Percy Park 26 – 11 Carlisle
Carlisle kicked off on a cold day with a harsh easterly wind, but it was the home side that notched first with a try by flanker Greg Dixon. Park had won a line out in the visitors half and Ali Blair made a break, but was held up over the line, but from the resulting scrum Park spun the ball right, and after re-cycling from a ruck, Greg Dixon was on hand hugging the touch line to go over in the corner for the score. Ash Smith then stepped up and kicked the difficult conversion.
Ten minutes later, Ali Blair was rewarded for his industrious work looking for the ball. Park’s top try scorer was given a lovely inside pass by John Scott, but he still had a good deal of work to do to get over the line. Once again the Park wing was stopped near the line, but his strength allowed him to retain the ball and wrestle it to the ground, shrugging off the Carlisle defenders to score. Again Ash Smith converted the difficult conversion.
Carlisle came straight back and after a good ten minute spell, scored on the right through wing Martin Brodie after a deft pass by Chris Harris put fellow centre Luke Bell through a gap in midfield. The ball was then shipped to the right winger who went over for the score on 24 minutes, but Grant Connon’s conversion attempt hit the post and stayed out. Park now led 14 – 5, which was how the half ended.
Early in the second period the visitors were awarded a penalty which Connon converted. After David Griffiths was penalised for a high tackle, the Carlisle fly half had a further penalty attempt but this time his effort went wide.
Carlisle had several chances to claw back the Park lead, but good defence by the home side kept them at bay. Somewhat against the run of play, Park scored again, this time through man of the match Craig Fidler. After a good break by scrum half John Scott, the ball was chipped through. The Carlisle defence seemed caught in two minds, and instead of clearing the ball into touch, kept the ball alive, and Park regained possession. Andy Dunn crashed the ball up, but was stopped, but then Fidler picked up driving for the line, and again used his 6’ 7”” frame to stretch for the line to score, with referee Mick Harris perfectly positioned to see the touch down and award the try.
Ash Smith maintained his flawless kicking display and converted to give Park a 21 – 8 lead.
Park nearly scored again soon after as a clearance kick from Carlisle was charged down and David Griffiths raced towards the ball with no one in front of him, the ball bounced up, but the Park centre knocked on with the line at his mercy, and the visitor’s were relieved to take the scrum and clear their lines.
It was Park who scored next and in doing so secured a valuable bonus point. Greg Dixon scored on the right wing again, after receiving a well time pass from Ash Smith to race for the line to score. This time the conversion was missed, but Park had won 26 -11.
Next week Percy Park travel to Morpeth which has never been a happy hunting ground. A win will all but ensure at least the play off place, but it is imperative that the side improves the performance from the last two weeks, to ensure that if they do reach the play off for promotion to National League 3, they will have a home advantage against the runners up from North 1 West.
Next week also sees Park Lions and Penguins in cup final action at Whitley Bay Rockcliff. The Lions kick off at 2pm against Morpeth Edwardians, and the veterans will play Tynedale Vets at 4pm.