1stXV Host Rosslyn Park In Another Top Of The Table Clash
We extend a warm welcome to the players, officials and travelling supporters of Rosslyn Park as 1st plays 3rd in this top-of-the-table National 1 league fixture.
Rosslyn Park was founded in 1879 by a group of young men looking for winter sport. Having played ad hoc cricket in the grounds of Rosslyn House, part of the Rosslyn Park estate, they set up a cricket club and took the name Rosslyn Park subsequently adding a football club which took the same name. Surprisingly, neither the cricket club nor the rugby club ever played within Rosslyn Park.
Originally based near Hampstead Heath at Southend End Green they first moved to nearby Gospel Oak (1881), then in 1885 to Gunnersbury Lane, Acton before becoming tenants at Old Deer Park, Richmond where they remained until 1956, moving to Roehampton where they became landlords.
In 1892 Park travelled to Paris to play Stade Français becoming the first English to club to play in Europe in the process. In 1912 Park played the first ever games of rugby in Prague, Budapest & Vienna.
The visitors finished 10th in the National 1 table last season with a played 30, won 10 record while the reverse fixture in December saw Park triumph 10-6 in a very tight game. Their record this season (played 26 won 19) is exactly the same as ours but they trail by 6pts due to fewer bonus points. Having won their last 7 games since losing at home 31-32 to Darlington Mowden Park in January they are one of the form sides in the league. Last week they secured a 22-17 victory over Plymouth Albion despite their visitors scoring twice towards the end of the game.
Our 1stXV top the National 1 table by 5pts having secured our first ever league victory in Darlington last week beating Mowden Park 26-33. Since losing away 49-48 at Esher in January the 1stXV have won 9 consecutive matches including the crucial win over then league leaders Old Elthamians 3 weeks ago. With a played 26 won 19 record we are also the leagues leading point scorers (800), have conceded equal fewest points against (505) and have the best points difference (295).
There are just 4 league fixtures remaining in this remarkably competitive and entertaining season, whilst giving all our remaining opponents due respect the result of today’s game will be crucial to the ambitions of both sides.
Head Coach Paul Turner comments “We lost at the Rock to a better team, Rosslyn Park were worthy winners and did a really good job on us.
We had a number of things to work on after the Mowden Park game last weekend, the squad have had a good week and worked really hard.
It’s the game of the day in National 1, Park know how difficult it is to win at Dillingham and I’m expecting a match worthy of a top of the table clash.”
