Battling qualities in bundles as Park bite back

Chris Goode's try in the final play of a gripping afternoon's rugby paved the way for a match-winning kick for Lewis Brightmore - but the fly-half's conversion was pushed wide.
All around the field there was bundles of commitment not normally associated with a "meaningless" fixture.
Centre Joe Reynolds set about a frenzy of early tackles early on and carried the ball with ferocity in a performance which Park will need consistently during 2013/14.
But he was by no means alone, captain Charlie Wilson worked tirelessly in defence and Aaron Willis punched holes all afternoon before an injury niggle prompted his withdrawal.
Shorn of the services of Dan Joyce and Antony Airey from the original squad, head coach Lee Maddison was limited with his options but the starting XV was a strong one.
This showed early on as Park retained the ball with some clinical rucking and patient build up play.
This would ultimately yield their first try, earning a penalty which Brightmore dabbed to touch.
A line out ensued pushing them to within metres of the line, before finally Willis arrived from depth to burrow over for an unimproved score.
In what would be a frustrating tendency during the match, Park let Vipers straight back on the scoreboard as their fly-half notched over a penalty from distance kicking down the slope.
Although both teams will be playing at the same level next season, they arrive from different routes as Vipers were relegated last season.
And they showed some of the class which earned them that level of rugby to score a clinical try from a second phase from a close range line out - earned from a thumping 60 metre penalty kick to touch.
The same player added the conversion to give Vipers a 5-10 lead.
Oddly despite having plenty of possession, Vipers were not creating line breaks or adopting a searching kicking game, instead capitalising on Park's errors and mistakes.
But the visitors were talented with the ball in hand, especially in midfield.
Returning prop Neil Fitzpatrick stopped a certain try by being in the right place at the right time to disrupt a pass with an unintentional knock on.
But from the resulting scrum play was cleverly switched wide for a try to be scored in the corner, the conversion stretching the less to 17-5.
Park were now starring down the barrel having conceded 17 unanswered points - but they fought back to only concede two penalty kicks in the remaining 55 minutes of the encounter.
Impressive ball retention well marshalled by experienced heads such as Matt Marston and Sam Haslam were earning Park good field position and discovering a frequent inability of Vipers to shore up their fringes.
A blindside break saw winger Steve Bates and Joe Reynolds combine after yet more good work from full-back Cameron Forryan who ran some tremendous lines in both halves.
From a ten metre line out Park edged towards a score before Chris Goode instinctively broke and evaded three tacklers to score - Brightmore's conversion narrowed the deficit to five.
Vipers again came right back at Park who were warned of their indiscretions before Danny Blundred was binned three minutes before half time for offside.
But Park held on and would ultimately out score their visitors during this ten minute period either side of half time.
Straight from the kick off Willis athletically gathered and sped blind and posting into the Vipers 22, ultimately earning a penalty which Brightmore notched over to make it Park 15 Vipers 17.
After receiving a similar warning to Park for foul play, Vipers saw a man binned.
But Park's man advantage lasted all of a minute when Forryan was adjudged to have obstructed a Vipers player as he chased a hacked forward ball.
The penalty was converted to restore the visitors one point advantage.
So much impressive defensive work was on display for Park, not least from Joe Graham who produced an exhibition off one on one hits chasing down clearance kicks and putting Vipers under pressure.
Both teams battled hard as the error count grew, especially from Vipers as their handling - so assured early on - completely escaped them with a multitude of knock ons.
Brightmore had a penalty to put Park ahead but pushed it wide, but Park returned attacking down the slope.
Gaz Hammond twice made breaks through crowded areas of the pitch as Park edged nearer the line.
A penalty was earned and as Park assessed their options, Goode tapped and skilfully burrowed over for the score.
So Park can reflect on a raft of positives, turning a 12 point deficit into a winning position and putting together strings of phases to place pressure on opponents.
Also a number of individual performances which showed many are hitting form at the right time ahead of Saturday's season opener against Pershore.