North One East
Percy Park RFC v Malton & Norton RUFC
Baby Jesus rocks Park’s cradle as a Wise man travels east
Post-game, Malton and Norton provided all the fun as they attended the 1872 bar in Seasonal Nativity costume. Malton prop Rob Featherstone took the honour’s, not only with his interpretation of ‘Baby Jesus’, but also for his on pitch performance where the visiting sides front row caused Percy Park problems all afternoon. For Coach Lawrence Patton his last game in charge of the ‘black and whites’ was a dispiriting showing, especially as the home side had plenty of opportunities to get something from this game. As he takes the walk to be Head Honcho at the Gosforth Academy AASE programme (technically he has gone west…albeit I cannot let that ruin a headline!) Lawrence has Percy Park’s gratitude for all of his hard work, time and effort in guiding our team through the highs and lows of Level 6 rugby. It’s not easy. He has our thanks…. Having said that I am sure there is a few will appreciate Mr. Patton’s extra income as he never bought a round at the bar…he kinda just hovered around until someone purchased a beverage for him. Let’s hope the next incumbent of the coveted role brings some cash with him on match days….maybe that should be an interview question!!...so how did Malton ruin our esteemed leaders last day?
All the early work and pressure came from Percy Park who camped in Malton and Norton’s 22. That pressure soon showed as the away side infringed in front of the posts. Although advantage was played a forward pass brought the game to a halt and player coach Ash Smith to the easiest 3 points he could ever have. And from those words you gathered our man missed. The expletive said it all. Me, I think mentally he was still strolling around Alnwick gardens looking at fairy lights. Still a miss it was and the game continued with Park still dominating territory. We were going well until we were handed further torment when prop Andrew Steinburg dislocated his knee in the contact area. It didn’t look good and he has our very sincere hopes and wishes of a speedy recovery. All in all the rugby gods appeared to be lining up against the Tyneside team.
That thought was greatly emphasized when Malton and Norton scored on their first foray into the home sides 22. They only got there by some Park indiscipline and a lack of bodies making the hits. This was a surprise for normally the scoring player would not have got over the line. The conversion was duly taken. 7 nil the score.
The score lifted the away team. Malton dominated in the scrummage taking Park’s ball…well truth is they seemed to push us off our ball. Park continued to give silly penalties away. Through both scenarios what rhythm we had was being evaporated by daft bloomers. We played the man in the air at a line out, went into the contact area in front of the ball and even kicked the ball through the ruck area. Not only were the faithful frustrated so was the referee, with Captain Seb Reece receiving ‘the talk!’ The outcome from ‘all of that’ was Malton battling their way over our try line. The conversion was taken. 14 nil
We needed a response. A fine move orchestrated by fly half Michael Grove had Ash Smith to the line. We looked in control until a knock on in front of the posts allowed Malton to escape. Not for long as Park continued to press and Malton buckled. Resorting to desperate measures to stop the black and white tide. With the ball in the ruck and just near the try line a Malton boot, via a side entry, attempted to relieve the pressure. The cynical move was spotted and the Malton player was removed for ‘10’ by a yellow card brandished about for all to see. Park went to the line and on the catch and drive put 14 players in to shove Ash Smith over. The player coach nesting the egg underneath his body as if he was trying to make it hatch. This time the kick was good. 7 to14 and we were at the turn
Percy Park started well, pinging the ball round and asking a lot of the Malton defense. Some big hits were going in and the game temperature ramped up. However a forward pass and scrum gave possession away. With Malton awarded a penalty, Park called offside, they looked to have given away advantage as a forward pass put the winger over. With the away side brought back to the penalty they went for the scrum. Albeit held we seemed to miss the ‘8’, allowing the Yorkshire side a rumble to the line with that man Featherstone going over for a try. The conversion taken. 7 to 21
The highlight of the game came courtesy of Jake Smith. A fantastic line took him past the Malton defence. Looking for support the full back stood tall in front (I use that word as Jake is rather small and everybody else appears tall to him). Smith went to the hit and slipped! The slip took the Malton man to the floor allowing Smith to dart past him. You really have to see it. With a penalty in front of the posts Park went for the scrum and butchered it, letting Malton off the hook. The players were not happy and with some justification.
An audacious kick over the Park defensive line attracted the knock on and from the resulting scrum Malton dominated our 22. Park held out with some really good defence. A great hit brought the knock on and a Park put in…yet…we lost that as well with Andrew Dunn at ‘8’ having to hold the ball on the ground in an attempt to prevent the giveaway. The referee was on his case and with the resulting penalty Malton went back to the scrum and pushed us over the line to score. The conversion went wide.7 to 26…and... Oh Boy!!
At every opportunity Malton went to the scrum. Not surprisingly. And as a consequence Park changed tactic with Michael Langlands taking the loose head prop berth. With Sean Williamson in ‘the row’ we looked solid. Could the game pendulum swing? Park pressed and with some parity in the set piece enjoyed some possession. Ruairi Meharg made a sparkling run deep into the away side 22. Only an outstretched arm prevented a pass from reaching Sean Williamson and a certain try. Scrum advantage. We won it but the hook was so quick it came straight out the back. With Andy Dunn surprised, Malton gained the knock on and their own scrum. We held, they cleared and we eventually ran back with Michael Langlands bursting through. Drawing the man he made the pass only for Park to butcher ‘the continue’. Plenty of discussion re execution followed.
With the ‘clock on red’ Percy Park went to the ‘catch and drive’ with some aplomb taking Norton deep into their 22. This was the real Percy Park. With the drive brought to a halt the ball was pinged out and through the hands, with Mattie Boustead the recipient of some great handling. Try. The conversion was missed. Final score 12 to 26 and it should have been closer. Park gained parity with a front row shuffle and from there we had opportunities. Plenty of thinking for ‘our’ Ash to do.
As we have already wished Lawrence an ‘adieu’ all that remains is to wish all of the faithful a very merry Xmas and a Happy New Year…that is if we can beat our dearest and dearest on Boxing Day…It’s a two o’clock kick off and the author of this literary masterpiece expects to see you all at Preston Avenue to cheer on the black and whites versus the red and gold. Should be a belter!! See you there.
And onto the Legg paragraph: Representing Percy Park.
From 15…Mattie Boustead, Chris McCabe, Seb Reece (C), Ash Smith, Ollie Stephenson, Michael Grove and Ruairi Meharg
From 8…Andrew Dunn, Jake Smith, Leo Caulfield, Josh Hedley, Michael Langlands, Andrew Steinburg (Sean Williamson), Adam Hay and Marc Cook.
Replacements (excluding Williamson) Marc Barry and Andrew Walker.