NORTH 1 EAST
PERCY PARK 59 – 20 NORTHERN
Eight tries to three and a flawless kicking display by Ashley Smith were the stats of a game in which Park led from start to finish. Percy Park hadn’t played Northern since the 2011/12 season and then Park won both home and away. The visitors were on a roll however with 4 consecutive league wins after an indifferent start, but from the third minute of the game the home side showed their intentions with a Josh Hedley try. Park’s giant lock battered his way over the line from a ruck 5 metres out after Northern had stolen a line out but were unable to secure scrappy ball. Ash Smith kicked the first of his eight conversions for a 7 – 0 lead.
Northern hit back on 9 minutes after a well worked try, with left wing Graham Jardine coming into the line after a missed pass and quick hands to right wing saw Matt Brown go over in the corner for an unconverted score.
Both sides were keen to run the ball and when Ash Smith picked up a loose pass inside his own half and set Ali Blair away, the Park centre showed his pace and raced to the line to score under the posts. The conversion made the score-line 14 -5.
Northern’s full back Doug Patterson kicked a penalty before live wire centre James Crowther broke through a couple of tackles and scored for the visitors to bring his side within a point at 14 -13.
Ash Smith had the chance to stretch Park’s lead with a well taken penalty kick at goal for 17 -13 with 32 minutes gone.
Park were soon on the front foot again after Guy Pike broke several tackles to make his way to within 10 metres of the Northern try line. Whilst he probably could have made the line himself he unselfishly gave a wide pass to left wing George Lewis but this was judged to be forward and Park were denied the score. From the resulting scrummage a fracas erupted and after a bit of pushing and shoving, referee John Ash called over the main protagonists, the centres from both sides for a quiet word, leading one wag in the crowd to offer sage advice straight from Dad’s army “don’t tell him your name Pike!”
Percy Park continued their attack and another superb break by Pike and a wide pass to prop Harry Watson on the left wing took Park right up to the Northern line. Park were then awarded a penalty 5 metres out. A quick tap by wing George Lewis saw him stopped just short of the whitewash, but recycled ball and quick hands from Ash Smith gave Andy Dunn the chance to score in the corner. The conversion gave Park a 24 -13 lead at the break.
Both side were evenly match in the scrums, but it was from such a set piece that Sean Williamson picked up and charged over the line taking two defenders with him for Park’s bonus point try. With Ash Smith on form the score-line rose to 31 -13.
Percy Park now had their near neighbours Northern on the ropes, and scored their next try with a well judged cross field kick from Guy Pike to Alex Tilley on the right wing. Tilley did well to retrieve the ball before it went into touch and dived over the line dabbing the ball down for the five pointer. Ash Smith kicked the conversion from the widest of angles to stretch Park’s advantage to 38 -13.
Northern stemmed the flow of Park points for a while until George Lewis crossed the line on 64 minutes. A carbon copy of the move that resulted in Alex Tilley’s try saw the 6 foot 4 wing retrieve a cross field kick from Ash Smith as he headed for the try line. The Northern defence held him up, but from the break down, George Lewis, in off the other wing, picked up and sniped through a gap in the defence to go over untouched for the try.
The visitors hit back with a second try of the game by centre James Crowther, who weaved through the Park defence in a counter act and stepped the last defender to go over; the conversion was added by full back Doug Patterson.
With minutes remaining, Northern were beginning to flag, and tries by Ash Smith and a second from George Lewis with the last play of the game saw Park finish 59 -20 to stay in second place behind Sheffield who had a bonus point win at home to Old Crossleyans.
Next week. The 1st XV have a break from the league and take on Blyth in the semi final of the Northumberland Senior Cup. The game takes place at Blyth with a 2pm KO.