PERCY PARK 13 - 20 NORTHERN
Northern won this game by three tries to one, but were gifted two of their scores by the home side. The game was played in sticky, heavy conditions which didn't really suit either team, who both prefer a firmer surface.
The visitors scored first with a try from left wing O'Sullivan although Andy Sutherland was off target with the conversion attempt. Park narrowed the deficit with a penalty by Rutter, who was instrumental in Northern's second try. Park were on the attack from their own half, and a Rutter pass was intercepted by Ian Pearson who ran in the try to lead 3 - 10, which was how the half ended.
In the second half, Park gifted a second try to the visitors when a missed kick to touch was retrieved by Clarkson who passed inside to full back Casey who took his eye of the ball and dropped it. O'Sullivan who was chasing up for Northern fly hacked the loose ball through and retrieved it just short of the try line and dived over for the score. This time Sutherland was accurate with the conversion.
Percy Park responded almost immediately with a try by centre David Griffiths who took a well timed flat pass from fellow centre Craig Firth to power through a gap in the defence to score between the post, and Rutter converted. Park had much of the second half possession and were unlucky when penalised for clearing out a Northern player on the side of a driving maul close to the line.
A second try scoring opportunity went begging when Marcus Rutter picked up a charged kick, and instead of backing himself for the race to the line put in a kick which went dead. Rutter kicked a further penalty to bring Park within 4 points but with minutes to go, Sutherland kicked a drop goal to give the visitors the win by 20 - 13.
This win for Northern with a game against bottom of the league West Hartlepool TDSOB next week, should be enough to give them home advantage for the play off against runners up of Yorkshire 1, Ilkley, that is providing league leaders Billingham don't slip up.