After trailing at half time, Park produced a tremendous second half performance to gain their third victory of the season. Park began the game well in a confident manner and early scores have become a regular occurrence.
This time it was a Jahner penalty that gave Park the lead after 2 minutes. Park continued to gain the upper hand in the first 20 minutes before Thomas joined his forwards close to the goal line to pick and dive over for his first of three tries on the day.
The latter stages of the first half belonged to the Barbarians. Two tries in 8 minutes – sandwiching a Jahner penalty – first wide on the left wing then a delayed inside run from their center brought them to within 3 points, before a try with the last play of the half gave them a 17 – 13 lead.
In the second half, Park began to gain momentum. Driscoll and Laux constantly chopped down the forward runs of the Barbarian forwards and Finnegan started to find space in his backline with which to add to Park’s numbers in attack. It could be said that Park squandred more than one opportunity when runners making a break failed to recognise the correct support runner.
Eventually, Park turned their pressure into points. A long Thomas break was supported by Jahner and when the No. 8 was brought down just inches from the goal line, Thomas received a return pass to go over for the score.
Thomas completed his hat-trick when for the second time this season he intercepted a wayward pass and ran it back 70m. Olander finished Park’s best move of the day taking a pass from Walther to score in the left corner.
Two very late tries by the Barbarians gained them a two bonus points but with the second coming after time had expired, Park’s win was not in doubt.
Team: Melody, Laux (Nicholas), Kirby (Sowa), Leyman (Carey), Moline (McDonald), Driscoll, Debacker (Panzica), Jahner, Nolan (Aiello), Carso, Scully (Walther), Griffin, Caccappolo (Olander), Thomas, Finnegan
Try: Thomas 3, Olander 1
Con: Jahner 3
Pen: Jahner 2
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