Durham and Northumberland 1
Novos RFC 12 v Percy Park RFC 66
Novos caught frozen in the eye of a storm
Unexpected sunlight and warmth adorned Sutherland Park as Percy Park players and supporters arrived in such numbers that it appeared as if the team from the coast were the home side. Storm Dudley and Eunice had passed and as Storm Franklin graced the horizon Novos were caught frozen in the eye as Percy Park subjected the home side to a tempest of their own. Twelve tries with a twenty five percent conversion rate (a low sun as you kicked towards the Civil Service end of the ground was causing real problems for the kicker) and a forward pack that shoved their opposite numbers all over the park showcased the away side’s dominance. And it pains me to say (we have many great friends at Novo’s) this was not a great game. The faithful loved the try rate and there were some fantastic tries but there was little opposition and at the whistle you could see that the home side were in two minds whether to go upstairs to the bar or just go home. Yet the game started with so much promise for the Newcastle side.
Novos started the better of the two sides and for the first ten minutes the game was even. The first score game from poor positional play from the away side and some equally poor attempted tap tackles as the Novo’s open side seemed to glide through a non-existent defence. Percy Park were guilty of some daft passes and even dafter penalties, giving away five in as many minutes. Fortunately we gave ourselves a shake and the rest was one way traffic.
First score for the ‘black and whites’ came from the hands of scrum half Tom Robinson. A Jonny Dubois break created the space. Try was converted. 7 all.
Next up wing Kieran Sutherland, who scored a great individual try that had power and strength, as he swatted away any half decent attempted tackle. The side step count got to four but I am told it was six…maybe the truth is half way in-between.
Captain Seb Reece was in the thick of the action and as Tom Robinson went for the gap Seb went poaching. The conversion was missed 7 -17 the score. Reece was at it again as three offloads and another six side steps (really...I doubt it but that was the call from the balcony!) allowed the Captain his second try of the game. Again the conversion was missed. The low sun sitting on the scoring end crossbar was playing havoc with the sight line.
At this point the forwards wanted their ‘time in the sun’. Andrew Clyde broke supported by Matty Atkinson before the ball was delivered to wing Ross Young.
Ross is a great finisher and he didn’t need an invite. Ball in hand he disappeared from the Novos defence. On this occasion Ash Smith was unlucky with the strike as the kick and ‘hope it’s gone in the right direction’ bounced off the post. 7 to 27.
Novos 9 was getting frustrated and as he changed position to obstruct another dash to his try line, Ash Smith sent the resulting penalty along the line. A quick and accurate pass from Andrew Walker put in the supporting Kieran Sutherland.
Paul Spowart stepped up to have a punt at the sun obscured posts. Spowart got a good strike but the ball bounced off the cross bar and the posts received an angry response from the player that included the words “I canna see”.
7 to 32 at half time.
The second half was more of the same. The Novos scrum was humped halfway down the pitch. Supporters from both sides thought Park were going to walk it under the posts. With a penalty award the ball went down the line to Ross Young before Paul Spowart put the gloss on the move. The kick was missed. A few changes in personnel didn’t stop the scoring rate as Tom Robinson went off the back of the scrum for Ross Young to score another try.
Even when the referee awarded two yellow cards to Park, one for a no arms tackle and another for collapsing the scrum and we found ourselves down by two, Percy Park still managed to score a further two tries. Ross Young with a break all the way down the field to score. The second from the restart as Jonny Dubois caught the ball and disappeared into the Novos half offloading to Leo Caulfield to score.
Both tries were converted. The first was worth a mention. As we hadn’t had much conversion success Paul Spowart set up in front of the faithful to an expectant hush. A bit like a golfer at the Ryder Cup on a shot to the eighteenth green. As Paul struck the ball with an exaggerated swing it looked good. The comments from the side were encouraging as the ball set away in the direction of the posts. All we were missing was an American shouting “Get in the hole”. As the ball sailed over Paul got a cheer and we got a grin! Both converted 7 to 56.
Back to 14 and we scored again and as the author went to record the moment the old pen ran out sending Mr Lockey to his car for another. Thankyou Alan.
As Percy Park went through the hands an over confident pass allowed an intercept and Novos clawed one back.
Novos were taking a few injuries and their Captain for the day Dan ‘Fish’ Shuttleworth had a go at fly half. He did more than okay. Unlike our player coach, who having decided to have a go at blind side, at the scrum managed to bounce the ball forward to the opposition through a mis-placed foot or shin. Although it has to be said he wasn’t the one who having received a yellow card put his training top on back to front. You would have thought someone in the player’s life would have told him how to dress!
Not content with a finish there Percy Park scored another when Andrew Walker lofted a cross kick into space for Seb Reece to poach another. The game finished at 12 points to 66 with a delighted Seb Reece enjoying that his side had played ‘fast across 15 which was great to see’.
The five points won proved valuable as title rivals Northern lost to Westoe. The South Shields side winning the game with a penalty kick at the death. Next week its Horden and Peterlee away. If you are travelling this will be a 2:15 KO.
Representing Percy Park RFC:
From 15; Paul Spowart, Kieran Sutherland, Seb Reece, Ash Smith, Ross Young, Andrew Walker and Tom Robinson.
From 8; Michael Langlands, Leo Caulfield, Jonny Dubois, Sam Digman, Andrew Clyde Marc Cook, Adam Hay and Matty Atkinson
Finishers: Karl Thompson, Joe Cassidy and Ollie Stephenson.