Blaydon 29 Rosslyn Park 38
Captain Hugo Ellis scored twice as Rosslyn Park maintained their strong start to this season’s National League 1 campaign with a try-bonus win at Blaydon that now sees them in third place after six matches.
Winger Joe Ajuwa also bagged two tries while Scott Sneddon kicked 13 points as Park claimed a hard fought win at Crow Trees, where they had never previously triumphed.
Flanker Sam Shires also crossed for the visitors, though they did not have it all their own way, with Blaydon closing to just two points at half-time, and eventually grabbing their own try-bonus point in the final play.
Park – now just three points off top spot – are back at Priory Lane next week to face Wharfedale and will have great confidence in their scoring power, having earned try-bonus points in all but one match this season.
They were fast out of the traps again at Blaydon, a searing break by centre Dante Mama putting Number 8 Ellis over in the corner for an early 7-0 lead.
Shires found himself in the clear in the 26th minute, and with no support around him sold an outrageous dummy that put him under the posts.
Here’s on for you – Park hadn’t won here since 1963. Perhaps hoodoo wasn’t strong enough a word.
— Rosslyn Park (@rosslynpark) October 11, 2014
“Park are back at Priory Lane next week to face Wharfedale and will have great confidence in their scoring power” – SWL’s Tom Curran
After Blaydon fly-half Craig Willis scored a super individual try, Ajuwa dashed down the left wing for his first score, Sneddon converting for a comfortable 24-10 lead.
Two quick Blaydon tries just before the interval meant they turned around at 24-22, but Park quickly reasserted themselves, Ellis securing the bonus point from a driving maul.
Ajuwa crossed for his second with just three minutes remaining to put the result beyond doubt, and though Blaydon lock Shaun English crashed over at the death, Park were deserved winners.
