Sat 11 Oct 2025
Match Report: Manor Park 23 – 31 Earlsdon
Earlsdon produced a powerful and determined display away at Manor Park, earning a deserved 31–23 victory after an eventful encounter that tested both discipline and resilience.
The visitors started brightly, dominating the opening 10 minutes and putting the home side under significant pressure. However, two simple mistakes gifted Manor Park opportunities, and Earlsdon suddenly found themselves 10–0 down.
Head Coach Jon Fitt was quick to point out the recurring issue, saying, “We’ve got to stop giving teams these early leads – it’s the third time in four weeks we’ve done it.”
That setback seemed to light a spark. Relentless pressure from Mickey Moore and the forward pack finally told, resulting in a well-earned try that got Earlsdon on the board. Yet, just as momentum began to swing, two unnecessary penalties and a harsh yellow card for captain Jack Sargeant allowed Manor Park to stretch the score to 16–7.
Some choice words followed, and the response was immediate. Superb link play and committed carries led to Charlie Knight flying into the corner for a brilliant team try, cutting the deficit to 16–14 at half-time.
With the slope now in their favour, Earlsdon began the second half full of intent. A penalty from Tague edged them into the lead at 17–16, and from there the visitors tightened their grip on the contest. Manor Park’s discipline faltered, with two yellow cards leaving them short-handed, and Earlsdon capitalised through James Wickham, who showed sharp pace and awareness to score. Tague converted to make it 24–16.
As the game opened up, Earlsdon’s fitness and structure shone through. Repeated phases of attack culminated in Sam Mauch crashing over for a decisive try, again converted by Tague, extending the lead to 31–16.
A late Manor Park score narrowed the margin to 31–23, but it was little more than consolation as Earlsdon secured a bonus-point win with four tries and an all-round performance full of effort, control, and heart.
Coach Jon Fitt praised his side after the match, saying:
“That was a quality performance against a well-seasoned side. The lads showed real composure and grit when it mattered.”
There were strong performances across the park, but particular mention went to Chris Scott, whose creativity and decision-making have added a new dimension to Earlsdon’s attack. His connection with the scrum-halves and the standout Mickey Moore continues to be a key factor in the team’s recent form.
