Durham and Northumberlnd 1
Percy Park RFC 34 v Northern RFC 34
Another day different decisions different result.
With honoured guests from Northumberland and England Rugby looking on, Northern kicked off to a much changed Percy Park team in a top of the table clash. Match expectancy had drawn a large crowd with familiar faces from dearest rivals and that expectancy was rewarded with a real contest that came down to the last play of the game. It was exciting and nail biting stuff! Post-game comment surrounded the thought and question; how in earth had Northern managed to draw that game? The answer was in several parts the first being their desire not to be beaten, the second from the Falcons playbook as Kupa stepped up to show his Premier League rugby experience and the third from a player who went from ‘Zero to Hero’ in the time it took him to sprint the length of the Preston Avenue pitch on the ‘last play’. In the asking many considered the role Percy Park played to enable their opponents the opportunity to draw. The home side had as much desire as Northern and were (on the day) the better team. At the turn Park were 22 to 6 up and had the upper hand. As we restarted the game, and for a short period, we fell off the tackles in the midfield and failed to manage possession of the ball. If we had managed that period a bit better the sting would have been taken out of the Northern impetus. With last play called the home side were ‘7 up’ and remained camped on the Northern try line. A score looked likely, then we went wide attracting the intercept. A floating ball was caught and the Northern player was off. If we had kept it tight, managed that period in another way the result might have been different. If’s and maybe’s. Fine margins. Another day different decisions different result…Great game though…for the neutral...the more partisan of us had a stress attack!
It took seven minutes for Percy Park to opening the scoring. An offside decision allowing Ash Smith a punt at goal. The start was a lively affair with some big hits but the notable factor was Park had more than an edge in the scrum. The omens looked good for the set piece. Unfortunately flanker Jake Smith appeared to get his foot caught as he was cleared away from the ruck causing an injury. He continued on playing an important role in the penalty award. In obvious pain the player left the fray to find (later that day) he had fractured his foot! 3 nil Park
A failed intercept…mind it was close...allowed the Northern winger some space and attracted a penalty at the breakdown. A free ball came to nothing. 3 all
On the 15 mark Percy Park profited from a well worked move in the lineout allowing hooker Jonny Dubois room to attack the Northern try line. A little step and the player came inside. The covering tackle was good but the player legs in the air made good the touch down. The conversion was difficult and missed. 8 to 5
Park were on it again when Ash Smith put in a bullet pass to the advancing wing Ollie Stephenson. The try momentum started with a great scrum that saw Northern being pushed backwards. Yards taken the ball was given to scrum half Robin Houghton and from a ruck Northern contracted allowing Smith the space to work. Conversion taken 15 to 3. Houghton was playing well at 9.
A lapse on the floor as referee Rikki Handa was heard to penalise a Park player for holding on allowed Northern to reduce the deficit by 3. Shortly after Northern were reduced to 14 as Handa gave the yellow for a deliberate knock down. Park went to the line but couldn’t put points on the board. Eight minutes into the 10 Park were given reward with a penalty try. Desperate defence held Park at bay. The referee finally losing patience as a Northern player infringed on the Park ‘maul’. Park’s forwards were enjoying their afternoon albeit Northern had a little spell of their own just before the whistle. 22- 6 and into the half.
The chat at the interval did more for Northern than the home side. As the game commenced Leo Caulfield was penalised for going in at the side. The resulting kick down the line. There Northern stayed. We were penalised for wheeling a scrum and the pressure stayed on. The line out went to the trundle with Smith holding it up over the line. On the release Northern went wide with numbers over to score in the corner.
From the restart Kupa at 12
began to play. Some deft passes kept his back line moving forward. We had the opportunity to clear and in truth I thought Northern were lucky not to be penalised for holding on with Paul Spowart well over the ball, however it was not to be, and Kupa with hands on ball shimmied over the line. With both tries converted we were in a 22 to 20 game. All in the space of 8 minutes.
After the second score Park took a breath and attacked. On 15 minutes in Percy Park were awarded a penalty as a Northern player appeared to slow the game down by staying instead of rolling. The penalty kick went down the line and what followed was the best try of the game. Ganders up the forwards mauled, pushed and dragged the Northern pack backwards and over the try line with Jonny Dubois scoring a great forwards try. A great try has to be awarded with a great conversion and so it proved with Ash Smith putting in a monster of a kick. 29-20.
For the next 10 or so minutes we saw some thunderous rugby being played before a static defence let Northern back in. A deft offload put an unmarked Kupa in possession. You could almost see his eyes light up as he ran unopposed over the try line. Back to a two point lead.
The game went back to the thunder a Matty Atkinson charge, supported by Adam Hay, created the overlap and with Josh Hedley lurking on the wing Ollie Stephenson put in a ground eating pass to find him. Despite a covering defense Josh went over in the corner to score. The conversion was difficult and missed.34 to 27.
Percy Park remained the dominant side. A kickable penalty award was not taken and Percy Park went to the 5 metre line. A crucial decision. The line out was butchered and we lost possession. Good luck and a bobbling ball gave Park the ball back allowing the home side to renew the pressure.
It was all Percy Park. A chance went begging as the referee adjudged that we held on as we drove for the line. A forward pass under pressure gave the ball back to the team in black and white. Four minutes to go and Northern were continually on the scramble. Park needed to finish the game off.
Pressed on the line Northern defended and tackled. Park needed to be patient. On the time wire Percy Park went from tight to open. The Northern full back intercepted and ran the whole length of the pitch. The home support was hoping that the player might find one of the cow field divots so regularly brought to management attention to fall into. Alas he ran straight and under the posts.
The last kick of the game being the conversion that left a drawn game and Percy Park ruing missed opportunities. Never the less a great contest that had supporters on the edge of their seats.
Representing Percy Park RFC:
From 15: Paul Spowart, Ollie Stephenson, Seb Reece (capt), Tom Moore, Howard Stock, Ash Smith and Robin Houghton
From 1: Matty Atkinson, Jonny Dubois, Marc Cook, Sam Digman, Josh Hedley, Andy Dunn, Jake Smith, and Michael Langlands.
Finishers: Adam Hay, Karl Thompson and Leo Caulfield