Gosforth 8 – 24 Percy Park
This was very much a case of “after the Lord Mayor’s show” as far as Park were concerned, but that is to take nothing away from a spirited first half show from the home side. Last week Percy Park booked their place in the semi final of the EDF Energy Senior Vase against Tyldesley, but the first half performance at Druid Park was a little lack lustre.
Coach James Ponton chose to rest influential skipper Brett Sylph, who started the game on the bench, which allowed Greg Dixon to move to number eight and Sam Walton in the back row. An injury to Marcus Rutter in training meant a reshuffle in the backs too, with David Griffiths moving to full back, which meant a welcome return to the side for Mark Walton in the centre. Gosforth too had a few changes, but the most worrying for them was the withdrawal of line out man Dan Tucker who had a virus. The early exchanges were pretty “even Steven”, but Thomas Turnbull gave the visitors the lead with a well struck drop goal, after the referee had indicated an advantage for Gosforth being offside. Gosforth had the advantage in the scrummages and took a ball against the head near the Park line. The ball was then spun quickly left and Mike Jurowski finished off the try wide out with Ali Blair’s despairing tackle 
not being enough to stop the veteran left wing. Anderson failed with the difficult conversion attempt, but the Druid Park side were in the lead 5 – 3.
The green and whites stretched their lead on 17 minutes when Park were penalised on their 22 and this time Anderson made good the points for Gosforth to move ahead 8 – 3.
On the half hour mark Park’s left wing Liam Blackburn finished off a fine back move after Michael Langlands had driven the ball into the heart of the Gosforth 
midfield. Quick hands allowed Blackburn to cross the line untouched with full back Griffiths on his shoulder. The strong wind which was in Park’s face in the first half made the conversion difficult and Ash Smith’s attempt dropped short. There was nothing much to “write home about” for the remainder of the half and the two sides went into the break 8 – 8.
The first 10 minutes of the second half saw Gosforth with more of the play and field position, although the introduction of Fidler and Sylph from the bench seemed to stir the visitors into action. Sam Walton moved from the back row to loosehead prop, and the results were immediately apparent for all to see. Park now had the upper hand in the scrum, and Fidler at the front of the line disrupted much of the Gosforth line out possession.
Park’s next points came from David Griffiths after Park ran the ball wide from a ruck in their own half. The Percy Park fullback sped down the left wing just staying the right side of the whitewash to score under the posts, but surprisingly Brett Sylph spooned the conversion.
The Park skipper made amends on the hour with a penalty after Gosforth were ruled offside, and then a further penalty eight minutes later gave Park a lead 19 – 8, and they were now establishing a little more control over the game.
Liam Blackburn scored his second try of the game shortly before full time after Park had won a clean line out and crashed the ball up through the midfield. The quick recycled ball was fed out to Thomas Turnbull who put Blackburn in the corner. The try remained unconverted, but Percy Park had won 24 – 8 and maintain second place in the league behind Hartlepool Rovers who had a slight wobble against Ryton winning 33 – 20 in the end.
In a rearranged game next week it is Park v Rovers, with the Park v Ryton game being moved to a mid week slot (to be confirmed). Rovers are well ahead of Park in the league by virtue of their one point home win against the Preston Avenue side, and the fact that Park have several games still to play due to the successful cup run.
Percy Park Lions also keep pressure on the league leaders with a 43 – 15 win against Gosforth II. The Pumas were disappointed that their game was cancelled at short notice, and the Marauders lost to a good Wallsend III at Benfield Road.