Ashington 17 - 20 Percy Park

ASHINGTON 17 – 20 PERCY PARK

With the runners up spot already in the bag, along with a home tie for the play off game against Bridlington next week, Park elected to rest some of the regular 1^st XV players, following the punishing fixture back log. That’s not to take anything away from Ashington, who battled away, and could have won this game following a strong second half showing.

The visitors started well and Liam Blackburn was on the score sheet again after only two minutes, when a chip through by fly half Ash Smith was retrieved by the winger, who, with a little juggling, managed to hold onto the ball and go over the line for a try which was unconverted.

With six minutes gone Ash Smith scored under the posts with a fine individual effort side stepping and breaking through several tackles before going over to give Marcus Rutter the easy conversion, and Park led by 12 points to nil.

Both fly halves had penalty chances which missed, but when Michael Langlands was harshly punished for handling in a ruck when on his feet over an Ashington player who hadn’t released the ball, it seemed as though James Philips would cut the deficit for the home side. Justice prevailed and the kick went wide.

 

With only a minute of playing time left in the first half Sam Walton powered over the try line to score after a driving maul from a line out on the Ashington 5 metre line. Marcus Rutter was off target, but the visitors had a comfortable lead going into the break.

 

The home side front five had the better of the Park counterparts, and scored a push over try from a five metre scrum near the Park line after only five minutes had gone in the second period. Philips kicked the conversion, and despite the score line of 7 - 17 the Park pack were under the cosh. The signs were ominous when Andy Clyde was sin binned for foul play, but George Purdy came on and steadied the Park scrummage, being more used to the loose head side than the Park rookie who normally packs on the tight head. 

Ashington seemed to have all the play and looked to have scored when the scrum half went over, but dropped the ball just short of the line. From the resulting scrum the seven Park forwards did a remarkable job keeping out the Ashington eight, and won the ball and decided to run it from their own line. The ball was shipped to Rutter who stepped inside and was caught by the home side defenders on the 22. From the resulting play the ball was turned over and Ashington ran in a good try out wide on the left with young full back Owen Jarvis going over in the corner.

With the score at 12 – 17, Park were awarded a kickable penalty, and Rutter duly obliged, meaning the home side needed two scores to win. Percy Park continued to defend and with the game just about finished, Ashington scored their final try with Carl Hill scoring on 81 minutes.

Ashington have come back well in the second half of the season after being at the bottom of the table early in the league campaign. They will no doubt be looking forward to next season in Durham & Northumberland 1. Percy Park will be hoping that next season they will be playing their rugby in North 2 East, but first of all have to win next Saturday at home to Bridlington in the play off game at Preston Avenue. Park have already defeated Brid earlier in the season in the EDF Energy Senior Vase, and will be hoping for a repeat victory.