This was the third meeting of the two sides this season, and, as in the previous encounters it was a close run thing, but Park emerged victorious to complete the league double over Horden and maintained the pressure on the sides at the top of Durham and Northumberland 1.
With the snow, sleet and rain of the previous two days, it was a testament to the ground staff that the game could take place, and in fact playing conditions were near perfect for the two sides that were third and fourth in the league. Park won the toss and Horden started with the wind advantage, and for the first 10 minutes had all the territorial advantage keeping the home side in their own half.
There was no score, when on 18 minutes Andrew Turner had the chance to break the dead lock with a penalty attempt after Park were offside at a ruck. Turner missed the kick at goal, but Horden maintained their early pressure although never looked like breaking through the solid Park defence.
Thomas Turnbull left the field with a shoulder injury to be replaced by Mark Clarkson, and on half time Park had a chance to take a lead into the second period, when Phil Morse kicked a penalty in front of the posts.
Whilst Park's rearranged pack was under a little pressure from the heavy Horden eight, the back row was far more mobile, and five minutes into the second half, the Preston Avenue side scored a well worked try down the left hand side of the pitch from a scrum just inside the visitors half.
James Ellis had switched to number eight and picked up from the base of the scrum and used his pace to get past the Horden blindside, to draw the winger and pass to Mark Foster-Moore who sped the last 30 metres. Rather than try to beat the full back the young Park winger drew his man and gave an inside pass to Brett Sylph in support, to finish off the move and cross the line. Morse couldn't convert but Park now lead 8 - 0.
Horden restarted, and Park failed to secure the ball, allowing the Durham side to regain possession. The ball was recycled right, and wing Chris Purvis broke two tackles to get inside the Park 22. The ball appeared to have been knocked on but play continued and the ball was fly-hacked through and in the scramble to touch down, Paul Priestley was awarded the try. Turner kicked the conversion, and Park's lead was cut to a single point.
With ten minutes remaining Percy Park scored again, when after a series of rucks scrum half John Scott released the backs who attacked at pace. A miss pass to full back Ash Smith broke the line and a well timed pass to Liam Casey saw the centre cruise through for a sublime try. Morse couldn't make good the conversion and Park lead 13 - 7, knowing that a converted try by Horden could take the lead.
The game had been keenly contested throughout, and as predicted Horden crossed the line from a catch and drive line out, for flanker Craig Gilmour to touch down, giving Andrew Turner the chance to take the lead for the first time in the game with only minutes remaining. At the point of impact, the Horden centre appeared to lose his footing, and fluffed the conversion attempt.
The game ended with Park in the Horden half, and when the final whistle went Park had edged it 13 -12. Despite winning, Percy Park slipped a position in the league as Sunderland had beaten Ponteland by a larger score. Park play their game in hand next week away to Ryton.