SSE NATIONAL 3 NORTH
PERCY PARK 40 – 24 BILLINGHAM
Percy Park stopped their run of consecutive defeats with a second half 33 point haul for a bonus point win in the Tyne Tees derby against Billingham. Park had won the reverse fixture earlier in the season and were looking for the double to kick start the second half of the season to secure National League rugby for next season.
Park welcomed back Ali Blair and Josh Hedley both having been out for some time with injury. Billingham’s band of brothers were restricted to just 2 Evans with neither Shepherds nor Hyndmans in the squad.
The game started with floodlights on early against the gloom although the fluorescent yellow Billingham kit was bright enough to save Park’s electricity bill. The promised rain did not materialise which allowed both sides to play some free flowing rugby in a game which had 10 tries.
Billingham began with more aggression and determination which paid off for them with a regulation try for right wing Matt Kirby. With quick hands from a scrum inside the Park 22, the ball was spun right and Kirby went in at the corner for the opening score, which Pete Evans converted to give his side a 7 – 0 lead.
Park woke up and had several forays into Billingham territory but gave away a couple of silly penalties to ease the pressure on the visitors. The home side did equalise however on 25 minutes when a clearance kick from the visitors found Oscar Pritchard, and the young winger tore into the Billingham midfield taking several tacklers to bring him down. Josh Hedley was stopped just short of the line, but Todd Harrison saw the smallest of gaps and picked up from the base of the ruck squeeze over for the try which Toby Davison converted.
Play was fairly even for most of the remainder of the half, but on the stroke of half time, Billingham’s man of the match Luke Wilson broke through the Park midfield to score under the posts, and with the conversion a formality from the boot of Evans, the visitors went into the break with a 14 – 7 lead.
The second half started with a bang as Sean Williamson went over for a try after 2 minutes. Michael Langlands had made a good break but was hauled down short of the try line. Patient play saw the Park lock go over in the left hand corner for the unconverted try.
Percy Park had picked up the pace of their game and continued to threaten the Billingham defences, and took the lead on 47 minutes when Jack Davidson finished off a try after an excellent offload by Andy Dunn put the Park openside through near the line. The Davison conversion took Park into a 19 – 14 lead.
In the line out department, Billingham chose to play most of their ball off the top to give their back line quick possession, Park on the other hand chose the forward route and from a catch and drive from a line out deep in Billingham’s 22, skipper Michael Langlands score Park’s bonus point try. The drive had initially been stopped, but the ball was recycled and another well timed pass from Andy Dunn put his skipper in for the score. Toby Davison converted and Park were now well in the driving seat with a 26 – 14 lead.
Billingham threw everything at the home side but in their eagerness to chase the game threw an interception which Guy Pike gratefully received and then put fellow centre Ali Blair away for a 80 yard dash to the line to test his hamstrings. Peter Evans was in hot pursuit but Blair had enough gas to cross the line for the try which was again converted by Toby Davison.
Less than 3 minutes later Park were on the attack again, and another caught and driven line out was steered over the try line with hooker Andy Dunn getting the touchdown and well deserved try for his day’s efforts. Toby Davison slotted the extras and with 10 minutes left for play Park were well in the ascendancy.
The Teesiders never say die attitude however saw them come straight back as if their whole season depended on it. An attacking move down their left flank saw Park wing Olly Walker stick out a hand to intercept a pass which resulted in a knock on which was deemed deliberate, and Park were reduced to 14 men. Billingham capitalised attacking Park’s right wing and scored 2 tries in 3 minutes the last on 80 minutes giving them a valuable and deserved bonus point for scoring 4 tries. This extra point keeps Billingham just above Park in the league.
Next week Park travel to Bradford and Bingley, and will be looking to keep this performance going into 2014.
Percy Park Lions went down 24 – 8 to Tynedale Raiders, with an excellent team performance. The Lions haven’t beaten the Raiders for some time, but in this the third time the 2 sides have met this season, Park edge a little closer. Next week the Lions are at home to Darlington Mowden Park as are the Pumas who take on Whitley Bay Rockcliff Vikings in a league double header.
The Marauders have a well earned week off to lick their wounds after a mauling at the hands of a strong Wallsend side.