UBS Candy League 1
Percy Park 46 – 10 Morpeth Reivers
With the 1st XV on their travels to Burnage, the Lions took to the main stage at Preston Avenue, hoping for a return to form following their disappointing defeat at West Hartlepool last week. There were again a number of changes to the side with a couple of late cry off’s and players moving up to the 1st XV which meant that a couple of players from the Pumas had to step up, and step up they did especially in the case of Ian Bradley, who had a storming game at number 8 scoring 4 of the side’s 7 tries in a bonus point win that takes the Lions up to third in the league.
Gone was the summer sun, and in its place a biting north-easterly wind that kept supporter numbers down, or they chose to support from the warmth of the club house. Park showed their intentions early on with pressure on Morpeth in their 22, which led to a clearance kick being charged down by Michael Grove, who chased up and scored a try on 2 minutes, kicking the conversion to put the side 7 – 0 up.
Morpeth came back straight away with a try from Carl Parkinson after a neat inside pass found space through the Park fringe defence. The easy kick was missed, showing that on the day Morpeth did not have a kicker in their midst.
For the first 15 minutes the game was evenly contested, but Park had the superiority in the line out, and a catch and drive, saw Ian Bradley go over for the first of his tries on 16 minutes. Michael Groves just missed the conversion, but slotted a penalty on 34 minutes.
The referee was particularly hot on discipline at the set scrum and penalised Morpeth for foot-up, a free kick seldom seen in rugby these days. A quick tap gave Ian Bradley his chance to power over the line for a try just on half time, and Michael Grove converted to give the Lions a 22 – 5 lead at the interval.
Morpeth Reivers didn’t look as well drilled as normal, and struggle to win possession in the line out. From a line out just outside their 22, the ball was tapped back and Thomas Turnbull for Park, intercepted a pass to run in for the try, his 5th in 3 games. Again Groves kicked the extras as Park started to pull away from their opposition.
There had been few incidents in the game and when the Reivers replacement prop head-butted his opposite number in front of the referee the action came somewhat out of the blue. The offender was given his marching orders and Morpeth’s problems were compounded being down to 14 men for the rest of the match.
Ian Bradley went over for his hat-trick try on 67 minutes, although this remained unconverted as Park moved ahead to 34 – 5. Veteran Paul Jackson came on for Morpeth at fly half and was soon in action darting through a gap in the Park defences to give his side a consolation try near the end of the game.
Well into injury time Ian Bradley went over for his 4th try which Michael Grove converted, and everyone expected the final whistle, but there was still enough time available for Park to go further ahead. A loose ball was kicked ahead by Michael Grove who gave chase but was pulled back by a covering defender preventing him from scoring. The referee to add salt to Morpeth’s wounds awarded a penalty try and the game ended 46 -10.
Next week the Lions have a tough game away to second placed Tynedale Raiders.
SSE National 3 North
Burnage 27 – 18 Percy Park
Park’s 1st XV were unable to make it 4 wins in a row, going down to Burnage. The home side scored in double quick fashion as had been the case last week and Park were 7 – 0 down inside 2 minutes. Liam Blackburn scored for Park, as did Ryan Wilson who received a late call up from the Lions, due to Liam Scott being too ill to travel.
Not one of Park’s better performances and they have a tough one next week as Huddersfield make the trip to Preston Avenue.
River Aln League
Morpeth Edwardians 19 – 0 Percy Park Pumas
A depleted Pumas side travelled to Mitford Road to take on the Edwardians, whose win moves them into top place leapfrogging the Pumas. Several of the Marauders squad who didn’t have a game, were moved up to the 3rd XV.
Next week both Pumas and Marauders play at home against Consett II and Ashington III respectively. KO 3pm.