Percy Park Lions 45 - 29 Morpeth Reivers
The Lions started 2017 with a win over Morpeth Reivers . The scoreline 45-29 suggests an entertaining spectacle , but the game was a strange affair littered with errors and penalties with sporadic phases of good play by both sides .
With Park's colts playing over at Carlisle , the Lions had a very senior feel to their side . The good news was that Park had a full compliment of players unlike when they visited Mitford Road earlier in the season meaning one old fool could remain on the touchline where he is far more effective ! Ward , Kidd , Wilkinson , Phillips , Sshnairn , Tristan , Clarke , Lake , Kay , Turnbull , Mcdine , Hasnip , Jobson , Gilmore , Berne , Gurling , Whitfield , Casey . Good to see some of our injured returning to action .
Park scored 7 tries in total with skipper Hasnip successful with 5 conversions . The try scorers were Gilmore , Kay , Turnbull x2 , Casey , Ward and Phillips .
Two highlights of the game . First was the bizarre yellow carding of Park prop/hooker/bringer of at least 4 pair of boots Dan Ward . On one of his trademark bullocking runs , Ward legitimately handed off a Morpeth player . Unfortunately as he did so , it produced quite a loud slap noise that fooled the ref into thinking if had been something more sinister . Evidence provided by resident photographer Lake snr , clears Ward of any wrongdoing .
The second , was a disallowed try for the returning Jobson . With Park on the attack , there was a clear knock on by a Park player , players hesitated awaiting a whistle , the ref waved play on , Jobson nudged the ball forward over the try line then grounded the ball just before it went dead . Then came the whistle and the signalling of a 22 drop out , with the ball adjudged to have gone dead . Once again Lake snr proves that the young centre had indeed scored !
In the end , a good bonus point win for Park to complete a double over Morpeth . The double became a double double for Park as news came through that the 1st xv had also won there game against Morpeth .