Percy Park 26 – 27 Burnage
Promotion to National 3 North eluded Park, as the game was snatched from them in the 85th minute. Runners up of North 1 east and North 1 West met to decide who would join West Hartlepool and Altringham and Kersall in the National leagues next season, and it was the west side that showed the early promise racking up 10 points in the first 10 minutes.
Going into the game both side’s league records were identical having won all but 3 games and one draw. Park earned home advantage due to having scored more bonus points, but it was the visitors who drew first blood inside 4 minutes when Sam Jennings cut through the Park defence in midfield to score, and the conversion by Adam Knight was made good.
Park came back at Burnage and were awarded a penalty, and with Marcus Rutter warming the bench, kicking duties fell to Ash Smith, who missed with his attempt at goal. On 10 minutes however Knight added to the Burnage total with a penalty and the visitors were 10 – 0 up in as many minutes.
Burnage looked the stronger side, and on several occasions stripped Park of possession, although Park hit back on 17 minutes when the ball was spun wide and Ash Smith came into the line to off load to Ali Blair on the left wing to score. Unfortunately Ash missed with the conversion, which sadly was to be the story of the day.
The Varley Park outfit were known for their ability to score from the catch and drive line out, and when Park were penalised for offside, the ball was kicked to the corner and from the line out, the Burnage pack rumble the ball over the line for a 15 – 5 lead, with the conversion missed.
Park missed another penalty kick at goal, before Burnage’s right wing Chris Kornecki retrieved a mis guided clearance and ran back at the Park defence. His up and under was deftly retrieved as he set off towards the line on a mazy run, linking with Adam Blaney to score. Neither kicker was on form, and Knight missed with his shot at goal.
Another penalty attempt by Park was again missed and it looked as though the visitors would going into half time 20 – 5 up. Burnage had a line out inside their 22, and thinking it was the last play of the half, kicked the ball out sideways. To their dismay, the referee Dean Lythgoe did not blow for the end of the half, and Park had one more play to stay in touch. The line out was won and the ball spun wide. Martin Shaw looked to be in through a gap in the defence, but he opted for a long pass which was taken by Ash Smith who went over in the corner for the try. Unfortunately he was again off target and the visitors led 20 – 10, looking set for the last promotion spot.
In the second half, Ash Smith kicked a penalty after 2 minutes, when Burnage were penalised for a dangerous tackle. Not long into the half, Brett Sylph and Marcus Rutter was thrust into action from the replacement bench and had an instant impact. With Burnage reduced to 14 men. Park drove them off a scrum in their own 22, and the ball went wide from Martin Shaw for Howard Stock to go over in the corner for 18 -20 but the conversion again stayed out.
Although Burnage had dominated play in the first half, Park turned the tables in the second period, and were awarded a kickable penalty on 57 minutes, which Rutter stepped up to take, for the lead 21- 20. Park maintained the pressure and on 65 minutes scored wide left again through Ali Blair. The conversion would have meant Burnage having to score twice for the victory, but unfortunately the kick was wide.
At 26 – 20 either the nerves started to get to the home side, or the visitors stepped up their game, but a sustained period of attack by Burnage, kept the pressure on Park. The defence held against wave after wave of attack, but eventually Craig Fidler was sent to the sin bin for collapsing a maul. Burnage knew they couldn’t kick for goal as they needed a converted try. The visitors continued their bombardment, and eventually the ball was picked up from a ruck by replacement scrum half Jonny Scholes. With men out on the left, and Park’s defence drifting across, Scholes dummied and darted through a gap to go over for a try on 85 minutes. The kick by Knight close to the posts was a formality, and as the ball went through the uprights, the whistle went for the end of the game.
Park had come back from 5 – 20 to lead 26 – 20, only to have the game snatched away in the final seconds of the match. Elation had turned to despondency, but not for the visitors whose delight was clear for all to see. So Burnage will be playing next season in National 3 North, and Percy Park will remain in North 1 East. It was a hard fought play off, and both sides played their part in a thoroughly entertaining game.
Now thoughts turn to Wednesday evening, when Park make the short journey to McCracken Park, home of Northern FC, to play Tynedale Raiders in the final of the Northumberland Senior Cup. Park last reached the final in 2006, which was also played against Tynedale at McCracken Park. Sadly the Corbridge side were to strong on that occasion, but hopefully this time, Park can bounce back from Saturday’s disappointment, to bring the Cup back to Preston Avenue for the first time since 1958.