Rosslyn Park beat Blaydon 38-29 in National League One on Saturdat to lay to rest a 54-year hoodoo since their last win at Crow Trees.

The triumph was also the club's first ever in the league at the Newcastle-based side.

Moreover, Park's fifth bonus-point win in six matches takes them to third place in the league, level on points with second club Fylde.

Park started as if they really meant business - a super move following the kick-off had Blaydon on the back foot from the start. A good attack up the left was cleared by the home defence.

Back came Park to gain a penalty, hoisted to touch for the catch and drive. The visitors drove to within striking distance but good defence turned over possession.

A blistering attack through the middle by centre Dante Mama saw the ball pass through several hands before full-back Nev Edwards found skipper Hugo Ellis out wide to score on seven minutes, and fly half Scott Sneddon made a peach of a conversion.

From the kick-off, Park were dispossessed and it was Blaydon’s turn to show they could play a bit and some good interplay caught Park offside for home fly half Craig Willis to put his side on the scoreboard at 3-7 on 11 minutes.

Park were again penalised on half way, but stole Blaydon’s ball and it was soon their turn to catch the home side offside and Sneddon nailed the long range penalty on 17 minutes to restore the lead to 3-10.

The visitors resumed attacking and eventually flanker Sam Shires broke away. With no other option, he sold a dummy that would have delighted a three-quarter and scored by the posts, Sneddon converting for 3-17 on 26 minutes.

Blaydon came back at Park and Willis scored a super individual try, spotting a gap and going through it, converting the effort himself for 10-17 with half an hour gone.

Park’s response was immediate with a brilliant try up the left flank scored by winger Joe Ajuwa, matched by another difficult conversion by Sneddon for 10-24.

Just as it looked as if Park might ease away Blaydon hit them with two tries in the last five minutes of the half.

Firstly, Park were penalised just outside their 22 and the home side spurned the easy three points to kick to the corner. Their enterprise reaped its reward when lock Stuart English powered over following the lineout.

Blaydon, tails up, were in again two minutes later with an attack up the left for centre Tony Bain, overcoming what looked suspiciously like a forward pass, to score past some shaky defending.

Wimbledon Times:

Park’s Scott Sneddon puts boot to ball

Wimbledon Times:

Sam Shires scores for Park

This time Willis made no mistake with a good wide conversion to make it 22-24 at the interval.

The visitors steadied the ship at the start of the second period and began to get on top again.

The smart home pack exerted tremendous pressure at a scrum, but Park somehow retained possession just as they looked like crumbling. They gained a penalty on half way, kicked into the home 22 to exert further pressure. Eventually it was the Park pack who asserted themselves to drive over, Ellis claiming his second try that brought his side the crucial bonus point. Sneddon converted for 22-31 on 31 minutes.

Two good teams fought tooth and nail. Blaydon got a good chance when Park were penalised on half way.

Wimbledon Times:

Park attack in numbers

The home side opted to kick for the corner but Willis got a bit greedy and in trying for an extra bit of distance his kick passed over the wrong side of the corner flag, so play was brought back and it became Park’s ball. One sensed that it might be a crucial error.

Kiba Richards started a dangerous looking move involving Ajuwa but eventually the ball went forward.

Eventually a sweeping move saw the ball moved across the pitch to the left where Ajuwa pounced and Sneddon converted for 22-38 with only three minutes remaining.

Home lock English burst over in the last play of the match to earn Blaydon a bonus point they deserved. Willis’ conversion brought the final whistle at 29-38.

Park: Edwards (Whelan); Broughton, Mama, Ireland (Richards) Ajuwa; Sneddon; Gash; Brown, Bellamy, McKenzie (Staff/McKenzie); Bowley, Boyle (Broadbent); McFarlane, Shires, Ellis. Sub did not play: Wright.

Wimbledon Times:

Park’s Harry Broadbent goes for the gap

Wimbledon Times:

Joe Ajuwa score for Park