NORTH 1 EAST
PERCY PARK 21 – 11 POCKLINGTON
Pocklington made the journey from East Yorkshire from their home on Percy Road to Percy Park, looking to bounce back from a shock home defeat last week at the hands of West. Pock have the stingiest defensive record in the league, and that was certainly on show during a fairly uneventful first 20 minutes, in which the visitors on balance had more of the ball.
With low light conditions expected and the visitors in blue and white hoops, Park changed to red shirts.
Ash Smith and Jack Walters traded penalties on 2 and 9 minutes before Park went into a 6 – 3 lead at the end of the first quarter with another Smith penalty after Pocklington were penalised for not releasing the tackled player.
Percy Park scored their first try of the game after a solid scrum near the visitor’s line. Pock are renowned for their strong scrummage, but from the off, their pack were going backwards and on this occasion looked to be on castors. With a command of “use it” from the referee, Park were unable to drive Pock over the line, and Sean Williamson was stopped short, but from the ruck that ensued, John Scott picked up and dummied his way through a gap to score under the posts. Ash Smith converted to move Park ahead 13 – 3.
The strength of the Park scrum was to lead to the second try six minutes later when again Park put the skids under the Pock pack. As they were driven backwards and the ball was spun wide left inside their 22, a wide pass to Toby Davison saw him juggle the ball doing well to get it under control and use his strength to take him past several defenders and over the line for the try which was unconverted. Park led 18 – 3 at half time.
Park struggled to get into gear in the second half, and on 45 minutes a petulant act by the Park wing saw him given a yellow card for preventing a quick Pocklington penalty. Moments later Guy Pike was forced to leave the field with a broken nose as the game began to get a bit feisty with several fracases off the ball.
Park were forced to re-arrange their back line with Thomas Turnbull on at fly half and Ash Smith moving to the centre, and Leo Caulfield moving from the back row to cover the right wing. Percy Park held Pock at bay for the whole of the sin bin period, before Matt Springett went over in the corner. Jimmy Baldwin appeared to have made a try saving tackle as the ball seemed to spill as the Pock wing attempted the touch down. The referee pondered for some time before awarding the try that came on the hour.
Pock closed in to losing bonus point territory with another penalty for 18 – 11, before Ash Smith ensured they would go back down the A19 with no points as he slotted a 68th minute penalty.
The game finished at 21 – 11 as Park consolidated their second place in North 1 East 3 points behind Sheffield who thumped Driffield 42 – 0. Next week Park have another home game as they entertain West Hartlepool.