All change but Park play with pride

PERCY PARK 13 – 34 SANDAL

 

The true spirit of a team can often be found in adversity, and Percy Park had spirit in spades on Saturday when they faced high flying Sandal, having made no fewer than 10 positional or personnel changes to the side, due to unavailability and injuries. With all three hookers out, Ian Elliot slotted into the front row, and veteran Craig Bartle stepped in at the eleventh hour to bulk up the second row. With no recognised number eight, lock Craig Fidler duly obliged and he also took on the captaincy in the absence of the club captain, former club captain and recent stand in captain who were sojourning in sunny New Quay. In the backs, player coach Martin Shaw was moved to fly half, and Ash Smith switched from full back to centre, inspired changes by Coach James Ponton.

Park kicked off and play was fairly even in the first 15 minutes, with Ian Elliot making a fine break through midfield, although Adam Fidler, in support was penalised for holding on to the ball in the tackle, which relieved the pressure on the visitors. Former rugby league man Tom Coad at full back for Sandal, relishes the counter attack and on 15 minutes blazed down the blind side breaking several tackles on the way to score the first try of the game, although Tom Smith missed with the conversion attempt.

Three minutes later Tom Hodson scored a try for Sandal after a good break from the wing, but again missed tackles contributed to the try scoring opportunity. This time Smith converted and the visitors led 12 – 0.

Percy Park struck back within a couple of minutes when quick ball was fed left with full back Phil Morse in the line. The ball found wing Phil Thompson who beat one player then popped an inside pass back to Morse to go over. Phil Morse then kicked a very difficult conversion to bring Park back 7 – 12.

The home side had their fair share of ball and came close to scoring when John Scott made a typical scrum half dart through a ruck and sped off up field with Adam Fidler in support, but the young flanker was stopped just short of the line. Park were playing with more endeavour and energy than in previous games, but the visitors were more clinical with ball in hand and made the most of their opportunities, and on 35 minutes Sean Maguire scored after a missed clearance kick by Park was run back by Coad, and after a couple of passes the Sandal flanker went over to score. Smith kicked the conversion then a penalty just before half time gave the Yorkshiremen a comfortable 22 – 7 lead, although a penalty by Phil Morse in injury time narrowed the gap.

Percy Park started the second half with determination and weren’t about to capitulate, and a great break by prop Chris Reekie should have been rewarded with a score but the support player wasn’t close enough and the ball went loose. Sandal were looking to run at every opportunity and scored a fine try through right wing Alex Orr who used his pace to go down the flank and score on 53 minutes to take the score to 10 – 27. Two minutes later the visitors scored again when Danny Mitchell broke out of his 22 and passed to wing Tom Hodson, who chipped through and retrieved his own kick. The pacey young wing drew the last defender and passed back inside to Mitchell in support to score a well worked try. The conversion by Smith took Sandal 24 points clear with plenty of time left to rack up more points.

In the game away at Milnthorpe Green earlier in the season, Park had conceded 19 points in the last 10 minutes of the game, and with points difference likely to be crucial in determining the final league placing Park would have to buckle down to some stout defensive work for the final quarter of the match.

A penalty in front of the posts gave Phil Morse a chance to reduce the deficit a little which was how the score ended 13 – 34. Rather than hanging on at the end, Park took the game to the visitors who gave away several penalties but their defence held firm.

If Sandal win their remaining games they will be league champions, whereas Percy Park have a tough task ahead to make sure they don’t drop through the relegation trap door, with four difficult away games coming up in consecutive weeks.