Rosslyn Park survive late scare in a classic

By JON MEADOWS

B Moseley ……..32pts

Tries: Smith 12, Eite 34, Roach 44, 57, 80

Conversions: Maxwell-Whiteley 35, 58

Penalties: Maxwell-Whiteley 78

Rosslyn Park …33pts

Tries: Marfo 17, 25, 40, Cameron 48, Fenley 67

Conversions: Bragman 18, 26, 49, 68

THE pre-match statistics suggested this would be a close affair. And so it proved to be, with 80 minutes of play distilled to a final deciding kick after the clock had gone red.

Ryan Roach's last minute try set up a match-winning kick for Tighe Maxwell-Whiteley but the Moseley fly-half 's shot flew wide.

Rosslyn Park head coach Steve Neville was complimentary of the home team and was grateful to be on the right side of a tight game. He said: “It was a cracking game and a great advert for National One rugby.”

Moseley started the brighter, their pack showing early dominance. Following a series of rucks at close range, the ball was passed to the left wing for Aquile Smith to run into the corner, but Maxwell-Whiteley's conversion attempt fell short.

Following the restart Rosslyn Park applied pressure on the home defence and a pass to the left wing found Benjamin Marfo, who was too quick for the defenders to touch down, Joshua Bragman adding the extras.

A short period of broken play was to proceed the next score, until Marfo broke through to score his second – Bragman's kick being a formality.

A period of kick tennis and broken play was to end when Maxwell-Whiteley broke from the home ten metres towards the visitors' goal line. Hauled down just short, an offload to Daniel Eite allowed a touchdown behind the posts making an easy conversion for Maxwell-Whiteley.

With the first period coming to an end, Rosslyn had a series of close-quarter penalties. Opting to tap and go, the ball found its way to the left wing and Marfo for his third.

Party time: Rosslyn Park celebrate after Ewan Fenley, right, scores their fifth try

PICTURES: Harish Chavda

A difficult conversion attempt was pushed wide for the half-time whistle.

Moseley were soon on the scoresheet in the second half, Ryan Roach finishing a catch and drive form eight metres, Maxwell-Whiteley's attempt rebounding of the upright. Roslyn Park's response was almost immediate, Jasper Cameron breaking through from close range, Bragman converting.

The game was beginning to open up, with both teams trying to keep the ball alive. Ollie Steadman volleyed a cross-field kick forward, Roach grounding for Maxwell-Whiteley to convert Ewan Fenley scored for the visitors, Brag-man again adding the extras, before a penalty brought the home team to within six points.

The hosts had a line-out on five metres, caught and drove, for Roach to touch down. With time up, you could hear a pin drop as Maxwell-Whiteley lined up his kick. It went wide to give the visitors a win by the narrowest of margins.

In at the corner: Ben Marfo scores