As the score suggests, this encounter was a very close affair, with the visitors perhaps just doing enough in the first half to edge the win, despite being outscored 3 to 2 in the try count.

The home side though roared back after oranges and as the final whistle blew for the end of the game, could count themselves unlucky to not to have overtaken the Rosslyn Park point haul.

On a bitterly cold day, it was Rosslyn Park who started the brighter, but an early penalty from their fly half Harry Leonard was wide of the target.

Not to be outdone, they continued and were rewarded when kicking out of defence, the ball was misfielded by a home defender, with the lineout awarded to Rosslyn Park. A well executed catch and drive followed, which Mowden failed to defend and hooker Charles Piper was on hand at the base of the rolling maul to touch down. (0 - 5) Leonard made no mistake with the afters from wide out. (0 - 7)

Josh BRAGMAN had an early opportunity to put points on the board for the home side, but his first attempt failed.

However, just after the first quarter had elapsed, a determined attack from Mowden resulted in them levelling the scores. A series of pick and drives whilst retaining possession for a long period, culminated with hooker Simon UZOKWE bulldozing his way over from close range, despite the best efforts of 2 or 3 defenders.(5 - 7)

This time BRAGMAN made no mistake with the conversion to even up matters. (7 - 7)
Both sets of forwards battled for supremacy up front, with the visitors edging the scrums and the lineout somewhat of a lottery.

Mowden had the edge in the back line though and made plenty of progress each time they were released.

Home prop Darren FEARN was adjudged to have entered a ruck from the side and was yellow carded on 34 minutes, requiring Mowden to re-shuffle already stretched front row resources. From the penalty, Rosslyn Park's fly half Leonard increased the visitors tally. (7 - 10)

The scrums were over officiated and took an inordinate amount of time to set and time was to play a part in the final first half action, affording the visitors another try.

With time apparently well spent in the first half, Rosslyn Park scored a push over try in what appeared to be the 46th minute of the game.

Mowden seemed to have stemmed the visitors tide, but the clock ticked on and on.
A disputed penalty in the centre of the field was awarded to the visitors who, when all watching thought that it would need to be kicked, there being no time for the lineout, was kicked out for a lineout. The subsequent lineout catch and drive was thwarted, but a scrum resulted 5-metres out and being short in number, the scrum rumbled over the line, Rosslyn Park skipper Hugo Ellis with the simplest of touchdowns. (7 - 15)

Again Leonard obliged with the conversion (7 - 17) and as oranges arrived - eventually - Mowden could have considered themselves unlucky with the margin of lead that their visitors took into the dressing room.

Undaunted, Mowden emerged for a more positive second half as Rosslyn Park appeared to settle for what they already had in the bag.

After 5 minutes of the restart however, Rosslyn Park added to their total, Leonard kicking a well struck penalty. (7 - 20)

Honours were about even as three quarters of the game had had elapsed, but just when a Rosslyn Park player seemed to be heading 'to the cooler' for 10 minutes for running a full 10 metres to exact retribution on a home player, it was Joe CRAGGS who incurred the wrath of the official and sent to the sin bin.

This seemed to galvanise the resolve of the home side, who set about a recovery with pace and power, leaving behind their more illustrious opponents, who seemed powerless to intervene.

The pressure was mounting against the visitors, who began to infringe at every opportunity in an effort to slow down the game of the home side who were dominant as the game entered the closing minutes. So much so, historical home favourite, now opposition full back Henry Robinson was sin-binned as the visitors exacted desperate defensive tactics. He was respectfully applauded by the Mowden faithful back to the naughty step - not !!

The pressed told though, as replacement wing Adam RADWAN scorched over for Mowden's second try, when he squeezed through the gap to touchdown near the corner flag. (12 - 20) BRAGMAN missed a difficult conversion.

BRAGMAN had another penalty effort hit the upright, as Mowden dominated, Rosslyn Park infringing constantly.

Mowden were now on a roll and wing Jamie BARNARD touched down comfortably, as the visiting defence capitulated, allowing an overlap, which Mowden exploited to the full.(17 - 20)

BRAGMAN kicked the extras (19 - 20), but although there was time for a restart, the fight back was not to be, as this time the half was restricted to 40 minutes of play and Mowden had just come up short.

On reflection, the old cliché applies from a home perspective, in that Mowden lost this game as opposed to Rosslyn Park winning it.

RAFFLE TICKET WINNERS:

1st Prize (Family Tickets for U20's game) - Orange 51-55

2nd Prize (Signed Ball) - Green 611-615