Park win away at Driifield

Driffield 15 – 22 Percy Park

The unbeaten run continued as Percy Park won away at Kellythorpe, for the first time in some considerable years. The home side were yet to win a game this season and their woes continued when Lee Birch, Park’s nemesis from last season, was injured in the warm up.

Park kicked off with the wind at their backs on a dry but chill day, but it was the home side that led after only a minute on the clock when they were awarded a penalty in front of the Park posts, which Sam Furnbank slotted.

The visitors hadn’t yet put the bus journey out of their system, and despite dominating the set piece, were unable to capitalise on the ample possession, early on. Ash Smith had the chance to level the scores with a long range penalty, although this sailed past the left upright. Moments later the visitors thought they had scored when Michael Langlands crossed the try line only to be brought back for a knock on.

Once again, the Park pack were in total command of the scrummage, and from a set piece on the Driffield 22, number 8 James Ponton, popped a ball to scrum half John Scott, who then drew the defender to give Thomas Turnbull a run in to score on the left wing on 16 minutes. Ash Smith spooned the conversion attempt.

The score remained 3 – 5 until half time, although Park had all the possession and crossed the line again after a John Scott charge down, again to be brought back for a scrum following a previous knock on.

The Woldsmen’s recent Aussie signing Damien Burn, at hooker, who had only arrived 10 days earlier, was having a torrid time with his line out throws, and was unable to secure any possession for his team throughout the entire game. This meant Percy Park had the upper hand in the scrum and line out, and as a result the home side had to defend for long periods, although they were up to the task, with some ferocious hits, keeping Park at bay.

Ash Smith, who looked a little out of sorts at full back had a chance to convert a penalty in front of the posts, which he missed, to the surprise of the visiting supporters, but obvious

delight of the home faithful. Park were guilty of over complicating things a little in the back line, and squandered a good deal of possession, and could even have gone into the break behind, as Furnbank had a penalty chance on the stroke of half time, which held up on the wind, and almost fell to the chasing winger, with Adam Fidler scrambling to reach the ball to touch down for a drop out.

A stern team talk at half time appeared to have had the desired effect, and on 50 minutes Ali Blair crossed the line for a try on the right wing, after Ash Smith had retrieved a high kick and counter attacked, offloading to Craig Fidler. The ruck ball was recycled and a long pass by Martin Shaw found Ali Blair who went through a gap in the cover defence to score, which Smith converted.

Ash Smith stretched the lead with a penalty on the hour when Aussie Craig Gray was pinged for holding on in the tackle after pressure at the base of a scrum, and Park were now in a comfortable lead 15 – 3. with 20 minutes remaining.

The Driffield physio was in much demand throughout the game, with numerous stoppages for injury which disrupted the flow of the game. Despite this, Park were on the score board again ten minutes later after wing, Harvey Harding was given a stern talking to by referee David Downham for a spear tackle, and from the resulting penalty, the ball was kicked to the corner for an attacking line out.

 

The ball was collected at the back by James Ponton, and Michael Langlands crossed for the touch down from the driving maul. At this point, it should be said that this was his second try in two weeks, with Andrew Dunn erroneously being credited with his try from a similar position in last weeks game at Old Crossleyans. Ash Smith converted.

With a 22 – 3 lead, Park made some changes to bring on their replacements, which disrupted the flow somewhat, and Driffield came back with a try from scrum half Craig Gray which was converted by Sam Furnbank. The score, against the run of play was from broken play with the referee playing advantage for a Park infringement.

Percy Park were pressing for the bonus point, and replacement Colin Murphy was stopped just short of the line by some fine last ditch tackling. When Driffield were penalised on their 5 metre line for offside, Park would have taken a scrum under normal circumstances, but lock Craig Fidler had been taken off with an injury and Driffield had bolstered their pack with a couple of adjustments in the second half, which negated the Park dominance in this area. The line out option seemed a good one, and although won, somehow the home side won the ball back, and cleared their lines.

With the game almost at an end, it was the Kellythorpe side that scored last with a try by the pick of their players on the day, open side John Dervey. Driffield broke the Park defensive line, and some poor tackling allowed the back rower to cross the line to earn his side a bonus point, although the try remained unconverted.

Although a win on the road, the bonus point was there for the taking, bearing in mind that Park probably had about 70% possession throughout the second half. With Wheatley Hills and West Hartlepool both winning, Park slip to third in the league.

At home Park’s Lions, Pumas and Marauders were all in action, with the Lions gaining a bonus point win 26 – 15 against Blaydon III. The Pumas suffered a 40 – 0 defeat at the hands of Gateshead III, but the Marauders continued their unbeaten run with a 35 – 5 win against Novos III.

Next week the 1^st XV entertain Pontefract at home, and the game is sponsored by the Tynemouth League of Gentlemen.