Candy Cup Semi Final
Morpeth Reivers 21 v Percy Park Lions 15
Lions demonstrate real potential on the ‘sheep paddock’!
First an apology…I had promised to get this article in print on Sunday afternoon…I failed miserably due to a raging hangover and a head that felt as if it was coming apart like a badly made helmet…the second apology…. to those players that were present in Lola Jeans, Tynemouth on Saturday night…trust me I am a better dancer than that!!....why the euphoria I hear you ask…well I was in good company but that’s not all as the day started really well… a youthful Lions team travelled to Mitford Road to take on a strong Morpeth second string and performed really well…despite the very difficult conditions and playing on a pitch which is affectionately known throughout Northumberland rugby as the ‘Sheep paddock’ (descriptive but sets the right picture)…our Lions put in a performance that demonstrated great promise, grit and a determination not to be beaten…they even got a little feisty at times…and in the doing gave an exciting glimpse of our future 1st XV. There are many within this team who will grace the hallowed turf in the months and seasons ahead. On a better day and on a better pitch we would have won this game and so I left ‘the Peth’ in good spirits only to take that excitement into the evening and probably one or two steps too far…..but ‘hey ho’ when Park play well everything in the world looks a little bit better…so how did we play?
The playing conditions were poor…. a strong wind that travelled west to east along the length of the Mitford valley…that wind also had a healthy dose of icy sleety rain that stung bare parts. The game had to be switched to the pitches across the river as the 1st team pitches at Morpeth ‘were under water’…on first impression they looked fine ...that was until you placed a foot nearby and watched your boot slowly sink...despite the conditions we had a game!
Percy Park elected to kick with the wind hoping to take advantage. Morpeth decided to ‘stick the ball up the jumper’. Passing was extremely difficult and that was proven as former Park scrum half Stevie Irving, deep in our 22, floated a pass to his right only for a ‘whippet quick’ Michael Grove to catch and intercept. As Morpeth gallantly chased there was only one winner, albeit the defence pushed Grove out wide, ensuring that the conversion would not be easy. Their efforts ‘bore fruit’ as Andrew Walker brushed the wrong side of the post, having made a decent connection. 5 nil to Percy Park.
The older more experienced home side kept possession really well and forced our Lions to defend for long periods. The ‘away side’ defended with discipline contesting every inch as the Morpeth pack effectively ‘latched on’ punching through the gain line. Some of our tackling was top drawer and that aggression caused Morpeth to drop the ball or being forced to make mistakes by coming ‘in at the side’ in an attempt to regain or secure their own ball. Yet it was our own mistake that gave Morpeth a ‘sniff’….instead of booting the ball down the pitch and creating ‘the chase’ we elected to play out and an interchange of passes’ between Adam Hay and Jamie Diamond looked good until a ‘Morpeth mitt’ gathered and burst through to score. The conversion taken into the wind. To be fair it was a really good strike. 7 -5 Reivers.
Morpeth struck again this time from ‘nowhere’…Park looked to be in control….Morpeth were making little headway then we slipped off one tackle…another…a hand-off…..another and the player was through. The conversion taken 14 to 5. The question asked…how would we react? we gathered, had a few words ( needed to be said as we were becoming a bit passive at the breakdown) and delivered a really good reaction….Percy Park ploughed into the ruck allowing Adam Hay to collect at the rear and place a flat attacking pass into the hands of Jack Allen …if you think that Michael Grove is quick this guy is equally rapid….put into space Allen zipped through the Morpeth defence, whilst demonstrating a nifty side step, that left the defence flat footed to score in the corner. As Park supported the Morpeth ‘pack’ chased. As Allen scored we ended up with ‘a bit of a ruckus’ in that corner with Leo Caulfield and Stevie Irving having a little coming together. On this occasion Walker shot a great conversion across the face and, this time, over the posts 14 -12 and into the half turnaround.
Percy Park started the second half with great gusto receiving just reward from an aggressive forward display, led by the impressive Sam Digman and Mark Barry, which had Morpeth tumbling backwards. Encouraged to come offside, Morpeth were penalised with Andrew Walker slotting the penalty. 14-15.
Instead of keeping the ball in hand Morpeth used the wind to their advantage pinging the corners and pinning the Lions into their own 22…yet we did not give way and defended with real discipline. Defence can win games and this team demonstrated that they are difficult to breakdown.
Unable to get out of their half proved to be Park’s undoing as sustained pressure brought Morpeth to the scrum. A pick up and peel off the back brought the score.21-15.
Jake Smith was dominant in defence and barking out orders…one outstanding ‘rip and drive’ brought the ball forward to the middle and there we ‘locked down’. Morpeth tried their luck with a couple of ‘long ‘penalties missing on both occasions. Park ‘kept the ball’ really well and threatened, yet they could not get over the home teams line to influence the score. As the game went to attrition, it got a bit scrappy with both teams edging toward a further ruckus…it was feisty and competitive and enjoyable to watch…you even forgot the weather… well sort of… With both teams unable to get the upper hand the semi-final ended with Morpeth narrowly beating Park by 6 points….final score 21-15.
Representing Percy Park RFC: from 15: Michael Grove, Dan Jackson, Jack Allen, Jamie Diamond, Ross Young, Andrew Walker and Joe Cassidy. From 8: Eddie Saint, Jake Smith, Leo Caulfield, Sam Digman, Mark Barry, Sean Nairn, Adam Hay and Aaron Smith. Riding the pine: Ru Watt, Josh Wilson, Jimmy Baldwin and Charlie Ramsell.