Away day joy for Manor Park at Rugby St Andrews

Despite being 25-0 ahead at one stage Park were forced to endure some nervy final moments of the game but they clung to gain a win.

With only one player in the starting line up over the age of 30, Park were forced into rearguard action defending in their own half as St Andrews piled on the early pressure.

Despite not having the upperhand at scrum time and defending numerous close range line outs, Manor Park’s line remained unbreached.

From a central position in the 18th minute St Andrews pushed a penalty wide but Callum Bishop had no such worries with a successful kick minutes later to give his side the lead.

This was improved ten minutes later when Dan Joyce read an exchange of passes in the opposition midfield to ghost through and touch down for an interception try. Bishop added the extras.

Park were forced to play out the last ten minutes of the half with 14 men after Lineker Lashley was punished for tackling instinctively having not retreated from a penalty.

It didn’t usher the points St Andrews threatened, on the contrary as Bishop kicked a second penalty to put his side 13-0 up going into the interval.

Craig Morris weighed in with a powerful first half of ball carrying including three superb takes from kick offs while Mark Wickett was at his dependable best with a series of strong tackles in the tight.

A swelled sideline for St Andrews’ vice presidents day demanded a response in the second half and it came – but not until Park had stretched their lead with 12 more points.

Man of the match Gary Hykin showed his poacher’s instinct to burrow over from close range after strong work from the forwards and Joe Reynolds smashed his way over in the same corner after good work from Hykin and Will Woodward.

Rugby hit back with two tries through their forwards as Park emptied their bench with debutant Adam Morris, Bobby Bridge and Kevin Williams all entering the fray.

It was another moment of brilliance from Joyce to sniff out another loose pass to canter home under the posts as his side went 32-12 ahead.

Having already endured ten minutes with 14 men, Park lost Hykin to the sin bin and then Joe Reynolds as penalties took their toll.

It was reflected on the scoreline too as St Andrews grabbed a couple of opportunistic scores to trail by just eight points.

A further unconverted try meant Park’s lead was all of a sudden just three points (32-29) going into the final seconds of the game. St Andrews earned a penalty in the middle of the 22 and had a dilemma on their hands.

With two points in the bag at that stage for tries scored and losing within seven points – they opted to go for broke and kick to the corner. A wayward throw afforded Park possession and in their desperation, Rugby conceded a penalty. Woodward tapped, kicked to touch and the final whistle sounded to joyous scenes.