Although the better side won comfortably on the day, DMPRFC must take some responsibility for their downfall, with a malfunctioning scrum, sporadic lineout success, poor kicking out of hand and a failure to manage the windy conditions.

Add that to being down to thirteen players from two yellow cards in the 9th and 11th minute, then perhaps it explains why DMPRFC took no league points away from the capital.

Having said all that, hosts Rosslyn Park RFC had to do their fair share of defending against some relentless pick and drive attacks from the visitors, who fell just short of the line on more than a couple of occasions.

However, the league’s current silver medal holders were more clinical in attack and for once, DMPRFC fly half Warren SEALS played second fiddle to the home sides Greg LOUND, who on occasions mastered the windy conditions.

The first real action of the games was witnessed in the 9th minute by one of the referee’s assistants who saw that DMPRFC full back Paul JARVIS’s shuddering tackle on a home player was high and JARVIS was sent to the cooler.

Within two minutes, he was joined there by teammate and centre Benjamin FRANKLAND, whose timely interception was adjudged to have been from an offside position, receiving his yellow card and as a result reducing DMPRFC down to 13-players.

Within a further two minutes, not surprisingly, the home side were ahead, courtesy of penalty try awarded by the official, as the visitors transgressed at a 5-metre defensive scrummage. (7 – 0)

SEALS attempted a speculative penalty, but the swirling wind took it wide of the mark.
However, DMPRFC were not to be denied at this point and after a succession of pick and drives, winger Brandon ASHER-WOOD added to his tally of tries against Rosslyn Park RFC, giving his side their first points. (7 – 5)

As the interval approached, Rosslyn Park exerted pressure on the visitors line, allowing home flanker Arthur ELLIS to muscle his way over for the touchdown (12 – 5), giving LOUND an easy shot for the conversion. (14 – 5)

As oranges arrived, the visitors may have thought themselves a little aggrieved at the half-time score line, with ELLIS’s score denying them a smaller deficit at the break, but on resumption of play they could have no complaints about the excellent try scored by home left winger Craig HOLLAND, who finished off a superb attacking foray into DMPRFC’s half, the ball shipped across the line for him to score (19 – 5) and with LOUND on the money, the deficit was further increased. (21 – 5)

Back came Mowden and after some good close quarter forward pick and drives, lock Max DAVIES forced his way over for the score, (21 – 10) SEALS converting. (21 – 12)

With two scores to make up, as much as they tried, things didn’t improve for Mowden from then on in, even when home replacement prop Paul DORAN-JONES was sin binned after sixty minutes.

The score line was improved on, just prior to the final whistle, when at a Mowden defensive scrum 5-metres from their own line, the home side pushed them off the ball and over the line for Man of the Match and home lock Gregory GILLANDERS to dot down, (26 – 12)

Just not the North East sides’ day.

ROSSLYN PARK SQUAD
15. Henry ROBINSON, 14. Benjamin HOWARD, 13. Nicholas SCOTT, 12. Joe MUNRO, 11. Craig HOLLAND, 10. Gregory LOUND, 9. Jack GASH (David LEWIS, 53), 1. Kyle TRAYNOR (Alistair WADE, 76), 2. Ryan ROACH, 3. Stewart MAGUIRE (Paul DORAN-JONES, 54), 4. Samuel TWOMEY, 5. Gregor GILLANDERS, 6. James FREEMAN, (Henry SPENCER, 71). Arthur ELLIS, 8. Michael KOVACIC.
REPLACEMENTS: Neville EDWARDS (Not Used)

SCORING
TRY: ELLIS (39), HOLLAND (47), GILLANDERS (78)
CONVERSION: LOUND (40, 48)
PENALTY: None
DROP GOAL: None
PENALTY TRY: (14)

YELLOW CARD: DORAN-JONES (60)
RED CARD: None

DMPRFC SQUAD
15. Paul JARVIS, 14. Brandon ASHER-WOOD, 13. Benjamin FRANKLAND, 12. Benjamin DIXON, 11. Oliver WALKER (Chris McTURK, 48), 10. Warren SEALS, 9. Euan McKIRDY, 1. Jonas HUMBERT (Callum MACKENZIE, 69), 2. Joseph DUFFY (Ralph APPLEBY, 70), 3. Talite VAIOLETI, 4. Ross BUNDY (THOMSON, 48), 5. Max DAVIES, 6. Joe CRAGGS, 7. Tom MARSHALL, 8. Oliver HODGSON.
REPLACEMENTS: Garry LAW (Not Used)

SCORING:
TRY: ASHER-WOOD (27), DAVIES (61)
CONVERSION: SEALS (62)
PENALTY: None
DROP GOAL: None
PENALTY TRY: None

YELLOW CARD: JARVIS (9), FRANKLAND (11)
RED CARD: None

HT: 14 - 5
FT: 26 - 12

REFEREE: Dr Jonathan COOK
REFEREE’S ASSISTANTS: Mr James CLARK, Mr Matthew TODD
ATTENDANCE: 632
PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Gregor GILLANDERS (Rosslyn Park RFC)

NEXT GAME: SALE FC RFC (H) – SATURDAY 01 MARCH 2020