SUNDERLAND RFC 13 – 29 PERCY PARK RFC
A mostly unmemorable game will be recalled in the future for one of the best tries you’ll see… To quote Max Boyce “and I know cos I was there”
Park travelled to the Ashbrooke Sports Ground to take on Sunderland with both sides having enforced breaks to the season due to storm Arwen, waterlogged pitch and Covid. Thankfully despite several changes for both teams since Park won 69 – 15 at Preston Avenue back in September 2021 this was for the most part a keenly contested match with the visitors running out winners with a try bonus point.
The rain stayed off, but an overnight downpour left the pitch a bit clarty underfoot and made handling difficult. Park opened the scoring on 5 minutes when lock Josh Hedley went over after bursting through the Sunderland defence and making it to the line, with Paul Spowart adding the extras.
For the rest of the half both sides toughed it out, but the game was a litany of knock-ons, scrums and penalties with both sides defences holding firm. Park lost Jake Smith to the sin bin on 14 minutes for a high tackle and Sunderland’s play maker fly-half Edmundson was forced to leave the field after 30 minutes with an injury. After a stop start 10 minutes or so Park were awarded a kickable penalty just outside the home 22. Opting for a kick to the corner and line out, Park’s efforts were thwarted and pressure relieved when the referee adjudged an infringement had taken place as the black and white pressed for the line.
A couple of minutes later with another penalty to Park in a similar position Paul Spowart stepped up to kick the goal for 3 points as the whistle blew and at the break it was Sunderland 0 – 10 Percy Park.
With the advantage of the slope in the second half Park stretched their lead with Jonny Dubois finishing of a driving maul and Ash Smith off the bench kicked the conversion, 0 – 17.
The home side cut the deficit with a penalty, before losing their openside to a yellow card for collapsing a Park maul close to the line. Despite the numerical advantage Park were unable to add to the score and Sunderland added to theirs with a second penalty 6 -17.
This was a much closer game than the encounter earlier in the season, with conditions not favouring Park’s speedy back line. It was another forward orientated Park try that saw Andy Dunn go over and Ash Smith converted.
Sunderland were awarded a penalty and surprisingly opted to kick at goal despite being some 23 points behind. The kick went wide of the posts but was retrieved by Ross Young who decided he was going to run it. He reached the Park 22 before being stopped but the ball was recycled and Matty Atkinson popped up and crashed through several wouldbe tacklers before offloading, player coach Ash Smith then made a break for it and Park were up to half way, several more passes kept the ball alive as number 8 Michael Langlands raced down the right wing off loading to stand in scrum half Andrew Walker to race to the line and score a magnificent try, so reminiscent of the Barbarians try against New Zealand back in 1973. Sadly there will probably be no video evidence for a try which at any level would be a contender for try of the season.
Sunderland never gave up and were rewarded for their dogged determination with a try on 80 minutes and as the conversion went over the whistle blew for the end of the game.
Back at Preston Avenue the Lions played Alnwick II, who currently lead Candy League 1. This was a hastily rearranged game with Berwick unable to field a second XV for a re-scheduled league game. Thanks to Alnwick for travelling, and once again they took the spoils with a 22-12 win. Park Lions have only lost twice this season, both times by 10 points to Alnwick.
Next week both the 1st XV and Lions take on West Hartlepool – Covid willing.