Look: Victory completes a perfect day for Manor Park RFC

On a day when Manor Park bucked the current grassroots trend by fielding three teams, the seniors fended off the threat of relegation for at least another fortnight when they shaded Harbury 19-17.

They seemed doomed to have their Midlands Three West (South) fate sealed when the villagers took control but, bolstered by the influential return of Chris Goode and Dave Melville, they produced a stirring comeback.

Joe Graham rounded off a flowing backs move to haul them back into contention, Melville snatched the second and Dave Hickey produced another crucial demonstration of his close-range opportunism, Callum Bishop’s brace of conversions just tipping the scales.

Park will endeavour to keep the flame alive on Saturday week when they travel to Ledbury, scene of their last win on the road 15 months ago.

But whatever the outcome they are convinced that better times are around the corner, chairman Nick Bishop declaring: “I’m very proud of the club for getting three teams out.

“There have been times this season when we could field only one and we had some tough conversations about the future of this club as players were leaving, and the results were poor.

“But the players have led the revolution, whether it be returning favourites or lads playing their first season of senior rugby, it’s been a wonderful turnaround.”

Dunlop maintained their relentless pole-position pace with a 48-15 flourish at Old Wheatleyans, but Bedworth remain clamped to their coattails after as 40-17 success at Shipston on Stour.

As is customary for the men in green this season, the bonus point was safely banked before half-time although the home side logged two tries of their own to keep the gap at a respectable 26-12.

Brilliant work by John Allison set up the opening try for Danny Coleman, Steven Harwood punished some fragile defence and pack power opened the path for Ryan Jenkins and Adi Iliff. Bedworth maintained their pressure after the interval, giving Andrew McHardy the chance to burst though from close range before Jenkins added his second of the afternoon and 13th of the season – Iliff notching one conversion while Kieran Kimberley collected four.

Southam served up a postprandial treat for President Andy Mitchell and his guests when they saw off Upton-on-Severn 39-5.

It didn’t go to plan in the first quarter as the rock-bottom visitors utilised the conditions to claim the opening try, but Will Grindal landed a 40m penalty against the wind to steady the ship and then added the extras after a slick combination between Pete Burnell and Will Woods sent through winger Sam Bench for his 26th try of the season.

No.8 James Finch teed up Woods to make it 15-5 at the interval and, with the wind at their backs, Southam duly cut loose. Nathan Hooper scored the third try and set up the all-important fourth for Matt Catterall before devastating work by Russell King and Bench enabled Burnell to cruise over between the posts.

Grindal converted that one and helped himself again when Woods received the ball from a lineout and slipped a perfect pass inside to King.

* Nuneaton enjoyed a five-point excursion to Burton despite encountering resistance that belied their Staffordshire hosts’ relegation predicament.

Nuns only had a Lee Chapman penalty to show for their pressure in the opening quarter but polished play by Elliott Brown and Todd Bullions primed Steve Honey for the first try and the Kiwi returned the favour when he was halted just short of the line and Brown picked up the pieces.

That 17-point interval lead was reduced when poor defence enabled Dewi Williams to slice through from the half-way line but Chapman was able to slot home his third conversion as Burton conceded a penalty try.

Again burton hit back – an all-my-own-work effort from scrum-half Darryl Branton who picked his way through and drop-kicked the extras – but the bonus was secured three minutes from time when Llyr Griffiths touched down from a five-metre scrum.

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