Stockwood Park continued their winning start to the season with a comprehensive win over Rugby Lions at London Road. After a slow start, Park gained the ascendency with Alfie Daly, Dan Loft and man of the match Thulani Dhilwayo carrying strongly and dominating the breakdown. They took the lead after 16 minutes with the back line combining to release Jerome Isles who, released in his own half by full back Oliver Daly, showed pace and strength to score a fine try, converted by the reliable boot of Nick Dundee.
From there, Park dominated the rest of the half with tries from the evergreen Michael Powell, following a great drive from the front row, and another gem from Isles. Conversions from Dundee added the icing to the cake. The visitors pulled one back with a good try on the stroke of half time with Park turning around 21-5 ahead.
From the restart, Park dominated with Connor Underwood and Powell ruling the lineout and Matt Neumann and Rob Day robust in set pieces and loose play. From that platform the Park back division ran riot with Angus Buckman scoring a fine hat-trick of tries, a scorcher by Sean Martyn and Luke Notman finishing off the try count with his first league try. Dundee added two more conversions. Assistant coach James Hankey declared himself happy with the performance as well as the result, commented ‘a good start to the season which can provide the foundation for a promotion challenge’.
Next week, Park entertain Rushden & Higham RFC in the first round of the National Cup at London Road, kick off 2:30pm.
Photos © Corinne Lovell