This was without doubt Stockwood Park’s best performance of the league season so far.
Against strong opposition in Leicester Lions and playing in adverse weather conditions throughout, Park began by conceding 14 points in the first 5 minutes before a magnificent team defensive display allied to strong running and support play in attack, produced 6 trys of their own for Park and gave them what proved to be a comfortable 39-19 victory by the end. Led from the front by Skipper Connor Underwood, this was a magnificent team display with Man of the Match Thulani Dhilwayo, starting at Tight Head Prop and finishing at Hooker a constant menace to Lions and with Centre Will Standring, playing what was undoubtedly his best game in Park colours scoring a hatrick of Trys and proving a constant threat in mid field.
At 14-0 down Park needed to wake up and wake up they did as first left wing Joe Ladley, in his first season at 1st xv level, scored a fine individual try, followed by the first of Will Standring’s trys and just on halftime by an excellent solo try from Fly Half Ronnie Speakman. Unfortunately Speakman was injured in the act of scoring and was replaced by Alex Lovell. Lovell came on at Scrum Half with former skipper Frank Daly moving into the midfield. Centre Angus Buckman, moving to Fly Half kicked one conversion on a difficult day for place kicking.
Turning round with a 17- 14 lead, Park gradually drew away from the Lions with 2 more trys from Will Standring and one to finish scored by Park’s lively Fullback Olly Daly following a clever kick through from scrum half Alex Lovell. Angus Buckman added the extras for two of the trys. Leicester Lions scored one more try of their own to leave the final score at 39-19 to the Park.
Next Saturday St Ives RFC are the visitors to Park’s London Road ground which will be a top of the table clash between the two remaining unbeaten sides in the league. A large crowd is expected with KO at 2.15pm