North One East
Percy Park RFC 26 v Scarborough RUFC 14
(Lions report follows)
Mr. Hyde fails to show as Park produce a performance
Last week’s game against Cleckheaton was more Mr. Hyde then Jekyll. This week Mr. Hyde hardly made a showing…the contrast between the two performances could not be more marked. Despite the very difficult conditions, due to gusting tempest bellowing the length of the pitch, Percy Park controlled the game from the kick off to the final whistle. Arguably you could say we played better into the wind than with it. As a consequence we have arrested a ‘5 losing streak’ with a five point haul.... let’s hope victories are like buses….you wait ages for one and then a number turn up at once…fingers crossed that number isn’t one!! On that note next Saturday’s home game against Kendal is pivotal. After this result we still remain in that dreaded third from bottom slot with Kendal sitting at tenth. 4 points ahead. Need I say more? Yet on this performance, the manner in which it was approached and the energy of the attack when opportunities arose was heartening and should give us confidence and belief as we head into that game and into the second half of the season. So…how did Percy Park tame the conditions and secure that much needed 5 point win?
It took a while for both teams to come to terms with the blustery conditions. Park kicked off with the gale, forcing the visitors to defend deep….both sides attempted to keep the ball in hand with varying degrees of success. The wind had some pace. Pace that was emphasized by Park attempting to kick two relatively easy penalties.
The first was a bit of a mess. Leo Caulfield held the ball with a digit as Ash Smith made the kick. The Caulfield digit proved unreliable and the ball moved off the ‘T’ with Smith wondering if he should pick up, drop kick or do nothing….well he did the unexpected and chose to run with the ball. An action that caused a degree of indignant arm waving from the Scarborough players. At that point the referee intervened and we went to the scrum, with a Scarborough ‘put in’. And it must be said… a little lesson in the laws of the game for ‘our Ash’ was dished out to his tender ears. A comical moment but it showed how difficult the conditions were. The second was in front of the posts. Scarborough were attempting to ‘run out’. Lack of numbers to the breakdown saw an infringement given for holding on. The kick looked easy. On this occasion a Cook digit held the ball and a strike was made…sort of…let’s just say the wind took the ball and we missed.
Despite the misses Park kept the territory and were dominant in the scrum and line. The scrummage was probably the best it has been all season. The front row of Aaron Smith, Jonny Dubois and Marc Cook at tight, supported by Sean Williamson anchoring at ‘8’ looked good. The line out was collecting and as a consequence Park had a platform to play off.
Two further penalties came our way. Fly half Ash Smith, electing to leave the posts alone, went to the line. The first across went short. The second went to the balcony side and on the ‘5’. Although the line out didn’t go to plan, the overthrow caused consternation in the Scarborough ranks and a loose pass in the middle was seized on by Ali Blair , leaving the player a short canter to get over the line. Duly converted 7 nil
Scarborough came back at the ‘black and whites’ and kept the ball well through the phases. Park held and it was some sterling work in defense that brought the arrival of our second try. Jonny Dubois disrupted a Scarborough ruck, catching player with ball in hand at the pick-up point and successfully holding him aloft until the scrum was awarded in Parks favour. A ‘hit up’ from Sean Williamson and ‘pop’ had Park on the front foot before a Scarborough player was penalised for holding on. Scrum Half Rural Meharg tapped and went and suddenly we were in open ground. Michael Langlands took advantage creating the try for Seb Reece to score his second. The conversion was taken. 14 nil.
Park continued to create and were unlucky, mis- handling some back moves, that had they come off, would have increased the score. Scarborough played their part and kept probing and the outcome was an absorbing contest. Ali Blair began to excel in attack and defence although it was the visiting team who nearly upset the applecart with a fine breakaway from deep in their own half. Only a barnstorming tackle from Sean Williamson reduced the momentum and allowed Park to clear.
Adam Hay replaced Aaron Smith and although the front row rejigged, Park remained on top to the half.
14 nil at the turnaround.
From the kick off Park were ‘back at the races’…..you could say it was an explosive restart…Yes we made a hash of the gather…however the Tynesiders were off the line quickly and forced Scarborough to attempt a kick through. The kick never found its way past Seb Reece who offloaded to Ali Blair. Blair accelerated and then put on the burners to streak past the visitors defence to score under the posts. Good try, easily converted .21 to the good.
Scarborough had the wind and looked to put the ball long, attempting to play on the Park 22. Seb Reece was a ‘tad fortunate’ as he appeared to stick an arm out to catch the ball and in the doing knocked the ball to the floor. On some days a yellow might have followed. Scarborough took the free ball and pressed and pressed but they could not get over the line. Sterling work from Josh Hedley won plaudits from his team mates. However that pressure eventually told as the Scarborough 10 received the ball on the reverse and ‘spun over’ to touch down…albeit only just. Try converted 21-7.
The talk on the terraces was all about the next score. It felt that score was always coming Park’s way. A controlled performance saw the black and whites hold the ball well. They were certainly passing better into the wind with players running on. Big Red was in ‘on the row’ and making an impression. The ‘9 to 10’ axis kept Park on the front foot. Scarborough might have had the weather advantage they could not get their hands on the ball. It was a good period for Park and the effect of that dominance was a try from Michael Grove, albeit we had to suffer a grisly penalty miss from Ash Smith in-between.
Al Blair cut through the line before a high tackle brought him to the floor. With advantage Ruairi Meharg tapped and went, forcing the tackle before he had carried 10. Scarborough were all over the place. On the line Park could not get over. Returning to the penalty kick Smith stepped up and had a harrowing punt that I promised I would not mention. The game resumed with a drop out and Park went for it. The home side were relentless in their search for points. As the ball moved left, right, ‘hammered’ and ‘hit up’, the move flowed to the clubhouse and Michael Grove went over for the score in the corner. The difficult conversion was missed. 26-7.
Still Park would not let their grasp of the game go and as the time ran down Scarborough knew they had to do something, if they were going home with a point. They went long and to the chase. Park responded, running possession back through, Blair, Grove and Mattie Boustead. The Yorkshire side needed something and that came courtesy of the one and only time Mr. Hyde deemed or tried to show his face. Flanker Leo Caulfield cynically would not let Scarborough have the ball when penalised. I guess trying to kill time. Yet the resulting penalty kick to the line put Park well inside their 22 and under pressure. A couple of deft moves from the visiting backs had Park defending, before one slipped through to score under the posts. Try converted 26-14 and there we remained until the final whistle.
Percy Park played well…really well in places. The scrummage was good and line out ball was won. The forwards gave the platform and the backs delivered and with both together a performance was produced. Now we need to beat Kendal at home and we are back in the fight…Come on Park…. should be a cracker. 2:15 kick off…let’s see you there!!
Representing Percy Park RFC were:
From 15: Mattie Boustead, Chis McCabe, Ali Blair, Captain Seb Reece, Michael Grove, Ash Smith and Ruairi Meharg
From *: Sean Williamson, Leo Caulfield, Michael Langlands, Josh Hedley, Eddie Saint, Marc Cook, Jonny Dubois and Aaron Smith.
Riding the pine. Karl ‘Big Red’ Thompson, Adam Hay and Andrew Walker.
Tynedale Raiders 34 v Percy Park Lions 0