With a rest week for the first team, with the Six Nation Championship starting, it was Stockwood Park’s second team chance to take centre stage, in a highly entertaining and absorbing league encounter, away at Bedford Queens.
Park battled throughout but found themselves trailing 19-5 at one stage, but skipper Dan Hooper leading by example, rallied his troops to keep up the belief, to earn a well-deserved 19-19 draw
Michael Keady Wallis made a welcome return from a long absence, ably assisted by all his forwards in a real 80 minute battle, with try scorers Will Batchelor guesting from St Albans RFC and Luke Notman. As always Sonny Monaghan was especially prominent throughout the contest, as was Reece Hall.
In the backs Ryan Hale and Joe Galbraith had strong games throughout. In the last play of the game Park were rewarded for the whole teams tenacity and graft, with Alex Lovell, linking up with his protégé Frank Daly to go over.
Matt Jones added the conversion, with the last kick, to add to an earlier success, to ensure the London Road team continued their outstanding season, with this side again proving brilliant attitude, to defy their hosts victory.
Also great to see first team players using the opportunity to get some much-needed miles in their legs, including our club coach Tom Edmunds and under 14’s coach, veteran Carlos Bellmar. This is testament to the attitude of this club, it has been said many times before, but our first team is only as good as our second team band of brothers.
Squad:
1.Michael Keady Wallis 2. Will Batchelor 3. Ross Janes 4. Rob Forester 5. Tom Edmunds 6. Luke Nottman 7. Dan Hooper © 8. Carlos Bellmar 9. Alex Lovell 10. Matt Jones 11. Reece Hale 12/Tim Franks 13 Joe Galbraith 14 Ben Sarsfield 15. Keiran Ryan 16. Kris Dolby 17 Sean Burke 18. Ryan Ball 19. Frank Daly 20. Sean McIntyre 21. Sonny Monaghan