WHITLEY BAY ROCKCLIFF 24 – 42 PERCY PARK LIONS
Park continued their pre-season preparations with two workmanlike displays against Tynedale Raiders and Whitley Bay Rockcliff.
The 1st XV squad travelled to Corbridge to take on a lively Raiders side, and drew first blood when skipper John Scott intercepted a pass and broke away down the right hand flank hugging the touchline to go over for a try which was unconverted after 15 minutes had been played. Park should have scored a second soon after with Howard Stock down the same wing in space but the final pass went well behind him with the line beckoning. Tynedale retrieved the loose ball and set off up field. Stock made a tremendous covering tackle to deny the hosts, but the ball was recycled to the Tynedale full back who scored under the posts and with the easy conversion by Borthwick, Tynedale took the lead. Tynedale improved their lead when number 8 Miles Scott went over in the right hand corner. Borthwick kicked an excellent conversion for 14 – 5.
Percy Park hit back with a try by prop forward Joe Wafer and a Marcus Rutter conversion, but Tynedale scored again in the centre after a miscommunication in the Park midfield for a 21 – 12 lead. Park centre exploited a gap in the Tynedale midfield just before the break to score under the sticks, and Rutter converted as the two sides went into half time 21 – 19 for well earned drinks on a baking hot day.
In the second half the home side scored within a minute after a speculative chip kick was retrieved by the right wing to go over amongst a crowd of players, and again Borthwick was on target to lengthen the lead to 28 – 19. At this stage a combination of Park getting their act together and Tyne running out of steam, saw the visitors score 28 unanswered points, with tries by Dixon, Baker, Scott and Reekie with conversions by Rutter and Smith (3).
At Whitley Bay a young Park Lions squad under the tutelage of Park veteran Mark Carr, defeated Rockcliff 42 – 24 with fine displays by Stevie Irving and Zak Appleby-Rutter.
Next week both squads are in action away at Darlington before the season starts proper on 3rd September 2011 with Park’s 1st XV at home to Billingham KO 3pm.