NORTH 1 EAST
PERCY PARK 31– 26 DINNINGTON
An Ali Blair hat-trick was enough to give Percy Park a bonus point win over Dinnington, who going into the game were favourites for the victory sitting in fourth place in North 1 East.
The pack was shuffled from last week’s game against Pocklington, with the return of Marc Cook and Karl Thompson and the home side welcomed back John Scott who came into the side not in the accustomed scrum half berth but at stand off.
The visitors’ scuffed kick-off gave Park an early chance to test out the Dinnington scrum, but both sides held there own as they did in the line out with only one or two throws going astray for both hookers. It was Matt Starr who opened his side’s account though with a try on seven minutes as the Park ran out of defenders on the right hand side of the pitch. Fly half Johnny West kicked the conversion as his side went ahead 7 – 0.
Park struck back almost immediately when a solid scrum saw Michael Langlands pick up and break out right to set away scrum half Jimmy Baldwin who found his wing man Leo Caulfield on his shoulder. After a dart down the right flank an inside pass back to Baldwin saw him over the line and Michael Groves levelled the scores with the kick at goal.
Michael Groves stepped in at goal kicker to great effect with a 100% record on the day and on 18 minutes kicked Park ahead with a penalty. The hosts then went further ahead as Ali Blair notched his first, after another break from former skipper Michael Langlands set Ricki Hasnip away who then found his fellow centre. The conversion took Park ahead 17 -7.
With the first half drawing to a close Park were reduced to 14 men as Ethan Wilson was shown a yellow card for a late tackle. The visitors made the most of the numerical advantage and scored 2 tries in five minutes as the Dinnington man of the match Will Marshall steered the catch and drive from the line out over the whitewash. The second try coming 5 minutes into time added on.
Only one of the conversions was on target, but Dinnington went into the break 21 – 17 up.
The second half started with Park still a man down, and another driving maul close to the home try line looked ominous, but the maul broke up and a wild pass led to the ball going loose and John Scot got a boot to it to send it up field with Ali Blair and several defenders in hot pursuit. Some great foot-balling skills by the Park centre kept him just ahead of the defence with the final dribble over the line to dive over for the try against the run of play. The Groves conversion took Park back in front 24 – 21.
The lead changed hands once again when another catch and drive from the line out was finished of by prop Gary Woodstock, although his try remained unconverted.
Percy Park regained the lead with 10 minutes remaining as Ali Blair after a sustained attack saw the ball go through several pairs of hands and multiple phases of play. Replacement prop Harry Watson had a good run at the line and found Ali Blair in support. Michael Grove was again on target and Park nosed in front 31 – 26.
There then followed a nervous few minutes as Dinnington looked to snatch a late winner. In truth Park had the measure of their back-line and their only real potent threat was through their forwards. Another driving maul close to the Park line looked to have paid off as the referee blew his whistle and raised his hand, but not for the try. Park were awarded a penalty for obstruction and cleared their lines.
Keep ball for the last few minutes meant Park were rewarded with a bonus point win and move up the league by one place. Next week a ferry ride over the Tyne sees Park at South Shields Westoe.