Leaders punish Park in big win

Stockwood Park were well beaten 48-7 at Stamford in Midlands Three East South on Saturday.

Powerful and pacy Stamford maintained their unbeaten start to the season to stay top, despite a promising first half display from Park.

After an evening opening, a home winger crossed in the corner to open the scoring on 17 minutes and they extended their lead in similar fashion four minutes later.

Park fought back and had their best spell of the match, scoring themselves when left wing David Keating appeared on the right to finish off a fine flowing move.

Ben Griffen made ground up the middle before releasing the ball to the backs where James Hankey made the break to put Keating away, with Jason Carr converting.

The home side kicked a penalty soon after the restart to make it 15-7 but Park came storming back with skipper Michael Powell to the fore, as Griffen and then Alex Lovell were both held up on the line.

The pressure was relieved when Park conceded two penalties and prop Nathan Atkin was shown a yellow card for a technical offence.

Right on half time, Stamford again showed their pace and scored a converted try to lead 20-7 at the break.

Stockwood’s hopes of fightback were thwarted within three minutes of the resumption when Harry Bishop was inexplicably yellow-carded and five minutes later Casey Waterfield suffered the same fate after a scrum, as Park were reduced to 13 men.

Stamford made their numerical advantage tell and were able to put the game beyond Park’s reach with four second half tries.

Park resume league action after the Christmas break with a home fixture against Bedford Queens at London Road, kick-off 2.15pm.

>> Dunstablians’ Midlands Two East South game at Bugbrooke on Saturday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and has been rearranged for February 9.