North One East
Percy Park RFC 48 v Consett RUFC 21
'Park bounce back with an 8 try haul'
A ‘ruthless’ performance from Parks back line devastated a very competitive Consett side. Following their collapse away to Driffield last Saturday, Percy Park were determined to show their detractors that they can be a force in North One East rugby. A determination that had many a supporter ‘purring’ at the pace and power exhibited by their team and had Coach Ash Smith happily describing part of the performance as ‘deadly’. Yet he did take a moment to bring an amount of realism into his summary, acknowledging that Park need to be more consistent in their performances before anyone can readily describe Percy Park as a quality side….”Good to bounce back after that away game against Driffield. What we need to do now is transfer our home performances to games on the road and I will be looking toward next week’s game against Morley to see how well we are actually doing. Having said that, we played some good rugby today working really hard off the ball and allowing our backs freedom to attack. The backs were deadly and executed their chances well. Overall we are very pleased with the result”
Consett started the game well helped by Park giving away territory from unnecessary penalties. Wing Ross Young feeling the ire of all around him as he failed to listen to clear instructions from the referee. Park were immediately on the back foot, with Consett being given the ‘advantage’, they pounded Parks defensive line. The referees whistle was shrill and many felt Park were creeping into card terriority. Only a timely leap at the line out from Michael Langlands relieved the pressure, allowing all in the ground to breathe. And from there Park went on the attack and they were devastating. With wing Ali Blair and full back Matty Boustead running great lines coupled with an audacious chip, catch and offload from Ash Smith, Park were on Consetts line. With the forwards pummelling their opposite numbers, Captain Jonny Dubois was unfortunate to be adjudged to be ‘held up over the line’. Still Park persisted. With the ball in the hands of centre Phil Morse, a little bit of magic saw a defence splitting chip bounce into the hands of Ali Blair, who in a flash was over to score under the posts. With the conversion taken…7 nil.
The score seemed to goad Consett, who from the restart looked to equal the score. Parks defence was good, then a deft side step from the Consett fly half left Michael Langlands flat footed and in behind. Despite attempts to stop him the Consett player jinked across the Park line out wide to the right. The conversion was difficult yet the strike was good. 7 all
The game ebbed and flowed. Consett liked to attack through their backs and it made for a lively game which was enjoyable to watch. Park were employing hidden runners from deep and everyone was working hard to ensure the player with ball in hand had space to work in. And it was Ethan Wilson who was able to punch through the Consett line enabling Ash Smith to release Matty Boustead on his right. Real pace stretched the defence and a nice offload to Ali Blair gave the player the opportunity to hand off his man and score a well worked try. With the conversion missed 12-7
Consett remained energetic, probing and attempting to break the Park defence. It was hard to see why Consett were bottom of North One East. Their skill level and desire certainly did not reflect their league position. And it was Ash Smith who broke their hearts. With Joe Wafer breaking the line with some authority, taking several players with him, scrum half Will Haskins had the ball in hand. A quick pass to Smith got the back line away supported by the Boustead who again delivered a great pass to Blair. With Consett scrambling back Ash Smith was at hand to receive the ball ‘in the basket’ and crash over the line. The conversion taken. 19-7.
Now as we all know no game occurs without some real ‘crowd pleasing’ magic from Seb Reece. Seb is developing into an outstanding player at this level. Having been given a ball where all would expect the player to recycle, Reece stayed on his feet powering his way past three defenders, who on hindsight should have done better. Then it ‘was goodnight Vienna’. With fleet of foot he raced from inside his own half to score under the posts. A fine individual try from nothing. Conversion taken. 26-7. A score that prevailed to the half.
At the half the chat in the crowd was all about focus. As always at Park when you’re feeling confident something always puts you on your backside and this time it was player coach Ash Smith who was put squarely on his rump! A very fortunate penalty awarded to Consett, when it looked as if Ethan Wilson had caused the ball to be knocked forward from a Consett hand, allowed the ‘tap and go’. With real pace the Consett fly half rounded Matty Boustead and sidestepped Ash Smith leaving him prostrate on the floor. Try scored conversion taken. 26-14.
With Consett on the up and Park playing the ball quick off the floor, the game got a bit physical. Ethan Wilson received a warning followed by the Consett prop for leading with his arm. One incident had Michael Langlands remonstrating with a Consett forward after an off the ball happening. Despite Consett trying to get the upper hand it was really Park who looked the more likely to score. Their offloading game was fantastic and it was one such move that took the scrum to Consetts 5 metre line. With ball secured a Langlands pick up at 8 put his scrum half Haskins in for the try. With the conversion hitting the post.31-14
Almost from the restart, Grove on at wing blistered up the pitch .The ball was moved left to right putting Seb Reece in to score at the corner. With no score at the conversion.36-14.
Park were dominant all over the pitch. With Josh Hedley restored in the row and Leo Caulfield on at 6. (Mind he was lucky to stay there as an awful pass from Ash Smith had him floored….the pass is best described of the hospital variety. To Smith’s credit he did apologise for it though there were many who believed Leo wouldn’t have felt it anyway!!) Park were everywhere and Consett were hanging on. A great ‘back door pass’ from Langlands put Ethan Wilson into space and away. And nobody was catching him. The conversion out wide was not taken 41-14.
A series of daft penalties gave Consett some of the half and as a consequence we let them back in to score what turned out to be a consolation try. Maybe we were getting tired. The game was coming to a close. Still not to be outdone. A Haskins clear up and a penalty kicked to the line saw Park go long and off the top. Quick hands had Phil Morse on the gallop with Boustead on the outside. A deft pass to the full back allowed the player to skip an attempted tackle. Free of constraint Matty Boustead was in at the corner flag. Or so it seemed. The Consett touch judge brought us back for a ‘foot in touch’…well he was nearer to it than I… justly Consett made a right mess of the lineout …with Langlands gathering Jonny Dubois was over the gain line and a sharp offload saw Leo Caulfield over to score…Maybes we weren’t that tired after all!!...Conversion taken. Final Score 48-21.
Percy Park played very well. The patterns of play are great to see. As a team they are good to watch. The only downside to the afternoon was an injury to Joe Wafer and that knee of his…let’s hope it’s not too serious. So it’s back to the coaches remarks….The big question…Can we repeat this performance on the road? And take a victory on the ‘spin’. Here’s hoping.
Our Second 15 also had a great win, beating Consett by 53 points to 17. Andrew Walker, Joe Cassidy, Lome Faatau and Kieran Sutherland being among the scorers. Consett were described as a well organised side but nine try’s from our back line probably tells the story here. Special mention to Josh Lake and Charlie Sleigh who both had outstanding games.