PARK'S hopes of making any further progress in this year's Powergen Cup were all but dashed after barely half an hour of this second round tie.

Moseley may be a pale shadow of the side that used to win John Player Trophies in their glory years of the 70s, but this semi-professional outfit still had enough nous to rack up a 22-3 lead after 30 minutes.

A penalty by the Birmingham side's prolific points scorer Ollie Thomas after two minutes was followed by a try by veteran right wing speedster Andy Gray, who raced in once the the Park defence was outflanked.

Thomas converted and then added the goal for a try scored by scrum half Gareth Taylor, who took full advantage from a powerful forward drive to pick up and score from a metre out.

The first time Park had any possession they attacked deep into Moseley territory from where sure-footed Andy Soutar opened their score with a penalty.

A catch and drive by the Moseley pack at a close-in line-out in what is now known as 'hellfire corner' produced an unconverted try by Moseley's highly effective number eight Colin Evans.

Existing on scraps of possession Park made some forays into the Moseley '22' and at last scored a try, Ian Callaghan sending Soutar clear and he linked up with Neil Ryan, full back Mark Turner taking the final pass to beat the full back for a try, Soutar converting for a 22-10 half time deficit and some hope for things to come in the second half.

A high tackle in mid-field saw Thomas add a penalty from straight in front to increase the lead but as Park took a rare clean line-out by Rob Hanson at number two.

Callaghan set up Carl Bibby on a diagonal run to the line, the centres attempt to make the conversion easier proved fruitless as Soutar kicked wide of the upright.

As Andy Lyon and Clint Lockwood replaced Allen Boyd and Dave Westhead Park enjoyed a brief period of ascendancy and closed the gap with a Darren Wilson dart from a scrum and a forward drive to put Park's best forward Mark Williams over.

The try was again unconverted and Park were just eight points behind in spite of the bare minimum of ball to play with.

Possession

What they would have achieved with only a modicum of possession we would never know as Moseley's last minute try by Evans converted by Thomas sent them though to a home tie with Henley Hawks in round three.

Park's youthful pack will surely learn much from their more 'streetwise' opponents who out muscled and out thought them in all aspects.

Park must now regroup for their league visit to Vale of Lune next Saturday.

Other scores: West Park 3rd 34 Aldwinians 2nd 7, Linley and Kidsgrove 5 Warriors 20 Park's next match is against Collegiate at Red Rocks on Sunday, October 10, kick off 11am.