PERCY PARK 32 – 22 MALTON & NORTON
Simon Greatham’s kicking earned him Man of the Match and was the difference between the two sides, scoring 22 of Park’s 32 point haul. The game at Preston Avenue was every bit as close as the game earlier in the season at Malton & Norton which Percy Park won by 3 points by virtue of a last minute missed penalty by Teei Piawi. Indeed the scores were level at 22 – 22 up as late as the 77th minute, when Greatham kicked his sixth penalty of the game to nudge Park in front.
Park made just one change to their starting line up with George Purdy coming in to the front row for the unavailable Joe Wafer. Aaron Smith, Shaun Williamson and Johnny Ward all returned to the squad on the bench after good spells with the Lions.
Greatham opened his account with a penalty on 12 minutes but Malton hit back with a fine individual try by left wing Tom Newitt, who outpaced the Park defence dancing down the touch line to score. The conversion by skipper Ian Cooke gave the North Yorkshire team a 7- 3 lead.
Park struck back through their captain John Scott after a line out just outside the Malton & Norton 22. The ball was palmed back in the line and the flat footed defenders watched as the Park scrum half burst through and picked up the loose ball and raced to the try line for the score. The visitors made protestations to the referee that the ball had been knocked on in the line out but referee Craig Wrightson was having none of it. The conversion took Park 13 – 7 in front before Malton scrum half Tom Collard scored for his side after diving over a ruck close to the Park line to get the touchdown. The Cooke conversion took his side back in front before Greatham bagged another penalty to give Park a 16 – 14 lead on half time, although the would spend the first 10 minutes of the second half a man down, as number 8 Hamish Lockwood was sin binned for slowing down the visitors ball.
In the second half Simon Greatham kicked another penalty before Sam Triffit crossed for Malton to level the game at 19 – 19.
Greatham and Cooke traded penalties until the Park centre gave his side a vital lead going into the final few minutes with a penalty from wide on the right. Park were playing into the elements in the second half and the strong wind made kicking for position tough. Malton chose not to use the tail wind to their favour choosing instead to crash up the ball through their huge midfield partnership of Lonsdale and Williams, with number 8 Dobson also carrying to good effect.
With 3 minutes plus injury time remaining the visitors went on the attack but were penalised on half way. Some back chat gave Park a further 10 metres then another 10 before Dave Griffiths kicked to the corner to pen Malton on their 5 metre line and run down the clock. Park won the line out and battered away at the Malton line time after time, before Greg Dixon eventually crossed for the try and Greatham converted in the last play of the game to give Park the 33 – 22 win. With the top 4 sides all winning, it is as you were with the league placing with Park in fourth spot.
Malton and Norton will rue the fact that they spurned kickable penalty chances on more than one occasion, as they remain in mid table well clear of the relegation zone.
Next week Park 1st XV travel to Abbeydale to take on fifth placed Sheffield.
PERCY PARK LIONS 71 – 6 NORTHERN WANDERERS
Park won emphatically in this rearranged cup quarter-final which had originally been scheduled to take place 2 weeks ago when the appointed referee did not show up. Northern opened the scoring with a penalty, but tries from Adam Fidler, and Kai Stephenson quickly showed Park’s intent. Northern had no answer to the expansive Park game and the home side deservedly go through to the semi final which is away to Morpeth Reivers next Saturday. Park will be hoping for a good showing to make the final in defence of the cup they have won for the two previous seasons.
The Percy Park Penguins are also in cup action next week in the semi-final of the No 5 cup away to Blyth Buccaneers. Park will be hoping to make the final for the second year running.