Dudley Wasps 21 – 8 Manor Park
With no less than 5 personnel changes Manor travelled to face a determined Wasps and came away with no more than damaged pride. Without two regular flankers, fly half and Wingers Park were always going to be on the back foot away from home and although individually the stand-ins played satisfactory the team dynamic was significantly affected
From the off Wasps always looked stronger and tested parks resolve from the opening whistle, the forwards making good ground and releasing the backs who used the inside ball cleverly, crossing the gain line at every opportunity. Although tackling well parks defence was disjointed at times and Wasps soon forced an overlap, getting the ball wide the winger finishing off with a nice try after several phases.
Park struck back with a Dan Joyce penalty and showed glimpses of promise with some tidy lines from the changed backline unfortunately the support play was not up to scratch and Wasps turned over too much ball for park to impact on the score. Joyce was unlucky to be held up over the line after some nice interpassing gave him space on the blind side.
Turning around 7-3 down Park came out fighting and showed real character to score a fantastic try through Gilliver, breaking out of their 22, which put them in the lead. For a while Park looked like they had the minerals for the all-important away win but once again capitulated. Wasps started to play the inside passes again and the wing forward latched onto a lovely pass to go through untouched dotting between the sticks to make an easy conversion.
At 14-8 the game was alive and kicking and final quarter looked like it was going to be a thriller until diabolical defensive error allowed a Dudley forward to pick up from a ruck and run in from 25 meters without a park player in sight. The conversion sealing Parks fate and another winnable game passing them by.
Manor Park V Dunlop
Warwickshire Shield Quarter Final Sat Feb 2nd
Manor Parks hope of an upset in the Warwickshire shield competition were dashed on Saturday afternoon as they were overturned by a well-drilled Dunlop team at Heath End Road.
Playing with the wind in the 1st half, Park started well and Gatherum was unfortunate not to open the scoring when a sweet chip by skipper Madison just bounced away from his grasp. Manor continued to pressure the visitors and were rewarded with a neat penalty off the boot of young debutant fly half Dan Joyce.
Parks lead was short lived when the Dunlop full back cut into the attack wrong footing the defence to touch down under the posts and then adding the conversion.
Manors defence was being continually tested as Dunlop settled behind the scrum and a break down the blind by the No 8 opened a hole from which the fly half was only to happy to exploit touching down out wide, this time the conversion sailed just wide.
Dunlop were now comfortable and retaining the ball well stretching Parks defence at every opportunity, and as frustrations built park found themselves down to 14 after full back Nicky Bennett was given 10 minutes to cool off. Dunlop taking the 3 points from the resultant penalty.
Manor dug in and worked their way deep into Dunlop territory and were awarded another shot at goal for their efforts: Dan Joyce making easy work of the kick and making the half time score 15 points to 6.
Manor were caught napping after the break and Dunlop capitalised with a converted try once again coming from a well worked backs move. Park did wake up though and showed a little flair of their own, breaking out of their 22 and getting the ball wide to speedster Jonny Hincks who beat his man then chipped over the covering defence to touch down in the corner only to be cruelly denied by the third official.
Both sides continued to battle well although it was Dunlop who stretched their lead further with a superb long-range penalty goal from their full back.
Although conceding twice in the 1st half Parks defence held out well until Dunlop had the last word with a clinical three quarter move finished in style by the fly half and converted by the fullback
Although always the stronger team Dunlop could be pleased with a flattering score line in what was an entertaining and well-fought encounter.
Special mention should go to the half back partnership of Dan Joyce and Simon Garraway, who, both at the age of 18 showed they have what it takes at this level.
Final score: Manor Park 6 - Dunlop 32
Upton on Severn 6 – Manor Park 3
It was down to Worcestershire for Manor Park last weekend hoping to do the double on second place, Upton Upon Severn. Unfortunately, due to the continuing rain it was Upton under Severn, as the River Severn had one again burst it’s banks.
Arrangements had been made and the match went ahead thanks to the local school on higher grounds at Hanley Castle.
The weather conditions didn’t lend itself to the free flowing rugby Park have been enjoying of late and both teams were finding the going tough. Gaps in either defence were few and far between, and it was proving impossible to get any pace going in the mud.
It was Manor forwards who begun to gain the upper hand and when Upton were penalised inside their own half, Tom Marshall gambled on the long-range kick, this time Upton were let off as the penalty landed just short. Parks domination in the tight enabled them to maintain field position and when Upton were penalised for another indiscretion Marshall was up to the challenge. The rest of the half was spent with neither side looking to break the deadlock.
Playing against the slope after the break park were forced into a change when Full back Nicky Bennett turned his ankle only for his replacement Rich Andrews to go down within minutes after twisting his Knee. With no other back subs park had little choice but to have a reshuffle.
The stalemate continued, and for Park frustrations began to build, replacement prop Checkley losing his cool and earning himself a 10-minute rest. The upper hand now in favour of the home team saw park penalised again Upton fly half Mike Dodge drawing the scores level with the boot.
No sooner had Checkley returned to the fray then the official was brandishing the Yellow once again, this time it was back row replacement, Timmins, who was to leave the field.
Dodge converted the penalty and took Upton into the lead with 5 to go. With a man down Park were unable to regain the lead.
It was a game where neither side really looked like scoring and on reflection Parks discipline was the deciding factor costing them a valuable away win.
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|
|
|
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Team
|
P
|
W
|
D
|
L
|
F
|
A
|
Diff
|
Pts
|
Adjust
|
|
Rugby St Andrews
|
11
|
10
|
1
|
0
|
398
|
88
|
310
|
21
|
0
|
|
Upton On Severn
|
11
|
9
|
0
|
2
|
256
|
139
|
117
|
18
|
0
|
|
Keresley
|
11
|
7
|
0
|
4
|
240
|
165
|
75
|
14
|
0
|
|
Dudley Wasps
|
10
|
6
|
1
|
3
|
179
|
157
|
22
|
13
|
0
|
|
Coventry Welsh
|
11
|
5
|
0
|
6
|
176
|
136
|
40
|
10
|
0
|
|
Manor Park
|
11
|
5
|
0
|
6
|
194
|
165
|
29
|
10
|
0
|
|
Pinley
|
9
|
5
|
0
|
4
|
112
|
164
|
-52
|
10
|
0
|
|
Harbury
|
10
|
2
|
0
|
8
|
178
|
200
|
-22
|
4
|
0
|
|
Alcester
|
11
|
3
|
0
|
8
|
103
|
173
|
-70
|
4
|
-2
|
|
Tenbury
|
11
|
0
|
0
|
11
|
54
|
503
|
-449
|
-2
|
-2
|
|
Manor Park 61 – 0 Tenbury
Park returned to league action with a 5th consecutive league victory. An emphatic 11 try mauling of strugglers Tenbury, elevating them to 5th in the league prior to the tough away fixture at second place Upton
The game was less than 3 minutes old when full back, Nicky Bennett was held up over the line, Matt Marston scoring a pushover try from the resulting scrum.
The forwards were continuing to dominate the set piece, which provided a good platform for the three quarters to do their work. Gatherham got his 1st try of the afternoon after latching on to a deft chip by skipper Madison and then struck again 5 minutes later with a neat try in the corner. Minutes later park struck again unfortunately this time centre, Davey, found the gap but couldn’t hold onto the ball.
The next try came when Kemp caught the chipped ball and after breaking the tackle found Gatherham in support who sped over for his hat-trick before the break.
The best move of the match came when open side wing forward burst into the back line breaking the defence wide open dummying the fullback, unfortunately unable to release the supporting Hinks was stopped just short. Tenbury’s scrum was no match for the home pack and Marston was gifted another pushover.
Another clean line break by Abell put park back in the Tenbury 22, mounting pressure forcing the visitors to give away a penalty which was taken quickly: fly half, Tom Marshall, going in under the sticks and converting his own efforts.
Gatherham got his forth of the afternoon following another tap penalty before Marston bagged a hat-trick of his own with another pushover. Next winger, Johnny Hincks showed his opposite number a clean pair of heals for an excellent backline try Marshall making it 7 points.
Simon Garraway followed with a try in the corner to celebrate his 18th birthday and Hincks finished the scoring with a blinding run for his second with Marshall adding the conversion making it 61- 0.
After a poor start to the season Park now go into 2008 in the top half of the table and brimming with confidence, following some excellent performances.
Manor Park 14 – 10 Coventry Welsh
After a poor start to the season park notched their third league victory on the bounce in a close encounter at Heath End Road.
Park started well and using some fantastic forward work were well in Welsh territory when on five minutes wing forward Dean Abell exploited a gap in the defence to get his much awaited 1st try of the season, Marshall adding the extras.
The visitors were not about to lie down though, their superior lineout allowed them good possession and while their pack settled and retained the ball well at the breakdown the back line through in some strong runs.
Park were finding it difficult to secure ball and having to defend for long periods took its toll as the official showed prop, Russ Franklin, the yellow card following two transgressions at the ruck.
The home defence remained resolute though and turned round 7 – 0 to the good.
Although a man down, park started the second half as they had the first and were beginning to put real pressure on the Welsh.
No 8, Matt Marston, making a superb break from the base of the scrum from his 22, and after beating two defenders, off-loaded to the ever present Abell who’s sublime handling released Zimbabwean winger Dave Gatherham into space. Gatherham then deftly chipped forward and looked to all as though he’d won the race to the line but was cruelly denied the try as the unsighted ref gave the benefit of the doubt to the diving defender.
Then, unfortunately, in another decision against park fly half, Tom Marshall, became the second to go to the bin for dangerous use of the boot after Welsh hands tried to deny park the ball at the ruck.
This did nothing to stop the Park attacks and on the hour Jonny Hincks took a neat inside pass at pace to burst through the line then neatly left the straggling fullback in his wake to dot down between the uprights. With Marshall still in the bin, second row, Michael kemp stepped up to convert against the wind making it 14-0.
The exiles struck back with a penalty following a high tackle and this stirred them to stage a comeback. Mounting several of their own attacks they once again forced parks defence into mistakes and on 70 minutes centre, Stu Davey, became the 3rd Manor player to see yellow for an undetermined offence following what looked like a perfectly legal tackle. This time the extra man paid dividends and a well-taken catch and drive from a line out brought the visitors back into the game when the conversion made it 14- 10.
The last 5 minutes were tense for all concerned as once again the Welsh pack pushed forward into parks 22. This time however the Manor line held firm and although desperate at times they managed to keep the visitors at bay until the final whistle meant parks loyal spectators could breath a sigh of relief.
Marstons bullocking runs from the base of the scrum along with his work in defence and the tight made him a clear candidate for man of the match.
Manor Park 20 Upton on Severn 12
The writing was on the wall for park as some slick handling by the visitor’s backline in the opening stages made room for their left wing to scythe through parks defence making for an easy conversion.
Upton were not to have it all there own way though and as park settled in to the game they showed the skill and aggression that has so far been lacking and were soon rewarded as Upton were penalised 30 metres out. Stand off, Tom Marshall, making the kick against the wind look easy.
Parks forwards were now in the ascendancy and after driving Upton off thier own scrummage on several occasions were now showing their metal around the park forcing the visitors into mistakes, the referee grew tired of the constant infringements eventually brandishing the yellow to the Upton ‘4’. Once again the penalty was in the range of the trusty boot of Marshall.
Half time 6 –7
Park Started the 2nd half as they finished the first and used the wind to good effect forcing Upton to play in their own 22. The home side put several attacking moves together but the Severnsiders defence was up to the challenge until scrum half, Haughey, broke from a rolling maul to put park in the lead for the first time.
Having only lost to runaway leaders Rugby St Andrews, Upton were not about to go down without a fight, and it wasn’t long before excellent work saw them put some real pressure on park and their patience paid dividends as after several phases got the overlap with the fullback joining the line scoring out wide to retake the lead. 12- 11
The Upton resurgence was short lived though as the Griff outfit once again battled down field and although unable to break through the dogged defence, Marshall punished the visitors a further 3 times making it 20 – 12 at the close.
Skipper, Madison can be proud of his men as they showed some of the form that got them promoted last season and although still languishing in the relegation zone can go to Tenbury with 2 well earned league points under their belts.
Aylestone Athletic 16 Manor Park 9 (Round 3 Junior Vase)
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.
Manor Park 5 Rugby St Andrews 29
Midlands 5 West (South) Division
Newly promoted Manor Park competed well throughout this fixture but their inability to turn pressure into points cost them dear as they slipped to a home defeat against determined opponents Rugby St Andrews.
Playing down the slope first half Park produced some early pressure but Saints managed to thwart everything that was thrown at them and began to counter attack themselves. After 18mins Park were caught offside and Saints took the lead from the ensuing penalty. Shortly afterwards Park were dealt a cruel blow when they lost last seasons top try scorer Simon Tunnicliffe to injury when he suffered a broken wrist after falling awkwardly.
Park continued to pin Saints back in their half and had a couple of penalty opportunities neither of which were successful.
Towards closure of the half Park conceded a number of careless penalties which Saints duly punished by landing a further 3 penalties to lead 0-12 at the half time whistle.
The second half started badly for the Manor men when they carelessly conceded a 5 metre scrum. Saints seized their chance well winning good ball and a simple loop amongst the threequarters produced a gap that they exploited to secure the games first try, and after adding the conversion they had opened a 19 point lead.
Park tried to raise their game, but their normally rock-solid set pieces were not functioning properly and they also found it difficult to maintain sustained pressure on their visitors after making a number of errors.
Eventually though the home crowd had something to cheer as captain Lee Maddison made a telling break, this was followed by a strong surge by Matt Marston before the ball was slipped to speedy winger Johnny Hincks to cross in the corner for a well earned try.
However Parks rally was short lived when Saints intercepted a pass and kicked long into Parks goal area, the resulting chase saw their winger first to the ball to claim the try, which again was converted. Finally with only a couple of minutes left Saints put the match out of Parks reach with another penalty
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