Honours even in Park-Brods clash

PERCY PARK 9 – 9 OLD BRODLEIANS

Percy Park and Old Brods shared the league points in a game where both sides cancelled each other out. The point moves Park up to sixth in North 1 East, but in a league where the bottom team can beat the top team, and the second bottom team beats the third top side away from home, it is clear that any of the clubs from fifth downwards could be drawn into a relegation dogfight come the end of the season. 

Brods kicked off and within seven minutes took the lead when Park were penalised for not rolling away in the tackle. Skipper Olly Ackroyd slotted the penalty drawing the ball back on the wind with a fine left footed kick. The Calderdale side kept Park in their own half for much of the first quarter, but the home side broke out of defence with a super display of inter passing and moved the ball up to the Brods 22. Several rucks ensued, with the Park forwards picking up and driving ever closer to the line, but the defence held firm, although Park were eventually awarded a penalty which Rutter kicked to level the scores on 23 minutes.

 Ackroyd put his team back in the lead with another penalty on the half hour and could have stretched the lead further with another penalty just before half time, but the effort was scuffed and the half ended Percy Park 3 – 6 Old Brodleians.

 Both sides had made changes due to unavailability, but in the front row Park had to play three props as none of the three hookers in the squad were available or were on the injury list. This took its toll and denied the home side a regular supply of first phase ball, which in turn starved the backs of possession. Park lost two scrums against the head and conceded several free kicks for feeding. The line out too, didn’t work as well as the previous week against Gateshead.

Old Brodleians came close to scoring the first try of the game when a high kick was allowed to bounce and the visitors centre picked up on the loose ball to feed open side Andy Finn who charged up field only to be cut down by the Park defence 10 metres out. With no support, Percy Park retrieved the ball, but a Phil Morse clearance kick was charged down, but thankfully recovered by Rutter who cleared the lines, and the momentary panic was over.

Park equalised on the hour will another Rutter penalty after Old Brods pulled down a maul in front of their posts, then a 72 minute penalty by Rutter gave Park the lead for the first time in the game. The home supporters were hoping that Park would hold on for a close win, but the side conceded a penalty almost on full time and number 8 Olly Ackroyd, who was the Brods man of the match, stepped up and kicked the points to level the score. Two drop goal attempts by Rutter failed to find their mark, although his line kicking was superb, keeping the visitors penned in their own 22 towards the end of the game.

Percy Park had the opportunity to win the match in injury time, when Ash Smith broke through several tackles and offloaded to Thomas Turnbull on the left wing 5 metres short of the try line. The Park wing rather than risk being bundled into touch by the Brods full back, passed inside, but the cover defence snuffed out the scoring opportunity and the game ended honours even.

 The Lions won 17 -10 in the league, away at Berwick on a gluepot of a pitch, and a mixed Pumas and Marauders side went down to a youthful North Shields Artisans 5 – 12.

 Next week all four senior sides are in action with the 1^st XV travelling to Pontefract, and the Lions, Pumas and Marauders all at home in the cup against Ashington II, Ponteland II and Alnwick IV respectively.