SSE NATIONAL 3 NORTH
PERCY PARK 14 – 23 STOCKPORT
Park were dealt a last minute body blow by table topping Stockport with an 82nd minute converted try which denied them even a single bonus point, which on the balance of play would have been justly deserved. The Cheshire side travelled to Preston Avenue with high expectations and a full strength squad, looking for a bonus point win to keep them above Huddersfield who are currently in the play off spot but snapping at their heels with 2 games in hand.
Percy Park’s injury woes were compounded on Wednesday evening when both skipper Michael Langlands and fly half Todd Harrison were injured during training, but Guy Pike returned to the team, as did veterans James Ponton and Thomas Turnbull who on the day both played out of their skins, giving their all for the team.
An early Josh Longmore penalty gave his side a 3- 0 lead, as Stockport had the early momentum, and his tally was doubled on 9 minutes. A break down the right wing by former Park Colt Joe Cantwell looked to be a certain try but Oscar Pritchard had other ideas and came of the opposite wing, and with a crunching tackle piled the Stockport wing into touch on the 5 metre line
It was Pritchard who again raised the Park spirits with a superb try a few minutes later. Port fullback Mark Edwards cleared his lines, but the ball was run back by Toby Davison finding left wing Olly Walker, who put Oscar Pritchard into space. The young Park wing burst through a couple of tackles and raced for the line stepping inside the covering defender to score under the posts. Toby Davison converted to take Park into the lead 7 – 6.
The penalty count was mounting against Percy Park and Josh Longmore made the home side pay with another converted score to give his team a 9 – 7 lead at the interval. Park had their chance to overturn the lead when good work by Andy Dunn gave his side a penalty but Toby Davison hooked his effort wide of the posts.
Percy Park were not over-shadowed by their higher league placed opposition and were awarded a couple of penalties early in the second half, but both were again hooked b
eyond the uprights. But in a 10 minute spell of pressure the home side was eventually rewarded with a try from scrum half George Lewis who darted over the line from a ruck 5 metres from the Stockport line. Lewis converted his own try to take Park 14 – 9 ahead.
Everything seemed to be going beyond expectations until referee lost patience and Park were down to 13 players, with Ben Bell being the first to see yellow for an alleged high tackle, being followed soon after by Sean Williamson for not releasing a tackled player. Stockport used this to their advantage with lock Chris Roddy driving over for a try on 67 minutes which Longmore again converted with ease.
Stockport were back in front as Park pressed to recover the lead, with a penalty being good enough to snatch a vital life-line to stay in National 3 next season. It was the visitors however who scored right at the death with a rumbling try from a line- out scored by replacement prop Craig Anthony. Longmore stepped up for the conversion and appeared to scuff his kick, but the ball cleared the cross bar with a couple of millimetres to spare and Park were denied even a losing bonus point.
Next week Park travel to Waterloo for their penultimate league game of the season, with their fate still in their own hands. With Billingham and Waterloo both winning on Saturday, Park are now in the 3rd relegation place, but Billingham have to play Hudderfield and a rare Park away win at Loo might just be enough for league survival.
Percy Park Pumas play their Northumberland No3 Cup Final next week against Novos II, the venue being McCracken Park, home of Northern FC. The final kicks off at 2pm as the Pumas look to retain the cup they won last season against Morpeth Edwardians.