Shakin' Lakin lands fourth try as Park go fifth

Having conceded more than 100 points in their previous two visits to Evesham and failing to register a single point – this victory was made all the more glorious for the visitors.
The league table placed Park as favourites, but their away form of two defeats contrasts to their home dominance of a pair of crushing wins against Pershore and Shipston and holding league leaders Cheltenham North to a draw.
So it was a real acid test for head coach Lee Maddison’s side, could they pick up points away from the Griff and Coton and their own fans cheering them on?
Park travelled without their leading points scorer and vice captain Lewis Brightmore and injured captain Charlie Wilson was on the sidelines, so tight head Matt Green was handed the responsibility to lead the team.
Fly-half Dan Joyce stroked over a penalty to give his side an early advantage in the face of howling winds in Worcestershire.
These wild conditions were to assist the hosts as they managed to score a try against the run of play.
A booming kick up field travelled a huge distance forcing full-back Gaz Bennett to hack into touch under pressure.
Evesham reacted quickly taking a line out which looked alarmingly inside the five metre minimum for a restart – but over the went to take a five point lead.
Park had the trio of Chris Goode, Aaron Willis and Gaz Hammond back in the starting 15 after they missed last week’s draw.
And it was Goode who took the ball on from Green before Lee Joyce burst through the midfield, stepping his man before beating another defender to the line to score a fantastic try, converted by his brother Dan to put Park 10-5 ahead.
Substitute Nicky Bennett was next to power over the line but he was perhaps harshly adjudged to have lost control of the ball on grounding.
It didn’t deter him, however, as the rampaging ball carrier from a close range position after Matt Marston’s pick and go from a scrum, skittled three defenders out the way to earn his side five points.
With a ten point lead at half-time, Park’s only regret is they didn’t manage to double that total and earn a try-scoring bonus point.
But the four-try theme was present in a different form when Gary Lakin pounced over in the second-half after good work from Marston to add to his scores against Shipston, Southam and Cheltenham.
Youthful Evehsam rarely looked like scoring as the experienced heads dotted around Park’s side saw them over the line to earn another morale boosting, reaffirming victory.