Rosslyn Park remain second in National League One, and claimed the bragging rights, after a 27-10 win over neighbours Esher on Friday night.

The visitors to the Rock brought an excellent defence which, allied to a capacity for lethal counter-attack, made their hosts work hard for the win in front of a large crowd.

With both regular fly-halves injured, Park managed to sign-up Harlequins’ Louis Grimoldby as cover, and he certainly did not let them down.

After a period of midfield scrapping Park had the first chance, gaining a penalty at a scrum which Grimoldby hammered to the 22.

Park laid a major siege of the Esher line but the visiting defence held strong and Park were eventually penalised to allow Esher to clear their lines.

Home centre Kiba Richards launched an attack up Park’s left flank but again the advantage was lost when his side were penalised.

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No try: Park appeared to get over the line in the first half but the referee did not call it

The deadlock was broken on 15 minutes when Park were awarded a penalty on their own 10 metre line and Grimoldby struck it well for a 3-0 lead.

The battle was mainly contested in midfield, and it was something of a sucker punch when, following a penalty, Esher flanker Cameron Gentles hared up the left to score in the corner and give his side an unlikely 5-3 lead.

Ten minutes from the interval, Park made a superb forward drive into the 22, followed by another surge to within 10 metres of the line to apply immense pressure.

Gentles intervened illegally and was sent to the sin bin.

Park then appeared to get over the line but the referee was unsighted on the wrong side of the melee.

Esher successfully resisted the 5m scrum, but Park were soon back with another strong assault to gain a penalty deep into the 22.

Surprisingly, they opted for Grimoldby to kick three points for a 6-5 lead rather than scrummage against a reduced pack.

A super run by Park flanker Mike McFarlane, playing against his former club, took Park to the 22, where a sliced clearance gave them an attacking line out.

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Keep out of it: Park's Joe Ajuwa fends off an Esher tackle

With the referee playing the advantage for a Park penalty, the home forwards surged towards, and over, the line but again the referee dismissed their claims to have touched down.

Again Grimoldby added the three points for 9-5, but it left Park at the interval still seeking their first try.

The second half had not long begun when Park again drove to the line, only to concede a scrum.

From this they gained another penalty, Grimoldby was again asked to kick but this time his effort struck the far post.

However, on 47 minutes, when Esher knocked on in front of their own posts and then conceded a penalty, the fly half made amends to increase the lead to 12-5.

Things seemed to swing decidedly in Park’s favour when Esher earned a yellow card for taking out a player in the air.

Park dispatched the penalty to the corner, but were penalised close to the line. A super kick by Grimoldby sent Park back into the 22, but they were penalised at the subsequent scrum.

Despite still being a man down, it was Esher who supplied the next score with a good solo effort from centre Ollie Richards to bag a try in the corner to put his side only two points behind at 12-10.

Esher soon sinned again close to the 10 metre line and Grimoldby again nailed a long kick for 15-10.

As the game entered its final quarter, Park stepped up a gear and winger Joe Ajuwa had a great run up the wing.

A good pass from Grimoldby released full back Nev Edwards and Park camped on the Esher line, finally driving over and Alex McKenzie appeared to be the man who touched down.

Grimoldby converted for 22-10.

Rampant Park were now firing on all cylinders and further good play by Grimoldby set up a great try for Hugo Ellis to send Nev Edwards in at the corner for the final score of 27-10 to send Park supporters away happy, if a little frustrated that they did not achieve the four-try bonus.

Park: Edwards; Vincent, Richards, Ireland, Broughton; Grimoldby; Gash; Lundberg, Bellamy, McKenzie; Inglis, Boyle; McFarlane, Broadbent, Ellis Subs: Woolstencroft, Brown, Shires, Hoadley, Ajuwa.

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