This was the proverbial game of two halves, and Park so nearly nicked it at the end. Fielding much the same side as last week Park opted to keep Thomas Turnbull at scrum half, with Liam Casey coming in on the wing for the unavailable Paul Love and Mark Clarkson starting on the other wing.
Billingham showed early on that their sharp backs could attack from anywhere on the pitch,and after 8 minutes Evans opened the scoring for the home side scoring wide on the left wing after Park were unable to retrieve a speculative up and under on half way, and the Billingham backs spun the ball through several pairs of hands. Dave Griffiths charged down the conversion. The Percy Park pack continued where the left off last week with a powerful display, dominating their opposite numbers in the line out and maul situation, and it was Giles Tipsword who levelled the scores for Park, carving through the home defence to score his debut try under the posts to allow Rutter the conversion to take Park in front 5 - 7. The advantage was not to last however, and the green and whites soon regained the lead with a fine display of handling with lock Dalton finishing off the score when the visitors had run out of defenders. Unluckily Evans hit the cross bar in his conversion attempt. It was Billingham who scored next after a dropped pass by Park in midfield. The home side capitalised on loose ball and Evans was on the score sheet for the second time. This time brother Joe Evans was able to convert and Billingham extended their lead 17 - 7. The home side sensed a victory which would keep them on the top spot in Durham and Northumberland 1, and scored through their forwards shortly before half time when the pack drove over the line after Park had turned over a scrum on their 5 metre line. Park had to hold out until half time and regroup with the wind and slope advantage, but a handling error again in the backs by the visitors allowed Billingham to hack the ball down field and it was a foot race between the Park defence who appeared to be running in quick sand, and wing Garbutt who pick up the ball and dived over the line. Unfortunately for Park this was a turning point as referee Mike Hodgson who was some way behind play awarded the try when the Billingham wing had clearly dropped the ball and their lead into the break was 27 - 7. There was no shortage of commitment in the Park effort, but the back line were playing with a lack of confidence which was apparent with number of unforced errors giving turnover ball to the opposition.
In the second period, Park elected to keep the ball with the forwards, and after 3 minutes George Purdy opened his account crashing over from six inches following a line out on the Billingham five metre line. The Teesider's immediate response was to force play back into the Park half, and after handling in a scrum, player coach Hyndman took a quick tap and popped the ball to his centre partner (another Evans), to score under the post for brother Joe to convert. Coach Jobson made two changes for Park, bringing on Andy Dunn at hooker with Mal Donald reverting to prop, and Jimmy Baldwin at scrum half with Thomas Turnbull moving to the wing, and within minutes Man of the Match Brett Sylph was driven over from a catch and drive from a line out and Rutter converted. At this point one of the home side faithful was heard to say 'this isn't rugby it's just mauling', but nevertheless it was effective, and by not playing rugby Park score another try this time at the hands of Mal Donald. After the conversion, and a Rutter drop goal, the nerves ends of the home team and supporters were jangling. At 34 - 29 Park were now within a converted try of a remarkable victory, and when uncharacteristically the Billingham backs fumbled in mid field, Park countered with a run from Baldwin and then Casey deep into the home side half. Having played several minutes injury time centre Griffiths standing in at fly half elected to kick to the wing, but such moves require hours of practice on the training ground, unless your name is Carlos Spencer, and a miss cued kick let the home side off the hook.The final whistle came, to the relief of the Billingham side, but to the neutrals a cracking game of end to end rugby.
On the next pitch Park Lions were overcome by a stonger Billingham 2 XV, 29 - 7, with Park-s points all coming from fly half Michael O'Neil. At home Park Pumas, significantly stronger than in last week's poor showing against Wallsend 2nds, demolished Billingham 3rds 98 - 0.
Next week Percy Park Ist XV continue league action at home to Sunderland KO 3pm