Northumberland Senior Cup
Alnwick RFC 39 v Percy Park RFC 5
Haggies streak inspires Park’s only score.
Constant drizzle, bad light, a wet lens, a soggy match report and the loss of my favourite peaked cap were put aside as Adam Hay illuminated Greensfield with an audacious line out move that saw our hooker strip off his clothes as he streaked toward the Alnwick try line. The player was almost down to the ‘shreddies’ before Leo Caulfield popped up in support to spare the blushes and finish the move. The score being Percy Park’s only notch on the night.
Percy Park registering 5 points is testament to a very good Alnwick side. Our country cousins sit mid table at Level 5 and show cased that deserved league placing throughout the game. They starved Percy Park of the ball and moved our black and whites from right to left. Although we were on the back foot we did exhibit moments that demonstrated that, we too, are capable of competing at a higher level. Our defensive set was good and when we did get the ball we looked dangerous. Many of Alnwick’s scores came from our own mistakes which unfortunately exaggerated the score board. Carrying high against Acklam or Novos might result in a break but alas Alnwick punished us by ripping the ball when we looked good in possession. As we continue our trajectory upward this was just the game Percy Park needed to demonstrate how far we still need to go to fulfill our own league aspirations. The work might be done this season, with the gloss still to be attained, but for our young side this defeat should ‘whet the appetite’ for contests to come.
The opening salvos were fierce and it was Percy Park who were a fingernail away from the first score. Scrum half Robin Houghton was unlucky not to intercept a flipped ball off the top of an Alnwick line out. If he hadn’t chewed his nails he could have been in for the first score. Affronted the Alnwick 15 gave Percy Park their first warning as he skipped through the defensive wall. He too coming close and all the above occurring in the first two minutes. Still there wasn’t time to catch the breath as Alnwick kept pressing. August tackles in the midfield from Paul Spowart and Leo Caulfield but the brakes on as Alnwick ‘picked low and went’. Placing Park near to their try line. Impressive defense from Park and last ditch tackles from Howard Stock and Ross Young kept the thumb in the dam, but it was all about the constant pressure with Alnwick eventually scoring in the top right hand corner. The conversion was missed. 5 nil to the home side. Five minutes played.
From the re start it was all Alnwick. As the home side took the ball to the ruck they went for the hammer constantly going through the phases knocking Percy Park back beyond the gain line. The Alnwick forwards were relentless. Their back row was very mobile.
Fine margins as Paul Spowart dropped the ball in contact. An ‘Ice’ in a ruck gave Park possession only to see that slip away in the next breakdown. Ash Smith dropped the ball in fading light. Our scrum went backwards. All the little things added up to the inability to get out of our half. On the plus side we were hitting well and there was plenty of chat.
On 24 minutes Alnwick made the break through. A forward move had the home side mauling to the line. A Percy Park grip fell away and the opposition rolled away and over the line. Conversion taken 12-0
Andy Dunn took Percy Park for a rare foray into the Alnwick half. Up to the 22 before we lost possession and headed back whence we came. Alnwick were quick onto the ball. Jake Smith was unlucky with a short pass that didn’t go.
Our front row received the wrath of the referee as we penalised for pulling down. Penalty in kicking distance. Taken 15 nil.
From the kick off Alnwick were penalised for crossing. Ash went for the kick taking the away side beyond the home side 22 for the first time in the game. We came straight back whence we came. Jamie Wrigley was caught at full back from a rush attacking back line. A forward pass lost possession and on our ‘put in’ we couldn’t get the ball ‘out of the back’ quick enough to make a difference. Still we held on with some really good defensive sets and Alnwick knew they were in a physical contest. That fact was manifested by a drop goal attempt that dropped marginally short.
Percy Park endeavored to get out of their half but almost on the half time whistle Jamie Wrigley was caught holding on as Alnwick once again expressed their desire to get over the ball quickly. Their fitness levels were more than impressive. Shot taken. 18 nil at the half. Both teams into the changing rooms.
The early exchanges were in Park’s 22 and Percy Park ran the bench. Fresh legs gave us an impetus and we had our ‘purple patch’ in the game. A free ball gave Ash Smith the chance to chip over the rush defense. Although the attempt came to naught the line out did. A short throw saw Adam Hay launch his legs along the line in acres of space. The ‘whoopee’ could be heard as he went to the streak. Alnwick scrambled but Leo Caulfield was there in support to assist and make the score. And in the doing a Tyneside roar was heard along the Aln Valley. Great try. Conversion was missed. 18 to 5. Akin to our ancestors nicking a few cows before heading back to the Tine.
Sam Digman went off for some TLC from ‘our’ Caroline. As he did so the response from Alnwick was immediate. Although in possession Park carried high and were stripped of the ball. The ball was moved to the right corner where the score was made, despite the valiant efforts of Ross Young. 25 to 5.
We were stripped again and in our attempts to regain we were caught offside. Alnwick’s 10 kicked the ball down the line. Despite a Ross Young tackle the follow up was that quick we had no time to get onto the ball. A nudge deep into our 22 had Michael Langlands scrambling across. The Alnwick 10 was in his ‘arm chair’ and moving our team around the pitch. With dominance in the scrum we were hanging on. With the scrum being walked back the ball came out and the ‘up and coming’ Alnwick hope, Jack O’Regan, came off the wing to go under the posts for a great team try. 32-5.
Percy Park were stripped once more and the ball was returned high under the lights. Jamie Wrigley did well to collect but there was no time to counter as Alnwick pressed the collect.
Robin Houghton and Seb Reece went off. Park ran the bench, rolling personnel on and off. Then came the try of the game at the hands of Alnwick’s Pete Moralee. A midfield tackle opened up space which Moralee took. Taking the grass he created a ‘2 on 1’ with his fly half. Exchange and they were over leaving the Park defender with no real hope of preventing the score. 39 to 5. Quick as a flash.
Alnwick ran their bench and the game fizzled out. A Pete Basara solo raid into the Alnwick half had the away support on their feet. The front rows had a flare up which quickly involved both packs with an Alnwick forward finding himself taking a seat outside of the melee. Once settled Alnwick responded in kind and walked us back. A few dropped balls lost us possession.
The nearest we came to another score in the game was an almighty Alnwick boot that had Jamie Wrigley collecting deep. The chase or follow up was a great example of rugby acumen. Three players bore down, squeezing Jamie to the corner, where the only option was to move onto his right foot and put the ball into touch. Even his angle was marginalized to ensure that no distance could be gained. Great to watch. As we dealt with the lineout the referee went to the whistle and brought the tie to its conclusion. Final Score 39 to 5
Not to be too down hearted, Ponteland away this Saturday coming should (hopefully) give Percy Park the Durham and Northumberland 1 Title. Let’s see if we can make our support turn the ‘Sports Ground’ into Preston Avenue and see our team across the line.
On a final note…and on behalf of Percy Park RFC …many many thanks to all our supporters who travelled ‘up North’ to watch the black and whites at Alnwick. It is great to see so many true fans because that’s what we are ‘fans’, despite constant drizzle, bad light, a wet lens, a soggy match report and the loss of my favourite peaked cap.
Representing Percy Park RFC:
From 8: Leo Caulfield, Jake Smith, Andrew Dunn, Michael Langlands, Josh Hedley, Andrew Steinberg, Adam Hay and Sam Digman
From 15: Jamie Wrigley, Howard Stock, Seb Reece, Paul Spowart, Ross Young, Ash Smith, and Robin Houghton
Finishers: Pete Basara, Karl Thompson, Mark Barry, Cameron Young, Andrew Walker and Ollie Stephenson.