Park skipper not giving up on title
1:57pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in Sport By Graham Moody
Leading from the front: Park skipper Mark Lock claims a line-out
Skipper Mark Lock has urged Rosslyn Park not to give up on the National One title this season.
Park have suffered a slump in form since the turn of the year, losing their last three games – a sequence that began with defeat at league leaders Jersey last month.
The Channel Islanders are odds-on to claim promotion to the Championship as they are on a run of 15 straight wins and have a lead of five points over second-placed Ealing Trailfinders and 11 points over Park in fourth.
But Lock insists Park, who host fifth-placed Macclesfield this Saturday, can repeat their own run of form from earlier in the season, when they won 12 out of 13 games, and put pressure on Jersey.
“Through a long season there will always be ups and downs,” he said.
“This is our down but I don’t see why we cannot go on an up again and repeat our run from earlier in the season.
“Whether Jersey can be caught I do not know.
“They are in the driving seat but it’s a difficult league and they have a lot of travelling to do to the mainland, which might affect them.
“It’s exciting and tight at the top.
“There are five teams within spitting distance of the top and it only takes a couple of results and suddenly you are right up in the mix again.
“We know it has been disappointing of late but, hopefully, we can put it right this weekend.
“Every game is difficult and Macclesfield especially.
“We beat them up at their place so they will be looking to avenge that and they are full of confidence at the moment.”
Lock, now in his third season at Rosslyn Park having joined from Ealing Trailfinders in 2009, also praised the impact of head coach Jan Bonney since he joined the club in the summer.
“We have a very good team spirit here,” he said.
“Jan came in from Saracens and brought new ideas and raised our training standards.
“It has been enjoyable and a good time for everyone.”
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