MORPETH 21 – 3 PERCY PARK
With only four points separating sixth place and second bottom in North 1 East, this game was vital to both teams, but in the end it was the home side who took the spoils after a solid second half performance.
Park were without skipper Brett Sylph and Andy Dunn, both injured against Ilkley the previous week, so Michael Langlands moved to number eight and Tom Pollock came in at hooker. The visitors kicked off with the slope advantage, and for much of the first half dominated possession and territory, but could only come away with a solitary penalty from the boot of Rutter for all their efforts.
The early Percy Park pressure led to a series of penalties, the first inside a minute when Matty Lawson was penalised for not releasing the tackled player but to quote the late lamented Bill McLaren, Rutter’s penalty attempt looked as though he had kicked a three pound haggis! A further missed penalty was eventually made good when Rutter kicked his third penalty on 4 minutes for Park to take the lead 0 – 3.
Neither side’s kicker had their kicking boots on, and Jinks missed wide from his penalty attempt, then Rutter missed another difficult chance. Stu Hills left the pitch with an injury to be replaced by Simon Manley on 21 minutes then Dave Griffiths left injured with Mike Baker coming on and Craig Firth moved to the centre on the half hour.
Park had several chances to stretch the lead but couldn’t convert their pressure to points, and when Matthew Jinks made a break which should have resulted in a Morpeth try, but for a wayward pass, this seemed to galvanise the home side and their supporters, as David Lynn scored shortly after when Morpeth chose to take a quick tap from a free kick. Jinks missed the conversion, but his side now led 5 – 3 at the break.
Morpeth started the second half with great determination and kept Park pinned in their own half going close from a catch and drive, then Rory Morrison was stopped just short of the line after a pick up at the back of a scrum. Andy Sutherland left the pitch with a bad cut after a clash of heads in a crunching midfield tackle.
When Park were penalised for hands in the ruck, Jinks missed with his penalty, hitting the post. At this stage Morpeth always looked favourites for the win, and when they had a two on one in the right hand corner, a great tackle by Mike Baker forced a forward pass, saving a certain try.
Jinks kicked a penalty on 55 minutes, then Morpeth scored a try from a catch and drive after a line out on the visitors 5 metre line, but this time Jinks was off target with the kick for goal. Morpeth continued to attack although the Percy Park defence was solid enough. The Morpeth fly half was however able to stretch their lead when a penalty was awarded in front of the Park posts.
When a Park clearance kick failed to find touch, Morpeth came back at the visitors down the left flank. A speculative chip ahead seemed to be covered by Liam Blackburn but he inexplicably completely missed the ball when attempting to kick it and a further kick ahead by David Lynn led to his second try of the game. Jinks missed the conversion and the game ended 21 – 3.
Park now have three home games in consecutive weeks against Old Crossleyans, Gateshead and Old Brodleians, and must look to take maximum points to ensure league safety.
At home Percy Park Lions won 31 – 14 in Northumberland League 2a against Morpeth Edwardians. The Pumas had the chance to win their league game at home to Ponteland II, with a last minute penalty, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be and the visitors held out for a 19 – 21 win.