Rosslyn Park 49 Wharfedale 26
Coach Alex Codling was a happy man after watching a much-changed Rosslyn Park side run in seven tries at the Rock to remain in third place in National League 1.
So close to the action @rosslynpark! pic.twitter.com/9ZmcNATsEP
— Caz Young (@The_Caz) October 18, 2014
Tries from centre Kiba Richards, winger Adam Field and two for captain Hugo Ellis saw Park secure the bonus point before half-time.
Field grabbed a second after the break to go with a score for flanker James Harries and a penalty try, but substitutions disrupted the momentum, and a spirited Wharfedale claimed their own try bonus point in the final play.
“It’s great to get the five points but it wasn’t our finest performance,” admitted Codling.
“I’m annoyed at the end that we’ve got the game won and we’ve just dropped off a little bit, but it’s a 30 game league and we just have to get in the points.
“We made a lot of changes, and I thought some of the boys who came in put their hand up, so I’m really pleased.”
There were 11 changes to the starting XV from last week’s win at Blaydon, with first starts this season for Cameron Cowell, Dave Vincent, Scott Wright, Richard Palframan and Harries.
Park dominated the set-piece for much of the match, and played with great ambition in their backline to deservedly take a 28-7 lead into half-time.
“We made a lot of changes, and I thought some of the boys who came in put their hand up, so I’m really pleased.” – Alex Codling
Number eight Ellis took his try tally for the season to eight, his two powerful bursts off the back of line-out mauls sandwiching classy scores from Richards and Field, with fly-half Tom Whelan immaculate from the tee all afternoon.
With the result all but certain, the second-half ebbed slightly, though Field’s second try was the pick of the match.
Full-back Cowell started the move from well inside his own 22, breaking well to find Whelan, before scrum-half Jack Gash and hooker Wright fed Field to finish a magnificent team score.
Wharfedale dominated the closing exchanges, grabbing three late tries to claim an unlikely bonus point.
Looking ahead to next week’s game away at Cinderford, Codling admitted team selection would be difficult after the impression made by many of his squad players.
“It’s a positive selection headache but there will certainly be boys coming back in who have performed well this year. Some boys have put their hands up, some haven’t,” he added.
