Park take local spoils thanks to in no small part to Great Scott
KIERAN Power praised his Rosslyn Park side for a dominant performance against Richmond in the table-topping London derby.
Henry Robinson finished off a stunning score for Park as the league leaders lost 18-13 at the Athletic Ground.
Joe Munro and Nick Scott put the visitors ahead early in the first half as Richmond’s late pressure was not enough.
“It was a very good game,” Park’s director of rugby Power said.
“We came here with a tactic to keep hold of the ball as much as we did.
“We played some good, pretty rugby which resulted in one fabulous try in the second half.
“They’re a very good side but we did our homework and came away with a great result.
“At times this season we’ve been a bit disjointed but I think that was one of our better performances as a whole XV.
“I haven’t seen [Robinson] move that quick in about three or four years.
“We played a kick game but Richmond should have played more – it went into our hands. We didn’t let them out of their half.”
Park jumped out the blocks with a driving maul after ten minutes finished by Munro.
And the lead was doubled seven minutes later, Craig Holland’s crossfield kick finding Scott on the right wing.
Park’s attack did not stop for half an hour before momentum shifted to the home side.
The reward came with four minutes to go, an error giving Rob Kirby his first points from a penalty.
But Park restored the ten-point lead in the last move of the half as a high tackle saw Holland slot over a simple effort.
Richmond, though, were gifted another penalty at the restart through a high tackle, Kirby doubling his takings on 48 minutes.
Power’s men found another gear, though, and stunned the crowds at the
Athletic Ground.
After some offloads between Henry Cheeseman and Munro, Dave Lewis’ kick was chased down by Robinson into the bottomleft corner after 53 minutes.
They could have hit the 20-point mark three minutes later but Holland’s
kick came back off the post.
And the fly-half ’s chased kick put Richmond on the attack, leading to a sin-bin for Lewis.
The home side immediately capitalised as Jesse Liston found the line on 65 minutes.
But Park held on to win the London derby, cutting the gap at the top to four points as Richmond earned the losing bonus.
Richmond director of rugby Steve Hill said: “I thought Park played very well, especially in the first ten minutes.
“They put us under pressure at our set piece and scored some really good tries.
“I was pleased with how we came back in the second half as their third try was quite fortunate against the run of play.
“We just couldn’t get over the line.
“It was a big game but we will have to fight another day.
“Ultimately the team that gives away less penalties wins and that was Park out there.
“The bonus point will be useful but it still stings at the moment.”