On a day when only one away win was recorded from seven Division One matches, Old Mutual Douglas came within a whisker of making it two at Winnington Park. A nip and tuck first half had Park convert a penalty, and Bryn Snellgrove respond in kind after 10 minutes. Winger Nick Hughes burst over the line for a 20th minute score, only for Park to create their own overlap for Dan Davies to square matters 8-8 at the break.
Hughes was substituted with an ankle injury, prompting changes as Noel Capewell came off the bench to hooker and the versatile Carl Markyl-Ferns took up station on the wing. Laurie Williams was leading the Douglas charge from back-row, and strong line-out and maul work from the pack put Snellgrove away for a seven pointer and 8-15. Declan Horrox was grafting in an unfamiliar centre position, until shoulder injury forced him off, but Douglas coach Tom Waterworth juggled his assets cannily, DionSpice.jpgbringing Liam Kirkpatrick in to the fray and moving Karl Evans to the flank.A successful Park penalty preceded a 69th minute score by Park’s Shaun Williams for 18-15,but Kiwi scrum-half Dion Spicefor Douglas was probing effectively. Appropriately it was Spice who stormed over in the 73rd minute with a now familiar burst, Snellgrove’s boot adding the extra’s for an 18-22 lead. A Park penalty in front of the posts resulted in the cruellest twist with 4 minutes on the clock. Perhaps Douglas thoughts turned to the first step of the flight home, but a quick tap and surge from Sam Bennett to go under the posts left Douglas adrift and bereft. Losing bonus point consolation and maintaining 6th place may not have balanced the books come Valentine’s Day.
