North One East
Dinnington 44 - 13 Percy Park
Three late tries by Dinnington put the gloss on their win, in a game where the hosts were on top from the first minute. From the kick off Park were in front of the kicker, and oddly the referee gave the home side a penalty on half way rather than a scrum, and they capitalised kicking to the corner to set up a catch and drive.
Park conceded a penalty for collapsing the maul and a quick tap saw Will Marshall crash over for a try inside 2 minutes, with full back Chris Williams converting for an early 7 – 0 lead.
The visitors shook off the early score and came back with a good 10 minute spell which Dinnington defended well until minute 24 when Will Marshall scored his second at the back of a maul which was driven over the line.
Percy Park struck back on the half hour as Josh Hedley used his giant frame to good effect powering over the line for the try. Several players dived on top of him in the act of scoring and a melee ensued with Harry Watson being shown a yellow for Park although punches seemed to be thrown from both sides none of the Dinnington players were spoken too and to add insult to injury the home side were awarded a penalty from the restart.
On the stroke of half time Chris Williams went over for an unconverted try for Dinno and they led 17 – 5.
The first 10 minutes of the second half were fairly even in terms of territory and possession, with Park gaining the upper-hand in the line out, but in open play the home side’s back row were far more effective. Park were awarded a rare penalty which was converted by Paul Spowart making his league debut.
Three minutes later however Dinnington hit back as Park failed to find touch from a penalty in their own half. The ball was run back through a crowd of Park players before Tyle Stimpson crossed the line for the try which was converted by Williams as the hosts stretched their lead to 27 – 8.
Park were still not out of the game and several surging runs by Ash Smith kept the defence on their toes. Eventually Michael Grove finished off a good move with a pass by Paul Spowart putting the young full back away. There was still much to do as he stepped one player outpaced another then burst through the final tackle to go over in the corner for a well earned try to bring the score up to 27 – 13.
With 10 minutes remaining Dinnington were awarded a penalty which they kicked to keep the score board ticking over.
Park had another decent period of possession with the forwards driving on with good yards made by Andy Dunn and Joe Wafer. With Park on the attack inside the Dinno 22, Ash Smith tried a long pass which was intercepted by Farris who raced 50 yards before passing to Steve Thompson in support for the try. The conversion by Williams killed off any chance of a come back as the Yorkshiremen now led 37 13.
With time almost up salt was rubbed into Park wounds with an 83rd minute try by Rob Leivars. The Dinnington wing kicked ahead and the ball seemed to be covered by the Park defence, but Michael Grove lost his footing as he went to retrieve the ball and it was retrieved by Leivars who went over the line unopposed to score, the final conversion by Williams gave Dinnington the win 44 – 13.
Next Saturday Park play a re-arranged game at Preston Avenue against Bradford & Bingley, and it is hoped the team can find some of their lost form to stem the flow of defeats which has seen them slip down the league from the play off spot to 4th place.