ROSSLYN PARK 45-24 SEDGLEY PARK

05/04/25

The 1st XV secured a seventh win on the bounce on Saturday against Sedgley Park to move up into second in the league standings and become the only remaining team able to challenge Richmond for the title.

The 1st XV leapt out to an early two-score lead thanks to a Joe Luca Smith try from a Benji Marfo offload, before Marfo himself got in on the scoring action as he finished off an 80m break by gathering in the kick ahead and cantering over the line. A yellow card for Ewan Fenley for what was deemed a dangerous clear-out soon resulted in Sedgley capitalising on the numbers advantage when Lewis Bradley dotted down. The 1st XV answered back with another try despite the yellow card, this time through Harry Ledger, as he carried over after a penalty against the visitors allowed the Park pack to launch an attack from a lineout in the corner. Sedgley’s Oliver Glasse then finished off the scoring during the sin-binning as he slotted a penalty to reduce the lead to 9. Late in the half, Fenley finished off a lovely Park move as he ran an excellent support line after a Josh Bragman pass and incredible hard line by James Cordy-Redden pierced the Sedgley defence. The scrumhalf then got a second try just the other side of half-time as he darted in from the back of a maul following a well-won turnover penalty by Ali Wade.

Another Park yellow card, this time given to Tom Bell for a high tackle, allowed Sedgley to eat into the daunting, 23-point lead through Matt Sturgess before a Luke Cox try from nowhere narrowed it even further. The swing in momentum didn’t last, however, and the 1st XV quickly hit back after conceding as a clever restart forced an error from the away side and resulted in an attacking lineout in great position. Jasper Cameron made the opposition pay from the back of a maul, as he so often has this season, before another Park attack immediately following a the restart resulted in another quick score. This time it was Fenley diving over in the corner to secure his hat-trick try and cement yet another impressive Rosslyn Park victory.

By RHYS STRATTON

ROSSLYN PARK 

Tries: Smith (7’), Marfo (10’), Ledger (21’), Fenley (38’, 43’, 73’), Cameron (71’)
Conversions: Smith (11’), Bragman (22’, 38’, 43’), James (72’)
Penalties: N/A
Yellow Cards: Fenley (15’), Bell (47’)

Team: Wade, Cameron, Woodward, T. Bell, Cleet, Spencer, Ledger, Laventure, Fenley, Bragman, Marfo, Cordy-Redden, Stanton, Panday, J. Smith

Replacements: Wade, Hay, Digby, Morgan, James

SEDGLEY PARK

Tries: Bradley (18’), Sturgess (50’), Cox (68’),
Conversions: Glasse (19’, 51’, 69’)
Penalties: Glasse (25’)
Yellow Cards: Ailes (80’)

Team: Blanchard, Gregory, P. Bell, Birtwell, C. James, Cox, Bradley, Ailes, Sturgess, Glasse, Bradshaw, Scanlon, Pope, Henderson, Law

Replacements: Downham, Mallinson, Rylance, Cook, Deans

AROUND THE LEAGUE

Richmond 47 – 24 Rams
Blackheath 31 – 24 Rotherham Titans
Darlington Mowden Park 26 – 39 Plymouth Albion
Dings Crusaders 41 – 39 Leicester Lions
Esher 19 – 59 Birmingham Moseley
Sale FC 26 – 34 Bishop’s Stortford

This week in National One saw both Richmond join Park in picking up a bonus point win at home as they defeated Rams and secured promotion. Elsewhere, Blackheath and Dings also won at home, beating Rotherham and Leicester respectively. Finally, Plymouth, Moseley and Stortford all picked up bonus point wins on the road.

Up Next for Park is our final away game as we make a trip west to take on Rams in the penultimate round of fixtures this season.