NORTH 1 EAST
PERCY PARK 8 – 0 BRIDLINGTON
This vital win for Park takes them off the bottom of North 1 East but still in the relegation zone as Dinnington who are one place above them, although on the same points have a better playing record with 7 wins to Park’s 6 wins and 1 draw.
Bridlington travelled from East Yorkshire in very wet conditions and the pitch on their arrival was heavy but playable and thankfully the rain subsided during the game to the relief of the small but select band of Easter Saturday supporters.
After a minute’s silence to the memory of Ian Blair who died suddenly last week aged 61, Brid kicked off, but that was their only foray into the visitor’s half for a full 30 minutes as Park had all the play and territory but couldn’t capitalise. The score board remained blank until Percy Park broke the deadlock with a rare Marc Cook try. Park had a line out in the Bridlington 22 and although the catch and drive was halted short of the try line, Park’s forward regrouped and drove over the line with prop Cooky getting the all important touch down.
Michael Grove was unlucky with the conversion so the score remained 5 – 0. Brid sparked into action but stern defence by the men in black and white kept them at bay and the half ended 5 – 0.
The second half continue in much the same vein as the first with Park laying siege to the visitor’s line but stout defence and a bit of gamesmanship kept the score at 5 – 0. Percy Park crossed the line after several drives in the Brid 22 and Joe Wafer touched down, however the referee was unsighted and a Bridlington player snatched up the ball off the ground and continued to play as though a turnover had been won and the referee played on; such is Park’s luck this season.
Both sides had been penalised and warned for high tackles, but it was the Bridlington open-side who was sin binned for handling in the ruck in the red zone. Park with a man up in the pack opted for the scrum but Brid defended well and with a man down had their best spell of the game. Despite coming close to the Park line, the pressure was released by a penalty to the hosts and Phil Morse cleared the ball down field to set up another Park attack.
When Park were awarded a kickable penalty Michael Groves stepped up to take the points offered which would mean Brid would need to score twice to deny Park a valuable home victory.
Park were always the better side on the day and their determination carried in from last week’s performance away to Driffield saw them home much to the delight of players and home supporters.
Percy Park now have 4 games remaining to advance at least one place up the league to survive in North 1 East, and on this display it’s in their own hands.