ROSSLYN PARK 52-12 Barnes

FRIDAY 23 AUGUST

By RHYS STRATTON

The 1st XV ran in eight tries on Friday night against Barnes RFC to secure a second comfortable victory of the preseason.

On Friday, Park produced a clinical display that bodes well for the season ahead as they swept Barnes aside in a match that saw standout performances from both old faces and new. The 1st XV got the scoring underway early on as a Matt Gordon crash ball just two minutes into the match saw the powerful centre open his account for the season. Then, just a few minutes later, with Park back on the attack, a delicate chip from outside half Steffan James was dotted down at the back of the dead ball area by Theo Manihera.

Some more familiar faces were involved in the next Park try as an Arthur Ellis turnover sparked an attack that saw the ball worked through the hands out wide to Joe Luca Smith who touched down in the corner.

Following this, Barnes had their best spell of attacking possession as the visitors won two quick penalties which allowed them to head into the corner. Despite the Park pack being able to stop the initial drive from the lineout, a hard line by Barnes centre, Henry, finally pierced the defensive line and opened the visitors’ account.

The 1st XV responded well to conceding and the two unanswered tries before half time were well deserved. First, a well-worked set-piece move sent Charlie Walker racing through a gap in the defence before the experienced winger executed a simple draw and give to put Smith away for his second try of the day. Not to be outdone, new man Cordy-Redden then scored his first try after a huge break by Smith and Ewan Fenley. Barnes initially recovered well and were able to win possession back and clear, however some slick hands meant the ball found its way into the hands of Cordy-Redden who duly finished off the chance out wide.

In the second half, the 1st XV picked up where they left off and Arthur Ellis soon added to the try tally as he steered a maul over the Barnes line. Then, just a few minutes later, Benji Marfo scythed his way through the defence with ease to add to the visitors’ woes.

Following the scoring outburst, things settled down in the contest and Branes were able to regain foothold in the match. This eventually resulted in a second score for Henry as the visitors went on the attack after a Park clearance and created space for their centre to cross over once more.

Finally, late on, an electric passage after a Park scrum on halfway saw a succession of offloads push Barnes back deep into their own territory before a Rhys Charalambous hard line saw the tighthead barrel over the line to finish of what was a brilliant all-around performance.

ROSSLYN PARK 

Tries: Gordon (2’), Manihera (7′), J. Smith (11’, 22’), Cordy-Redden ( 36’), Ellis (44’), Marfo (49’), Woodward (76’)
Conversions: James (3’, 12’, 37’, 45’, 49’), L. Smith (79′)
Penalties: N/A
Yellow Cards: N/A

Team: Pieterse, Cameron, Woodward, Stevenson, Gillanders, Bolwell, Ellis (c), Hosking, Fenley, James, Cordy-Redden, Gordon, Manihera, Walker, J. Smith

Replacements: Buckingham, Hay, Charalambous, Pilkington, L. Smith, Hayden

BARNES

Tries: Henry (19’, 59’)
Conversions: Graham (20’)
Penalties: N/A
Yellow Cards: N/A

Barnes: Nwakor, Totic, Tack, Stanton, Murphy, Linsell, Kassapian (c), Hill, Munro, Graham, Webb, Jones, Henry, Birch, Story

Replacements: Sikorski, Humphreys, Siaw, Spencer-Jones, Nixon, Gadsby, Smith, Smith, O’Dell, Stegmann

Up Next for Park is a 1pm kickoff next Saturday against Bury St Edmunds in what will be our final preseason game before National One rugby gets back underway.