CANDY LEAGUE 1
PERCY PARK 29– 26 MORPETH REIVERS
With the pitches at Percy Park out of action due to frost following the incessant rain, the game was switched to Kingston Park. With Newcastle Falcons playing in Russia the facilities were block booked by Northumberland Rugby Union that allowed 3 games to go ahead, the starter being the North 1 East league game between Northern and West Hartlepool, before the main course between Park and Morpeth. For afters Ponteland Colts took on Wigton.
With a light covering of snow across many parts of the pitch, conditions were still fine for rugby albeit the biting cold and slippery condition did pose problems for handling for all sides. Park got off to a flying start almost from the kick off when left wing Leo Caulfield went over in the corner. A Park scrum near the Morpeth line saw the Northumbrian side napping as scrum half Olly Gilmore fed the ball on the blind side to put Caulfield in at the corner. Paul Spowart kicked the difficult conversion for an early 7 – 0 lead.
Morpeth struck back almost immediately when a loose pass in the Park half gifted an interception try to Marcus Ridley converted by Richard Flook to bring the scores level.
Morpeth then went ahead with a further try before Park again equalised through Leo Caulfield and again Spowart converted to level the scores once more at 14 -14.
The game was a much more even affair that the Northern West game and as one side scored the other seemed to equalise soon after. Morpeth’s task was made a little more difficult when they were reduced to 14 men early in the second half when one of their locks was red carded for a punch on Park prop Dan Ward.
Despite being a man down, Morpeth took the lead 21 – 14 before Craig Smith scored for Park under the posts. Paul Spowart’s conversion was taken a tad too close to the posts and was charged down by Morpeth which kept their noses in front at 21 – 19.
The red and whites stretched their lead with their final try of the game for 26 – 19.When Park wing Reece Burbridge went over for Park’s bonus point Phil Morse kicked the difficult conversion to once again bring the scores level. Park had had several chances to pull away as Leo Caulfield was denied 2 scoring opportunities on the left wing due to unfortunate bounce of the ball.
A draw would have probably been a fair result as both sides played their part in an entertaining game when most other rugby in the county was off. With time fast running out, Phil Morse saw a drop goal attempt go wide of the posts, but play was brought back for a penalty and he kicked the 3 points on the final play of the game to give the Lions a bonus point league win.
Park used the opportunity to allow several of the Academy side a taste of senior rugby. There were some godd performances notably from Craig Smith, Phil Morse and Mark Antonopolus all hoping to stake their claim to a 1st XV place next week against Pocklington.