NORTH 1 EAST
PERCY PARK 18 – 12 POCKLINGTON
Percy Park maintained their 100% home record with this 18-12 win over Pocklington at Preston Avenue on Saturday. Pock had lost their only game so far this season in the previous week by a single point against Morley, conceding late in the game whilst down to 12 men. Their lower league position is by virtue of a 5 points penalty held over from last season. Although Park had much of the early play they couldn’t convert this into points with a couple of good scoring opportunities going begging when final passes didn’t go to hand or 2 on 1 chances were squandered. They did however open their account on 30 minutes through Seb Reece after a good run by Joe Wafer opened up the Pock defence allowing the young Park centre to go over under the posts.Ash Smith converted for a 7-0 lead.
Smith stretched the Park lead further with a penalty on 36 minutes. With the half almost over Ash Smith made a decisive break through the Pocklington mid field and passed to Richard Chadwick who was stopped 5 metres from the try line. The ball was recycled and Smith put in a cross field kick to full back Michael Grove who retrieved the ball and dabbed it down for the 5 points. The try wasn’t converted but Park went into the break 15-0 ahead.
The home side had played the first period with the wind advantage and the slope, so the second half was going to literally be an uphill battle.
Pocklington came out the blocks with an early score after Park were disposed just outside their 22 after receiving the kick off. The Pock fly half James Thompson scored with just a minute on the clock and full back Christian Pollock kicked the conversion for 15-7. When Percy Park were awarded a kickable penalty they opted to take the points and man of the match Ash Smith took Park further in front 18 – 7.
The remainder of the half was a fairly even affair with both defences holding firm, but with only 2 minutes of time a Park clearance kick from the 22 bounced cruelly as is often the case with the odd shaped ball and with several player converging the ball bounced fortuitously into the hands of the retreating Pocklington winger who raced to the line. A couple of good passes resulted in openside Davison going over in the corner for the try. The conversion was missed from the difficult angle but the visitors were now in losing bonus point territory, and a converted try could snatch victory from Park.
Percy Park played keep ball in the forwards for the remainder of the game and when referee Dave Charlton signalled the last play Ethan Wilson happily kicked the ball off the pitch for the win which takes Park up to 5th place in the league, which this season looks wide open with both leaders York and 2nd place Morpeth losing. Next week the 1st XV take a break and resume the following week away to Driffield.
CANDY LEAGUE DIVISION 1
Westoe II 10 – 55 Percy Park Lions
The Lions made the short journey over the Tyne to take on Westoe, and continued their good form with a 9 try win over the South Shields side. Park’s points came from debutants Matty Boustead (2) and Alex Scott (2), with Jimmy Baldwin, Callum Aspley, Leo Caulfield and Joe Cassidy all scoring tries. Next week the Lions face a tough task away at Corbridge to Tynedale Raiders.