Northern 8 - 25 Percy Park
Park extinguished Northern hopes for a play off place in this the third encounter between the two sides in season 2008/9. Before the game the home side were confident of upsetting Park’s promotion progress with a strengthened side, but the visitors showed greater forward determination in the set piece, particularly in the scrum, and an early Ali Blair try set the tone for the rest of the game.
Percy Park started the game with a late change to the side after prop Chris Reekie was unable to take part in the game after suffering a groin strain in the warm. As Park’s Lions were playing at home, scrum half John Scott was called up to McCracken Park and Alan Blakey came off the bench into the front row.
In freezing cold and windy conditions, Percy Park started brightly and within 3 minutes right wing Ali Blair had crossed the line after a great timed run split the defence, and he was able to step inside the last defender to score. Rutter made the conversion, and Park were off to the best possible start.
The Preston Avenue side were dominating the line out, winning their own ball at will, and nicking much of the Northern ball for good measure. In the set scrum Park also appeared to have the upper hand, and early in the first half the home side were forced to make a change to their front row due to injury.
Park had several chances to go further ahead, the first coming after a break out of their own half, with inter passing involving backs and forwards. Man of the match Greg Dixon, was involved and his pass to Liam Blackburn looked to have the Park left wing in space, but the cover defence was up to the task and he was bundled into touch.
The tackling from both sides was full blooded and there was a little bit of niggle creeping into the game. Both sides conceded their share of penalties, and on the half hour Northern were punished for being offside with Rutter on target with a penalty infront of the posts.
Park had a golden opportunity to score from a push over try, but number 8 Brett Sylph was denied after going over, but referee Will Halford was not convinced that the ball had crossed the line and another scrum was awarded. Northern repelled several Park scrummages and confidently chose to run the ball out of defence, but Ali Blair intercepted a pass from fly half Paul Scott, and ran in his second try which Rutter again converted.
Before the break, the home side playing in red rather than their accustomed white, looked to be certain to score on a couple of occasions but a last ditch tackle in the corner by Dixon and Blair and then a forward pass with the line at their mercy ensured Park kept a clean sheet and finished the half 17 – 0 up.
In the second half, Northern opened their account with a penalty from full back Rob Thomson 4 minutes in, but moments later after a fracas in the Park 22, Neil Hart for Northern was given a yellow card for punching. Northern discipline was letting them down, and former skipper and Park player Davy Kay was penalised for back chat to the referee, and Rutter stepped up and kicked the penalty to restore a 17 point lead.
Park changed half backs with John Scott coming on for Michael Conn, who’s passing on the day was a little out of sorts, and Ash Smith went to fly half with Simon Greetham coming on in the centre.
Thomson had a further chance to cut the Park lead but his penalty attempt went wide. At this stage Park looked to be home and dry, and on 75 minutes after another push over attempt, scrum half Scott dabbed the ball down over the line after the Park pack had done the hard work.
Northern scored a consolation try right at the end of play when Kay gave a long pass to Womack after winning a scum in the Park 22, and wing went over in the corner.