Sport

Carter’s double keeps Rosslyn Park in good form and in touch with leaders

Rosslyn Park 20-15 Blaydon

Scrum-half Luke Carter scored two tries as Rosslyn Park won for the fourth game in a row to stay in the National One title hunt.

Carter touched down twice in the first half while Nev Edwards and Joe Ajuwa also scored tries in a match that was close, but Park really should have won by more.

The hosts dominated most of the first half and failed to convert any of their four tries in difficult conditions for fly-half Tom Whelan.

The bonus-point win keeps them third, eight points behind Ealing Trailfinders and four behind Coventry ahead of next Saturday’s match at 10th-placed Wharfedale.

Park dominated the play from the start and a sound-looking Blaydon defence was split after only five minutes when a superb run from flanker Max Northcote-Green pierced it through the heart and Carter was on hand to touch down

The home side were dictating, but got into a mess within range of their own posts to give Blaydon a penalty which fly half Andrew Baggett accepted to bring the scores to 5-3 on 12 minutes.

Park hardly blinked and went further ahead three minutes later as centre Mark Ireland ran through the centre and offloaded to Edwards to score wide of the posts.

They stretched their lead five minutes before the interval as another good run from Ireland provided Carter with his second try.

Blaydon changed to their more traditional game after the break, with Baggett kicking them to attacking positions to set up their very effective maul.

After two missed penalties, Jason Smithson went over after a good maul to reduce the arrears to 15-8.

But Park responded straight from the restart, and, after some good passing, Ajuwa came on to the ball with speed and power to put his side 20-8 ahead and secure the four-try bonus.

Blaydon came back strongly through flanker Tom Bramwell’s try and Baggett’s conversion, but Park ran down the clock to close out victory.

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