Charlton Park travelled to old rivals Park House and delivered a performance full of heart, ambition and attacking intent—but ultimately came away empty‑handed after a tight, bruising contest that swung on a handful of decisive moments.

With the season entering its final stretch, there’s no time to dwell. As Steve Hansen once said, “In big games, moments matter. If you don’t turn pressure into points, you leave the door open.” And that summed up Saturday perfectly. Charlton Park created chance after chance in the first half, only to see the ball spilled with the line begging or held up inches short. Instead of going in 26–13 ahead with a bonus point in the bag, Park went into the break trailing 13–12—an opportunity missed, and one that would come back to bite.

Still, there was plenty to admire. Charlton Park crossed for three excellent tries through George Crick, Shae Tucker, and Bill Sandison, each one a reminder of the attacking quality this side possesses. Louis Gounet, Sam Spriddell, and James Hamilton put in standout shifts, carrying relentlessly and defending with real steel.

But injuries at key moments disrupted momentum, and by the final whistle Park were down to 14 men. Park House, to their credit, defended like Trojans and were clinical when chances came their way. Congratulations to them, and best of luck for the remainder of the campaign.

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The Battle at the Bottom

The relegation picture has tightened dramatically. With Gillingham Anchorians pulling off a surprise win over Beccehamian, Charlton Park now sit at the foot of the table. The frustration is real—this was the sixth match where a try bonus point slipped through our fingers, and those missing points could prove costly.

Bottom of the Table

Team Points
Gillingham Anchorians 20
Cranbrook 18
Park House 18
Charlton Park 17

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Remaining Fixtures

Gillingham Anchorians

• Heathfield & Waldron (A)
• Cranbrook (H)
• Crowborough (A)
• Charlton Park (H)
• Park House (A)
• Ashford (H)
• Deal & Betteshanger (A)

Cranbrook

• Dover (H)
• Gillingham Anchorians (A)
• Elthamians (H)
• Beccehamian (A)
• Heathfield & Waldron (H)
• Sevenoaks (A)
• Crowborough (A)

Park House

• Sevenoaks (H)
• Ashford (A)
• Deal & Betteshanger (H)
• Dover (A)
• Gillingham Anchorians (H)
• Elthamians (A)
• Beccehamian (H)

Charlton Park

• Ashford (H)
• Deal & Betteshanger (A)
• Dover (H)
• Gillingham Anchorians (A)
• Elthamians (H)
• Beccehamian (A)
• Heathfield & Waldron (H)

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Looking Ahead

The table may be tight, but the fight is very much alive. Performances like Saturday—full of grit, ambition and flashes of real quality—show that Charlton Park have everything needed to climb out of danger. Convert pressure into points, stay disciplined, and keep the belief. There’s a long way to go, and plenty still in our hands.