Friendly
Percy Park Pumas v Blyth IIs
Hartlepool RFC A 57 v Percy Park RFC Pumas 21
The week started off so well for the Pumas with a strong squad of 18 named on a Wednesday night against Blyth IIs at Park. Team mates were even joking about how hot the bench was going to be with others being more prophetic suggesting that we should wait and see exactly what happens by Saturday.
At 11:32 am on Friday things began to change, Blyth were unable to field a team so an alternate fixture away to Hartlepool A, lying second in their league was arranged.
The travel meant that some of the Pumas who were desperate to get back playing could not make an away fixture and then Covid struck some of the others, meaning only 14 players made their way to Hartlepool RFC. Hartlepool kindly offered to supply an outside centre and Nick Friend fresh from 90 minutes of soccer earlier in the day and a 3 a.m. finish the night before switched from his preferred back row position to inside centre.
The game started well, with Captain Hawkins winning the toss and selecting to play down the hill with the wind.
On 4 minutes the well drilled Hartlepool A team broke Park’s defence with a well supported offloading game that proved to be a theme for the day despite resolute defence from the Pumas. On 13 minutes a similar situation, this time converted. 12-0
The Pumas could see gaps behind the Hartlepool defence and on 21 minutes, Flyhalf Dan Jackson, saw the opportunity for a chipped kick chase over the defence with the ball bouncing kindly in front of the ever vigilant Knox to score from 1m out. A difficult kick from within the 5m channel was converted by Dan Jackson. 12-7.
Hartlepool responded quickly with 2 converted tries before Dan Jackson saw a gap in the home sides defence within the 22 to side step and jink his way over the line. Having successfully converted the Pumas went into the half time break 26-14 down.
The second half was always going to be difficult, the gradient on the pitch seemed to increase now that we were playing up it and Hartlepool making 6 substitutions at half time with Francis, Jukes, Din, Arnett, Cooper and Ivey all arriving with fresh legs.
They started the half with great gusto scoring 2 tries within 3 minutes. 40-14. Things could have got a great deal worse if the Pumas hadn’t all pulled together and battled hard, defending well with try saving tackles by Phil Harrison, Charlie Ramsell, and a number of the forwards including Captain Chris.
The Pumas forwards were also driving forward well with runs from Dryden, Lamb, Nairn and Wilkinson although running back into contact too often and a failure to secure our own ball with Hartlepool tackling well was also going to be punished. Throughout the afternoon Hartlepool could not cope with the power of the Pumas Pack in set pieces. The Pumas won every scrum of their own and 2 against the head. A similar pattern was seen in line outs with Sean Nairn’s accurate chucking in and Nick’s aerial prowess along with the alertness of Hawkins and Wrigley meaning when the ball wasn’t taken by the intended target we were the team to clean up.
The score remained 40-14 until the 68t minute when Hartlepool scored against the run of play and Gurling had to leave the field of play with a torn calf/cramp (still to be confirmed at time of writing).
Hartlepool did the sporting thing again and offered us Blue Scrum Cap to add more pace into the back row. Within 2 minutes he was crossing the line to the delight of his team mates to score. Converted by Dan Jackson to take the score to 47-21.
Unfortunately the Pumas could not add to the score but Hartlepool A could scoring 2 late tries making the FT score 57 – 21.
The effort, attitude and camaraderie displayed by the Pumas throughout the day was excellent. Heads didn’t drop when they could have and at the end of the game Hartlepool thanked the lads for the late fixture confirmation and offered a return fixture up at Park later in the season.
Representing Percy Park RFC
Starters:
Forwards:
Sean Nairn, Joey Wilkinson, Jonny Gurling, Nick McIntyre, Steven Dryden, Chris Hawkins 
️Dan Wrigley, Alex Lamb
Backs:
Charlie Ramsell, Dan Jackson, Richard Power, Knoxy, Nick Friend, Hartlepool RFC guest, Philip Harrison
Finishers:
As starters minus Jonny Gurling!!