Gosforth 10 Park Academy 50
Percy Park travelled to Druid Park looking to avenge a narrow defeat in November and produced a great display of attacking rugby, running out convincing winners. Park started well, dominating the scrummage set piece and being very competitive in the line-outs. Gosforth constantly found themselves under pressure with Park's loose play from both forwards and backs generating lots of go forward. Tries followed through hard graft, guile and inventiveness with Spowart, Davis, Littlefield, Taylor and a brace by Dent, topped up with three conversions by Rutter making the half time score 0 - 38 to the visitors.
Park faced a more determined side after the break but continued to produce some great attacking rugby. Cottingham finished a superb team try with lots to do himself, converted by Dent, before poor tackling let Gosforth get a score back. Park used it's bench to give everyone a run out and scored another to bring up the 50 points by Cairns. Gosforth scored their second and final try of the (shortened) game though a handling mistake from the Park backs looking to counter attack from within their own 22, a timely reminder that mistakes can get punished though of little consequence in this game.
Overall a very pleasing game with lots of positives, some excellent individual performances producing an effective team performance. Staple forward activities such as scrummaging, line-out, rucking and mauling was backed up by some intelligent backs options with clever kicking reaping rewards on the day against good opposition.
Final score Gosforth 10 Percy Park 50
Man of the match: Very close but shaded by Scotty Taylor