The final game of the first half of the league season saw Charlton Park host Ashford at Broadwalk.

One again, Park were forced to ring the changes due to injury, unavailability and child birth, with recent signings Ryan McSweeney and Connor Selby both making their debuts. Of the starting forward pack, 5 were front rowers!
The game started well for Park when after a series of dominant scrums in the Ashford 22, Luke Boyns had the easiest of touch downs as the Park pack drove Ashford over their own goal line. Alex Miller with conversion.
Ashford responded with a well taken try by their centre after a missed tackle as Ashford ran back a clearance kick the try was converted to make the scores level after 10 minutes.
2 penalty kicks from Alex Miller, extended Park’s lead after a period where not much happened.
Park managed to ride the storm and increased their lead. Ashford were conceding penalties and, as a result, ground. Playing an advantage 20 metres out, Alex Miller put a deft kick over the oncoming defence, which he caught on the full and powered over under the posts for a well –taken try which he converted himself.
Ashford responded well, putting Park under pressure with their strong forward play through the middle. A number of penalties resulted in Jordan Guy, receiving a ‘team’ yellow card.
From the resultant penalty, Park switched off and a crash ball under the posts meant another converted try for the visitors. Another try for Ashford soon followed just before half time, again as a result of a Park error, giving Ashford a 1 point lead at the break.
An early penalty goal by Miller extended the lead for Park, which was further increased when McSweeney crashed over from 12 inches to score on his debut. Miller again converting, this time from a difficult angle on the right.
Park were very much in the ascendancy now, the strong set piece work from the forwards, allowing the backs time to display their skills.
Ashford had a chance to take 3 points halfway through the half but the kick went wide and Park then spent the majority of the last quarter of the match in the Ashford half. Both centres, Jack Hudson and Tommy Nightingale, who at times had linked well, both went close following some flowing rugby.
The Park scrum, again dominant (despite conceding some questionable penalties), forced Ashford into conceding a number of penalties close to their line. Ashford lost a prop to the sin bin and were unable to replace him, meaning they reverted to uncontested scrums and went down to 13 players.
Park’s numerical advantage resulted in Jordan Guy scoring a try which was again converted by Miller.
One last foray into the Park 22 by Ashford in injury time was thwarted by the home team and following a line out steal, the ball was kicked dead (much to Lee Amzaleg’s annoyance) for a well deserved win.
This was decent win against hardy opposition who never gave up. Park end the first half of the league programme in a creditable 3rd place after a topsy turvy opening 6 weeks of the season.

Man of the Match was Ryan McSweeney for a strong all round 80 minutes. Dick of the Day was Lee.

Next week Park travel to our old friends at Heathfield and Waldron - Kick off is at 2pm