Billingham 0 Percy Park Academy 26
Park Academy faced the side that narrowly beat them twice last season in what turned out to be a cracking game of rugby. Travelling with just 17 players due to injury and unavailability Park still fielded a strong side on a perfect late autum afternoon. From the start it was evident that Billingham had more "beef" in their forwards than last season though maybe a little less pace in their backs (to Park's relief!). Opening exchanges remained pretty even with most of the rugby being played between to 22's. Park went ahead through a very fortunate penalty try given for tackling a player without the ball when Park had clearly knocked the ball on when trying to gather it. Zac Rutter kicked the simple conversion to make it 0-7. A set move pickup from Matty Robson at an attacking scrum resulted in Zac Rutter ghosting in unchallenged, followed by his conversion making it 0-14 at half time.
Billingham responded well after the break and threatened more with both possession and territory and it took a couple of desperate tackles to keep them out at times. Park's slide defence was superbly marshalled by Jack Dent - pleasing after much work in training recently. Close range efforts by Matty Atkinson and Matty Robson and a third conversion by Rutter gave Park a 0-26 lead which they were able to defend until the final whistle. Lineouts normally such a strong weapon for Park didn't function well at all with a number of overthrows but scrummaging went well with special praise(from Billingham too) for Joe Wilkinson at loosehead.
Revenge for last seasons defeats, pleasing not to have conceeded any points, Park need games of this calibre to continue it's players development and we look forward to facing a fired up Billingham at home in December.