Halifax no happy hunting ground for Park

Old Brodleian’s 10 – 7 Percy Park

Back to back trips to the Halifax district proved a pointless task for Percy Park who returned empty handed on both occasions, firstly at the hands of Old Crossleyans, then on Saturday gone, against Old Brodleians. Park were favourites to win with Brods having only picked up four points all season, but the Yorkshiremen's home record in recent seasons has been strong and they had more grit and determination to win by a narrow margin.

Brods kicked off with the wind, slope and the sun at their backs, and pressurised Park who hardly got out of their half for the first ten minutes. On the five minute mark Thomas Turnbull saved a certain try when he chased down Matthew Hoyle wide on the home side left wing, and stopped him just short of the line. The first score of the game came with a large slice of luck, when Simon Greatham retrieved a missed kick to touch. The Park left wing threw an inside pass to Marcus Rutter to clear the lines, who slipped as he tried to catch the ball, and Jack Moon chasing up kicked through and pounced on the ball over the Park try line. Oliver Ackroyd kicked the conversion in front of the posts.

Park had a difficult chance to pull some points back with a long range penalty into the wind after Chris Reekie was on the receiving end of a high tackle, but Rutter’s attempt dropped short.

Both sides were guilty of indiscipline and after Old Brodleians were penalised and marched back ten yards, Marcus Rutter had another chance to get Park’s first points, but this time the kick hit the post and bounced out.

Just before half time, the Brods hooker was sent to the bin for some back chat to the referee, but Park couldn’t capitalise on the numerical advantage.

In the second half, Park started brightly, and after a good handling move the ball was shipped to Simon Greetham who was stopped literally on the try line and bundled into touch. It was clearly not going to be Park’s day, when an almost certain try went begging again on the left wing with a sloppy pass missing two Percy Park players and going into touch, with no one at home.

The visitors had enough possession but couldn’t turn this into points, and found difficulty breaking the Brodleians rush defence. On several occasions, Dave Griffiths was tackled, man and ball at inside centre, so I dare say Phil Morse at fly half is off his Christmas card list! Park did strike back when Brods over threw a line out on the own five metre line, and Chris Reekie picked up the stray throw and drove over the line. Marcus Rutter then kicked a sweet conversion to level the scores.

Percy Park had much of the territory in the second half, but didn’t look like scoring, and the game seemed destined for a 7 – 7 draw. Old Brodleians attacked the Park half and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts with time almost up on the clock. The routine penalty took the home side into the lead, and despite eight minutes of injury time Park couldn’t reply. The final whistle came to the delight of the Calderdale side’s supporters as they move out of the relegation zone.