Durham and Northumberland 1
Percy Park RFC 84 v Horden and Peterlee RUFC 14
Ballerina Young noses Percy Park closer to the title
With three games to go Percy Park’s last home contest of the season was all about points. Although Northern remain a few accumulated digits adrift, they remain our only realistic challenger. Park needed a 5-point win to ensure they remained ahead in the race to the line. It’s a bit like a horse gallop…win with a 5-point haul and we might win the accolade by a furlough. A lesser accumulation and we might only win by a nose. And as the author has one of the biggest noses around, I certainly didn’t fancy being wheeled out from the stands to give us an unassailable advantage in a ‘nose off’. Many might remember our away trip to West Leeds where the fixture was decided in the bar post-match in a ‘club nose off’. It was a close call (we won by a millimeter) with the points coming home to Preston Avenue. The thought that Northern might find a supporter with a bigger nose drove the our beloved black and whites into a high-octane warm-up session that saw Thomas Moore lost to the game with a sprained ankle. The attitude bar was high and Percy Park set away at their Durham opponents with gusto.
A knock on from the kick off reflected the eagerness to take the fight to the opposition. The resulting scrummage was disrupted by a wily Horden and Peterlee front row who would not set straight; frustrating all including the referee. Concern that Horden could take the sting out of the start was soon put to bed as Ross Young crossed after 8 minutes. The scrum set straight. We went to quick ball and scored. Fair play to Horden they knew what they were doing. Four minutes later Ash Smith weaved his way through. On this occasion he converted. 12 nil after 12.
Horden were on the back foot. Percy Park were running some great lines. Sam Digman went on the angle at pace drawing in defenders. The recycled ball ending up in the scoring hands of Jake Smith, who wasn’t quiet in letting all know on Tynemouth beach that he had scored Park’s third. The bonus try came on the 20-minute mark as Captain Seb Reece became the beneficiary of a score as the home team methodically played out of their 22. 26 nil.
Horden had arrived with real intent to make life as difficult as they could for the home side. They were defending well and when they did get their hands on the ball, they kept the same in the middle area utilising the pick and go. Their mantra appeared to be ‘ If Park cant get the ball they cant score’. The home side made their tackles and remained patient looking for giveaway ball or the opportunity to steal. Their eagerness in the line out received criticism from the referee as he penalised Percy Park for closing the gap. The line out was reminiscent of a London tube at rush hour. A collective shove to squeeze into a gap that really wasn’t there. The call not to close the gap could have been replaced by ‘mind the doors’. Penalties rightly given and Horden went to keep ball and were rewarded with a try on 27 minutes as they finally got over the try line.
Percy Parks response was with affront. The home side were unlucky to be brought back for truck and trailer as the Horden line loomed large. Once the referee managed to get the scrum to go straight Park used the platform to launch quick ball from the impressive and upcoming Cam Young. The bombardment onto the Horden line was relentless with Andrew Dunn and then Jake Smith on the angle making sure that the scoreboard kept ticking over. 40 points to 7.
From the re start Horden collected the ball and were given the advantage as Percy Park’s ‘13’ was adjudged to be offside. With the cushion of ball retention Horden went to their game plan and ‘stuck it up the jumper’ Constant ‘pick and go’ brought them to the line and although Parks defence was good, to their credit, Horden did not relinquish possession as they went through the phases. Despite being held short on three occasions they managed to get the tip of the ball onto the whitewash. Sufficient for the referee to call ‘try’. Conversion taken. 40 to 14 at half time.
At the restart the game went to the scrum with the man in the middle ordering the Horden and Peterlee front row to square up. With ball secured and Horden penalised for holding on Michael Langlands was unlucky to be held up with a good hit that knocked the ball backwards. Fortunately, Matty Atkinson was on hand and in a good supporting position to gather the ball and take it over the line. 47-14
Horden went back to the dark arts. You have to admire them Horden never gave up and they did everything they could to disrupt the flow of the game. Percy Park were penalised for turning in at the scrum and Andrew Dun was held on the floor creating a gap in the defensive line. A little back chat had Percy Park marched back 10 metres or more and as a consequence Horden went to keep ball. On this occasion Park had learned not to let their opposition go to the floor. Once held up, Matty Atkinson ripped the ball, allowing Parks back line to set Ross Young marauding into the Horden half. A no arms tackle stopped the young winger in his tracks as the line beckoned. Penalty try awarded.54-14 the score.
Horden visibly tired. The pick and go strength sapping as Park resolutely put them back. A loose ball was seized from the kick off. With possession Captain Seb Reece bludgeoned through into space leaving many behind to score under the posts. 61-14
Percy Park ran the bench. Fresh legs gave further energy to a home side who dismantled the opposition. First up was the returning Jamie Wrigley closely followed by Howard Stock. It was great to see Jamie back playing since he received that nasty injury during our first home game of the season. Hopefully he can enjoy the remaining games and with a good pre-season under his belt return stronger and better for our return to Level 6 rugby.
Sandwiched between the scores the referee was still having problems managing the front row. Even with a change of personnel the same issues resurfaced. Andrew Walker replaced Cam Young at scrum half and immediately fell foul of the referee as he eagerly hunted down his opposite number. He soon redeemed himself as he vocally marshalled his forward pack with great effect and skill.
With Howard Stock finishing a lightening attack the score rattled up to the 73-point mark. Percy Park didn’t sit back. The ruthless streak they have adopted resurfaced and they went for the emphatic. Andrew Dunn collected and deftly put Ross Young into a margin of space. Pace and strength, plus the grace of a ballerina, allowed him to dance through a gap that really wasn’t there. A point echoed by a frustrated Horden player who was heard to shout ‘ ‘How did he get through there’. A great individual effort.
The best try was held back for the last of the day. Sound marshalling by Andrew Walker ensured the forwards turned over ball. Then we were off. Pace and support, plus an classy pass from hooker Adam Hay, had Jamie Wrigley hunting the ball until he got the sphere in his mits. Then it was goodnight as he powered through toward the try line. A superb team try from start to finish. Final score 87-14.
Gathering the bonus point win, whilst amassing 13 tries with an impressive conversion rate, Ash Smith has led his blossoming team to a strong position at the top of the Durham and Northumberland League 1 table. With Northern being awarded a 5-point haul for a walk over, Percy Park still need to secure bonus points away to Ponteland to mathematically secure the trophy. Surely now there will be no need for a nose off…mind I am pretty confident we would have edged that contest.
Next up is Alnwick RFC away in the Northumberland Senior Cup on Thursday evening. Awaiting are Novocastrians. I hope to see you all there to encourage our team to victory over our Level 5 friends in blue and gold.
Representing Percy Park RFC:
From 8: Leo Caulfield, Jake Smith, Andrew Dunn, Mark Barry, Karl Thompson, Matty Atkinson, Adam Hay and Sam Digman
From 15: Jamie Wrigley, Howard Stock, Seb Reece, Paul Spowart, Ross Young, Ash Smith and Cameron Young
Finishers: Andrew Steinberg, Andrew Walker and Michael Langlands.