Sneddon’s left purring as Leonard stars in vital win
A DISASTROUS start to the season meant Rosslyn Park were not going to play a starring role for promotion but they proved they are still a force to be reckoned with yesterday with a gutsy win over Plymouth Albion. The top of the table is usually where the London side can be found but four defeats in the opening four rounds of the season had them chasing Hartpury College, who are now 24 points clear at the top of National One, and Plymouth from the off.
They went on to win eight of their next 12 games however and tries from Mark Kohler and Henry Robinson along with the perfect boot of Harry Leonard helped them start 2017 with a bang and kept them seventh in the table.
Plymouth, who had Robin Wedlake cross in the first half, played in Park’s half for most of the game but the outstanding hosts’ defence ultimately won them the game to the delight of co-head coach Scott Sneddon.
“We knew we’d have to front up against a side like Plymouth and we did that,” he told TRP.
“After two weeks off I couldn’t have asked for much more from the boys. We defended for 70 per cent of the game so to win that game is a testament to our defence.
“We let ourselves down in those first four games but we’re looking to build momentum in 2017 and see if we can finish in the top four.”
The first half-hour was all about Plymouth with rampaging attacks coming at the Park defence thick and fast.
The hosts did well to keep them out, holding them up over the line early
on, while Kieran Hallet missed two penalties, the second one from 30metres, straight in front of the posts.
But after bending for so long the bamboo finally broke and Albion had their deserved try as Matt Shepperd’s swift inside pass had Wedlake canter under the posts.
Park levelled the score just before the break with a stunning line from Andrew Henderson setting up Kohler in the corner.
Leonard slotted the touchline conversion and he was at it again four minutes into the second half after Robinson showed great feet to beat his man and score from five metres out.
Albion went down to 14 mean as Setareki Raumatika was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Adam Frampton and the centre was lucky not to be sent off upon his return with a tackle off the ball on Robinson.
It was still a penalty which Leonard converted to take Park’s out of reach even if Plymouth had a losing bonus-point to show for their valiant effort as Shepperd kicked a penalty on the last play.
Assistant coach Julian Salvi said: “It’s disappointing to lose that game after having so much territory but we forced the last pass on too many occasions and that’s what killed us in the end.”