Both of the above mentioned teams rallied following relegation, winning nearly 80 per cent of their games averaging 38 points scored per game.
Woodrush, promoted as champions of Midlands 4 West South in 2014, have enjoyed a remarkable debut season and would have expect to roll into the Griff and Coton and pick up a 16th win of the season with some comfort.
Already-relegated Manor Park shipped nearly a century of points last time out at Ledbury, and lost the reverse fixture between the two sides 62-0.
Head coach Darren Joyce and captain Michael Kemp were also handed issues indicative of the challenges this season as the influential trio of fly-half Dan Joyce, Cameron Forryan and Joe Graham were all unavailable.
Flanker Gaz Hammond was thrust into the centres, but Park’s pack was bolstered by the return of Chris Goode and Dave Melville in their penultimate league game of the season.
Woodrush looked keen to rack up a high score and threw the lot at Park in the opening exchanges.
But the Manor Park boys were clearly up for the challenge as the defence held strong.
Melville proved a thorn in side for the visiting half backs was backed up perfectly by a pack who did not allow Woodrush an easy yard and a back line that refused to be breached.
It was 25 minutes before the visitors finally found a gap in the host’s defence, after several phases, the defence was stretched and a clever inside ball saw the winger cut a line to romp home for a great team try, the conversion successful.
Not long after they worked another good team try this time through their exciting back line for another converted try.
Finally, realising an arm wrestle with the Park forwards was yielding very little, the visitors attacked wide again immediately from the restart, two decoy runs held the Park defence and the space opened up for an easy run in. The conversion falling short.
The two quick tries triggered a response from the Park men that has been lacking too often this season.
Rather than rolling over the home side didn’t panic and stuck to the plan of attacking closer to the support and made huge in roads into the Woodrush defence. Playing with the sort of continuity and control that has been missing, Park looked threatening, the catch and drive at the line out causing real problems.
A number of penalties and several forays into the opposition 22 were rewarded when tight-head prop Chris Cook crashed over for an unconverted try just before the break.
Having defended the slope and wind Park turned round in a great position, Woodrush were not going to get the walkover they could have been forgiven for expecting.
Park continued to dominate in the loose and although Woodrush backs always looked a threat their efforts were continually thwarted by some excellent defence. Lee Joyce, Dave Hickey, Adam Brown and Hammond getting plenty of opportunities to improve their skills.
The home pack continued to flourish clever game management by stand-in stand -off helped work Park into a position deep in the visitor’s 22 but continual efforts to disrupt Park’s rampaging forwards yielded no more than advantage from the official.
Park’s frustration manifesting itself through the studs of Charlie Wilson’s boots earning him a 10-minute rest.
It was while Park were down to 14 that a simple missed tackle in midfield opened the door for Woodrush to extend their lead via another converted try – in what was to be their one and only excursion into Park’s half in the second period.
Park hit back and again the forwards worked themselves into dangerous position and a looping pass out of the tackle was collected by veteran number eight Matt Marston for the score. Callum Bishop striking a sweet conversion from out wide.
Time was running out but the home side’s pack dominance coupled with some great probing work by the backs made it impossible for the visitors to break out and Park were once again rewarded for their hard work when Goode wriggled away from a tackle and burrowing over.
The losing bonus point, Park’s first of the season, proved they can be competitive with a team at the sharper end of the league when they ‘turn up’.
Tour weekend awaits before a familiar foe from recent seasons Old Wheatleyans rock into the Griff and Coton hoping to end their inconsistent season as they started it – with a win over Manor Park.
But on the evidence of this match against Woodrush, Park will be up for the battle to end their season with a flourish.