SSE NATIONAL 3 NORTH
PERCY PARK 7 – 22 BURNAGE
In the National Leagues in the event of a colour clash, the onus is on the away side to change kit, so Burnage arrived sporting a snazzy number in all shades of pastel greens being the corporate colours of their sponsor. By half time it was nigh on impossible to tell either side apart, The pitch seemed to be holding up remarkably well despite the overnight watering, but at 1.30pm the weather gods deemed that the game be played in a bath of mud and it was the visitors that adapted the better.
Burnage kicked off, with Park retrieving the ball and commencing a spell of 10 minutes camped in the visitors half, but the Burnage defence was solid and Percy Park were unable to capitalise on possession or territory by moving the scoreboard from zero.
The Varley Park side were the ones to open the scoring after a catch and drive from a line-out bundled over the Park try line for 5 – 0. Ross Whinney, the usual kicker for Burnage wasn’t in the squad, so the conversion was taken by burly right wing Adam Knight, but the kick strayed wide.
This was not a day for pretty free flowing rugby, and mistakes were plentiful as both sets of players struggled to hold onto the ball smeared in mud. Burnage reverted to some old fashioned 1970’s stick it up the jumper rugby which proved most effective and on 32 minutes number 8 Ralph Lawson picked up from the back of a scrum and powered over the Park try line. Knight kicked the conversion to go 12 – 0 ahead.
Park made several midfield breaks with Alex Tilley cutting through on a couple of occasions, but the Burnage defence were resolute and snuffed out any threatening attacks. With half time approaching Percy Park pressed again and a score before the break would keep them in contention but lost possession allowed the visitors to break out. A speculative clearance kick into the Park 22 saw wing Howard Stock get the faintest of touches to the ball, and the kick chase saw him dot the ball down claiming a 22 drop out, but referee Charl Erasmus correctly awarded a 5 metre scrum to the attacking side. The scrum led to a penalty try and with the last play of the half Adam Knight kicked the extras to give his side a 19 – 0 lead.
Percy Park started the second half well and only 2 minutes in, were rewarded with an Ethan Wilson try which was converted by Todd Harrison. Stevie Irving replaced Harrison at scrum half but a moments indiscretion saw him sin binned conceding a penalty near Park’s posts and Knight stepped up to kick the 3 points to put his side 22- 7 in front.
Although both sides pressed hard, neither team were able to add to their tally. The win moves Burnage into relative safety as Park remain just one place above the trap door down into North 1 East. The 1st XV have a week off but travel to league leaders Huddersfield on 8th February KO 3pm.
CANDY LEAGUE CONFERENCE 1
PERCY PARK LIONS 28 – 14 ALNWICK II
Tries by Michael Grove, Marc Cook, Eddie Saint and Stu Findlay with 4 conversions by Grove, gave the Lions a bonus point win against Alnwick 2nd XV.
NORTHUMBERLAND RIVER ALN LEAGUE
PERCY PARK PUMAS 7 – 0 MORPETH EDWARDIANS
The Pumas avenged their defeat at the hands of the Edwardians earlier in the season with a narrow win. An early converted try gave Park the lead which they hung on to in an attritional game dictated by the conditions. The Pumas travel to Consett next week.