SSE NATIONAL 3 NORTH
PERCY PARK 21 – 33 SANDAL
You can’t give a side a 25 point head start and expect to get anything out of the game, and so it proved for Park v Sandal. The visitors started with far more vim and vigour and scored their first try after only 3 minutes when skipper Max Whittingham crossed the line for Sandal. Ian Jackson hit the post with his conversion attempt.
The visitors had most of the possession in the first 10 minutes as Percy Park tried to extract themselves from the Sandal stranglehold and get out of their own half. A great break by Guy Pike gave Park a glimpse of the line, but forwards going off their feet at the break down took the pressure off as Park were penalised.
Referee James Brown was hot on players sealing off at the breakdown, and Park were punished several times before a team warning resulted as Ian Jackson kicked a penalty to take his side 8 points ahead. Less than 2 minutes later centre Elliot Munnelly scored a try for the Wakefield side which Jackson converted, and Park were down 0 -15.
Some aimless Park kicking kept the home side under the cosh and fullback Toby Davison was yellow carded for not rolling away in the tackle area and Jackson punished Park with the 3 points from the boot.
Percy Park tried hard to get into the game but spent long periods without the ball and defending, with the line eventually being breeched by fly half Joe Bedford as Park lost a scrum against the head in their own 22 which allowed Sandal to launch the try scoring attack. Ian Jackson kicked the easy conversion to take his side 25 points clear to the delight and indeed surprise of the travelling supporters.
Having given the visitors a healthy lead Park then decided to play some rugby and scored a superb try through right wing Stu Findlay. Another telling break by Park’s man of the match Guy Pike set up a sweeping attack which Findlay finished off and ran in near the posts to assist the conversion attempt which George Lewis converted with Park’s normal kicker still in the bin. The half ended with Park back up to their full complement of players but 7 – 25 down.
Early in the second period, Sandal kept the score board ticking over with another Jackson penalty on 46 minutes. By now, Park seemed to have a little more belief in themselves and had a sustained period of pressure, which resulted in a try from replacement lock Austin Phillips. Park had penned Sandal down on their 5 metre line but the Yorkshiremen were unable to secure their own line out ball and a loose tap down was pounced on over the line by Phillips. Toby Davison kicked the conversion.
As if to snuff out any hope of a revival, Sandal scored their bonus point try when their man of the match Simon Frewin broke through the Park defence to score on 75 minutes. Jackson was unable to make good the conversion, but the visitors now had an unassailable lead with only 5 minutes of the game remaining.
Percy Park continued to press, and were rewarded when Andy Dunn powered his way over the line for a try on 80 minutes. Davison kicked the conversion but Park had lost 21 – 33 and sadly could not get within 7 points or score a 4th try for a bonus point.
Next week the side travel to Stockport.
UBS CANDY LEAGUR DIVISION 1
MORPETH REIVERS 17 – 24 PERCY PARK LIONS
The injury count in the 1st XV has had a knock on effect down the sides with the Lions suffering most. Whilst Park had sufficient players in the Lions, the had to carry out some creative positioning which led to Johnny Birkett moving up to the front row from number 8, and backs Thomas Turnbull and Howard Stock playing in the back row.
Tries by Dan Ward, Stevie Irving, Thomas Turnbull and Rob Clymer gave Park a bonus point win with Simon Greetham back from injury off the bench kicking 2 conversions. The key note of the game was veteran Paul “Jobba” Jobson coming on to make sure the team had a full complement of players after Ollie Gilmore was injured. Jobson displayed even more hidden talents later in the evening, serenading the players with his “little ukulele” in a Mexican themed evening in the clubhouse.
Next Saturday the Lions are at home to West Hartlepool Stags.
NORTHUMBERLAND RIVER ALN LEAGUE
MEDICALS II 26 – 29 PERCY PARK PUMAS
Although last week Park had managed to turn out 5 senior sides, this week Chairman of Rugby was chasing his tail trying to make sure the Pumas could turn out 15 players against league leaders Medicals. With the help of a few of the Marauders and a veteran of note, Park gained a well earned bonus point win away from home.
BILLINGHAM COLTS 12 – 12 PERCY PARK ACADEMY
Park’s Under 18’s thought they had done enough to win this game, and on possession fully deserved to do so, but in the end a few handling errors cost them as they had to settle for a share of the league points with Billingham. Next week the lads entertain Carlisle at Preston Avenue.