NORTH ONE EAST
OLD CROSSLEYANS 11 20 PERCY PARK
Week 8 of the 2014/15 league campaign saw Park on their travels through Bronte Country to Calderdale the home of Crossley and Porter Grammar School Old Boys, now simply known as Old Crossleyans.
Old Crocs so far had won only one of their league game, that a convincing one against Driffield, whereas Park travelled on the back of a win last week against league leaders Dinnington.
Both sides had made changes and in Percy Park’s case, Andy Dunn was unable to travel, and John Scott and Alex Tilley, both of whom had put in sterling performances last week were out through injury. Jonny Dubois came in to the side at hooker and Jimmy Baldwin at scrum half, and Guy Pike returned in the centre to partner Ali Blair.
The visitors kicked off with a bright sun warming their backs and were on the score sheet early on with an Ash Smith penalty, which Crossleyans levelled on the 20 minute mark. A minute later Guy Pike crossed the line for Park after a strong run and off-load by Josh Hedley. Ash Smith was on target with the conversion for a 10 – 3 lead.
Ash Smith kicked a further penalty, but the game was evenly balanced for the rest of the half with Park almost adding to their tally of points when Harry Watson went close after taking ball from the back of a line-out in the Old Crossleyan’s 22.
In the second half Chris Vine kicked a penalty for the home team as both sides played out a somewhat scruffy performance with errors on both sides and some aimless kicking from Old Crossleyans, much to the dismay of the Broomfield support.
With less than 10 minutes of the game remaining Crocs scrum half Vine scored in the left hand corner after a period of concerted pressure from the home side, his conversion kick to equalize however, was pushed wide of the right hand post.
Both sides midfield defence had been on the ball and although Park looked dangerous when the ball was spun wide, they seemed reluctant or unable to capitalise on this. The visitors did however take the game away from the West Yorkshire side as Ben Bell scurried over the line on 76 minutes for a try hotly disputed by the Old Crossleyans coaching staff.
Ash Smith maintained his 100% record with the conversion which took Park into a 20 – 11 lead.
From the kick off, Park were guilty of ball watching as Crossleyans retrieved the ball and mounted an assault on the Percy line. The Park defence was solid and kept the home side out although they were awarded a kickable penalty with a minute or so to go. Surprisingly rather than settling for the losing bonus point, they kicked to the corner and Park managed to snuff out the attack as the whistle went to end the game.
Although an away win is always welcome, the players demeanour after the match clearly showed their own disappointment at their performance as they remained on the pitch for some time after the final whistle, keeping the head groundsman waiting to lock up.
The 4 points takes Park up to second in the league, and next week they play host to Northern FC at Preston Avenue.