NORTH ONE EAST
NORTHERN 5 - 10 PERCY PARK
There are a number of claims to origins of the phrase “winning ugly” but whoever coined the term, Percy Park certainly gave it full meaning in an awful game for the spectator.
Northern kicked off with a tail wind as the drizzle began to fall as if on cue to the referees whistle to commence proceedings. The short trip across town hardly excused the lack lustre start as Park failed to secure the ball ceding possession to the home side from the off.
A bustling run by hooker Sam Wilson kept the visitors on the back foot and eventually Paddy Harper went over in the right hand corner for a try within the first 3 minutes of play. Full back Shane Wright, recently returned from Australia was given the kicking duties, but missed the conversion attempt.
Park then spent most of the first forty minutes inside their own half, but although Northern looked sharper in the back line, Percy Park’s defence held firm and Wright had a penalty kick to extend the lead, but his effort was well wide.
The home side lost full back Michael Grove to injury early on, which gave rookie Kieran Sutherland his debut chance slotting into the back 3. Park’s troubles were compounded on 13 minutes when Liam Blackburn gave the exchange referee from Liverpool no option but to issue a yellow card as the Park wing shoulder charged a Northern player conceding a penalty. Northern passed up the kick at goal for a kick to the corner that Park successfully defended.
Most of the rest of the play up to the interval was between both 22’s, but Park had a rare moment deep in Northern territory, and a cynical piece of play by skipper Phil Ludford saw him shown a yellow for slowing down Park possession on the ground, and Paul Spowart kicked the 3 easy points on offer.
In the second half fortunes and possession were reversed as the visitors spent more time on the attack. As Park had conceded an early first half try, slack defence by McCracken Park boys gave Percy Park the chance for an early try in the second. A deep kick by Park seemed to be going into touch on the Northern 22, but the covering defender volleyed the ball back in field finding Harry Watson who charged through the defence to set up good possession, and quick ruck ball found fellow prop Marc Cook on the right wing to go over for his debut 1st XV try.
Paul Spowart kicked the difficult conversion as Park went into a 10 – 5 lead on 42 minutes.
For the remaining 38 minutes of the game both sides tackled each other into submission. With more of the play being in the Park half, a flock of seagulls descended taking up residence in the Northern half, remaining safely undisturbed for much of the time. The home side were desperate for a converted try to give them a vital 4 points, but Percy Park remained resolute and finished with the 4 points themselves, leaving the home side still near the relegation zone in North 1 East.
Champagne rugby? Wel no, not even the fizz and sparkle of a Lambrini spritzer, but to coin another well worn phrase “a win’s a win” and the players and coaches will be pleased with a third consecutive victory dragging the team out of post New Year losing streak.
At Preston Avenue the Lions took on Northern Wanderers, and that too was a close run affair with Park eventual winners 35 – 31.
Next week Percy Park play Driffield at home, hoping to complete the double on the Yorkshire side, who are also too close to the bottom of the league for comfort. The Lions take on Gateshead II in the semi final of the Candy League Plate at the Fell.