Esher 7–26 Rosslyn Park
15/08/26
It was a slightly cagey first 40 minutes at Molesey Road before Rosslyn Park found their feet and secured a 26-7 victory against Esher in their first of three pre-season fixtures.
It was the new players who came to the forefront to secure the win, as tries from Fred Davies, Charlie Coe and LJ Ekendahl, complimented by another from Park flyer Luke Mehson, saw Park come away with victory on the road.
The opening 20 minutes of the game were very nervy, with it evident that both sides were finding their feet following tough pre-seasons. Both teams exchanged penalties, but a few dropped balls here and there meant neither side could capitalise.
The second 20 minutes of the first half continued in similar vein, with both teams exchanging penalties, but the final pass just not sticking, ultimately leading to a scoreless first half.
However, it was Park who came out on top in the second half. Just two minutes in, Mehson collected a neat ball and evaded a number of defenders before powering over from close range. Luc Smith added the extras to put Park ahead.
Poor discipline then cost Esher, when a player was sent to the bin for 10 minutes after being caught offside from a quick tap by Murray Redpath.
Things then got even better for Park when, on the 50-minute mark, new signing Ekendahl went diving over after some clever interplay in the midfield. Yet another new signing then made it 19-0 just four minutes later, when a clever pop from Redpath sent Coe through for the score.
However, Esher eventually found some rhythm. Park’s ill-discipline cost them territory and eventually the hosts found themselves on the five-metre line. McKenna came up from the bottom of a maul to claim their only try, before Yarwood added the extras.
But it was only a few minutes later that the visitors secured the victory. This time, new hooker Davies came up from a Park maul to cement the win.
It looked as if Esher may get one last consolation try in the dying minutes, but Park’s defence stood firm, leading to a great win for the visitors.
Rosslyn Park
Tries: Mehson (42’), Ekendahl (50’), Coe (54’), Davies (62’)
Conversions: Smith (43’, 51’), Barton (63’)
Penalties: n/a
Yellow Cards: n/a
Team: Nwakor, Fraine, Wade, Cleet, Murphy, Ledger, Triggs, Bryne, Matthews, Smith, Mehson, Vaughan, Cordy-Redden, Coe, Smith (c)
Replacements: Cameron, Orchard, Davies, Kenninson-Cook, Cleeve, Redpath, Winter, Trimble, Barton, Ekendahl, Wiseman
Esher
Tries: Mckenna (59’)
Conversions: Yarwood (60’)
Penalties: n/a
Yellow Cards: Unknown (47’)
Forwards: Pedlar (c) Musa, Wilbourn, Murphy, Akena, Daly, Gardener, Morris, Thorne, Gilles, Lockton, Dow, Pickford, Thornton, Micromole-Andre, Chaoldson, Westmacoti, Skoumbourdis, Cross, Mckenna
Backs: Gribbon, Botterill, Robbins, Millerd, Beckett, Mcgilligan, Cadgon, Rawston-Rudd, Fitzgerald, Hewett, Sheperdson, Thompson (c), Donnelly, Fahy, Yarwood, Bullock, Bedson, Pozniak, Welch, Dumbili.