Manor Park travelled the short distance to Leicester for round 3 of the junior vase competition to find a spirited Aylestone outfit. After dominating the opening quarter park were rewarded with two penalties from the boot of Tom Marshall, and could consider themselves unlucky when David Gatherham found the gap but the try was cruelly disallowed.
Not for the first time this season Park were unable to consolidate their considerable pressure into points, and when a speculative pass was intercepted on the half way line gifting Aylestone the easiest of converted trys Park found themselves chasing another game. A further indiscretion was punished with a penalty to leave park 10 – 6 behind at the break.
The second period followed in the same vein and poor decision making and execution meant Park again could not break the determined home defence, Two further penalties for Aylestone and one more for Manor Park drew a close to a disappointing afternoon.
Coventrians RFC 'Linear' Trial Game 25th Aug 07
Park were brought back down to earth with a bump as they lined up against a determined Coventrians outfit. In the absence of Old Wheats park decided to start the first session with a weakened side but in a stale affair Park found the going tough and were unable to break through some dogged defence.
Coventrians started the second session with enhanced confidence after holding park to 0-0 in session 1, again working hard to keep the park attack at bay but the stronger away team eventually worked their way to the try line with some excellent support play rewarded with a try for Dean Abell.
The third session saw Covents bolstered by several Manor players and the home team continued to defend well snuffing out many park attacks untill an excellent line break by Andy Morley saw Covents chasing back and the unselfish offload by Morley put the supporting Johnny Hinks in under the posts for the only try of the session.
Park were now in the acendency with Covents depleted further by injury and fatigue. Some experimental selection choices were tried by coach Bob Wallis, yielding some food for thought, but again Park found it difficult to gel and Covents were set on not letting them have it all their own way. As in the previous sessions park were unable to convert several attacking phases with the exception of some excellent forward pressure resulting in Abell being stopped short with Haughey close at hand to pick up and dive over.
Although going through the game without conceding was a huge bonus, park struggled to come to life. The 3 tries scored should have been more, the backline that was so dangerous at OC's did not seem to click; and although the support play was excellent in phases it was also found wanting at times giving Covents numerous oppotunities to counter.
Triangle Trial Game 18th August 07
It was back to business for Manor Park as they coolly dispatched Cov Tech and then Old Coventrians in the 20-20 trial game on a rain soaked august afternoon at Tile Hill lane. New signings Johnny Hinks and 'Zimby' both scoring with last years top scorer Simon Tunnicliffe bagging a hat-trick in the first 20 minutes against OC's.
OC's and Cov Tech were both relegated from their respective divisions last season and with park getting promotion Mids 4, 5 and 6 were all represented.
Game 1: Cov Tech 0 Manor Park 25(ish)
Skipper Lee Madison starting at stand off in the absence of Lewis Brightmore opened the scoring with a clever chip over the Tech defence and winning the chase.
There were some good passages of play and parks backline looked exiting when the forwards secured solid ball however coach Bob Wallace was frustrated that at times the killer instinct was still lacking. However park continued to dominate the exchanges and buckled down to score another 4 unanswered tries, this could have been more but for the conditions and some early season nerves.
Game 2: Old Coventrians 5 Manor Park 20(ish)
After a pit stop to regroup and make some changes park knew they would face a stiffer challenge from OC's and came out suitably prepared. Parks forwards making life difficult for their counterparts. When they did release the ball parks three quarters overwhelmed the defence, Tunnicliffe scoring 3 with Maddison getting his second of the day after the break.
Parks defence was breached for the 1st and only time of the day in the 2nd half but the tiring Manor Park defence held firm and even addition of some Coventry bears RL the home team couldn't find another way through.
At the close of play Coach Bob was satisfied at a job well done, although both opposition teams were weak. Park still have several regulars to return to duty, notably last years player of the year Dean Abell, VC Michael 'duracell' Kemp and Brightmore.
Disclaimer: Just like the other 15 billion pages on the world wide web the information on this one contains spurious facts. Anyone who can remember the actual scores and scorers please email me on whocares@sowhat.co.uk
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