PERCY PARK 68 – 24 PONTEFRACT
This would be a good test of how far, or otherwise, Percy Park’s 1st XV have progressed since last season, when Pontefract took all of the league points winning home and away. Park made two changes to the side, both in the pack with Chris Reekie coming in at prop for the injured Alan Blakey, and Anth Dunn coming back from injury replacing Adam Fidler who dropped to the bench.
The predicted rain held off, and with little wind to speak of, the conditions, were ideal for a good game of running rugby. Both sides played their part in a thrilling match in which the home side cut loose in the final quarter and there wasn’t much the shell shocked Yorkshiremen could do to stem the tide of the Park onslaught, running in a total of 10 tries in the match.
It was from a charge down when Ponte were clearing their lines that led to the first try of the game when Ali Blair pounced on the loose ball and touched down under the posts on 11 minutes. Ash Smith converted the try for a 7 – 3 lead. From the restart, the Pontefract players were in front of the kicker, and a Park scrum was awarded on half way. From the scrum, number eight James Ponton picked up and popped the ball to scrum half John Scott who was back to his usual sniping self. He sped off up the pitch drawing the last defender with a perfectly timed pass to put Ashley Smith in for a try. Unfortunately the conversion went wide.
Pontefract the hit back with two tries and took the lead for a brief spell. Michael Bateman ghosted through a gap in the Park midfield defence after good pressure from the visitors. Dean converted to cut the points gap to 12 -10. Then two minutes later scrum half Simon Fletcher finished off a superb try, which had started on half way. Park’s defence it has to be said was a little suspect with some slip shod tap tackling allowing the visitors to take play into the Park 22, and with the conversion by Dean, Pontefract led 17 -12.
Park were soon back in the action, and man of the match Greg Dixon was stopped just short of the line by arty saving tackle, after Thomas Turnbull had made a surging run down the left hand wing, and found the Park blind side on the inside in support. Park were awarded a penalty soon after and cut the gap to 15 – 17 with an Ash Smith kick. Andy Dean had the chance to restore the 5 point lead with a penalty after Park were penalised for a deliberate knock on, but the attempt drifted wide.
It looked as though this was going to be a close run thing, especially when just a minute into the second half, centre Nick Dykes broke through the Park defences to score and with Dean’s conversion the Yorkshiremen were only a point behind. With coach Ponton dishing out the hair drier treatment behind the posts, Park came out all guns blazing and put on a superb display for the remainder of the half with 43 unanswered points.
Percy Park were awarded a penalty which was kicked to the visitors 22 meter touch line. The line out was won and driven to the line. Ponte did well to stop the drive, but a second surge, saw Craig Fidler stretch out, just getting to the try line for the score. The conversion was missed, but Park now had a vital bonus point for the fourth try in the 48th minute.
Park’s superior fitness was beginning to become apparent, and they were awarded a free kick, for feeding in the scrimmage. In a flash, John Scott tapped the ball and was off, passing to Martin Shaw, who found Howard Stock on the wing to go over for an unconverted try.
The scores then started to come thick and fast. Ash Smith was causing Pontefract all kinds of problems with his surging runs from full back. On the hour mark, he found a gap in the defence and made a break with only the full back and covering winger to beat. He chipped over the defence and in the race for the ball, neither defender notice Ali Blair sneak through and steal the ball to go over for the try. With Smith converting, Park were now in a comfortable 42 – 24 lead, with 20 minutes remaining.
In a repeat of the previous try, Ali Blair made a telling break, and this time his chip was chased by Ash Smith who got the touch down just before the ball went dead. Again the conversion was on target, and at 49 – 24 a 50 pointer looked on the cards.
Fatigue now showed in the visitors and Andy Smith for the visitors was sin binned for two consecutive high tackles. Park continued the relentless pressure, and Andy Dunn, made a telling break, through the Pontefract defences, and with the last man to beat offloaded to James Ponton who scored to bring up the 54th point, and Ash Smith then made it 56.
Park were now completely dominant, and when awarded a scrum near the visitors line, looked for a push over try. Ponte were penalised for breaking off the scrum, and Park elected for another on 5 metres. This time scrum half John Scott picked up passed to Martin Shaw and ran around the fly half to take a pass and break through the defence to score, just 2 minutes before the end of normal time.
Ash Smith missed the conversion, but was on target a couple of minutes later after Ali Blair finished a fine flowing move to complete his hat trick. Martin Shaw mad a searing break, and had flanker Adam Fidler in support. The young Park flanker could probably have scored himself, but unselfishly passed inside to Blair for the score.
The game ended 68 -24. News came through that West Hartlepool had lost their unbeaten record away at Old Brods, but a losing bonus point keeps them on the top of North 1 East, with Wheatley Hills in second, and Park still in third place.
Park’s Lions had a resounding 81 – 14 win away to Sunderland II and the Marauders won 67 – 0 away to Ryton III. Now in days gone by, three such score lines would have heralded an evening of celebration with one or two drinks along the way – none of it. Instead most of the 1st XV were huddled up in front of the big screen watching “The Mummy Returns”, and even a bucket of ice couldn’t dislodge them. How times have changed.
Next week it’s Team Northumbria away for the 1st XV, the Lions play Gosforth Phoenix at home, the Pumas play Jarrovians and the Marauders also at home take on Consett. Meanwhile the Academy travel to Northern.