom Stanton (56’, 61’), Walker (69’)
Conversions: James (40’, 45’, 61’)
Penalties: N/A
Yellow Cards: Mulchrone (74′)
Team: Mo Nwakor, Charlie Piper, Matt Woodward, Jake Cleet, Tom Bell, Harry Ledger, Arthur Ellis (c), Jack Digby, Ewan Fenley, Steff James, Benji Marfo, Sam Kennaugh, Tom Stanton, Charlie Walker, Luke Mehson
Replacements: Max Fraine, Ali Wade, Jordan Martin, Charlie Mulchrone, Freddie Roddick
blackheath
Tries: Harding (25’), Oskar (47’), Osborne (75’)
Conversions: Dunford (25’, 47’, 75’)
Penalties: Dunford (3’, 36’)
Yellow Cards: N/A
Team: Holland, Harding (c), Marsh, O’Sullivan, Scragg, Smeaton, Sloot, Osborne, Burns (vc), Morley, Hennessey, Hollister, Hirksey J-Douglas, Lloyd, Dunford
Replacements: Bourne, Cornish, Jameson, Walsh, Briers
Up next: Rosslyn Park are back at The Rock this Saturday 4th October against Plymouth Albion 3pm KO!