Park limped across the finishing line to victory against a determined Stockton side, in a stop start game that never really threatened to excite the spectators.
Stockton started the game with the wind advantage, although Park had the first opportunity to put points on the board after only 4 minutes when David Griffiths came into the line and broke through the visitors defence. With support on either side the Park full back stepped inside then surprisingly threw a pass into fresh air and a certain try was spurned.
Jeremy Good opened the scoring for Stockton with a well struck drop goal on 6 minutes, and Phil Morse for the home side had the chance to draw level but his penalty attempt went wide of the upright. Good struck again for the visitors this time with a penalty, and after Michael Langlands had incurred the wrath of the referee for over vigorous foot work, Matt Taylor's long range effort missed left and the score remained 0 - 6.
Andy Dunn notched his first try of the season supporting wing Jon Carlile to take the inside pass to go over the line to score, after an incisive break by centre Marcus Turner. The conversion attempt was missed, and with 4 minutes to go to half time Stockton fly half Good kicked another penalty to take a lead of 5 - 9 into the break.
Percy Park had hoped to carry on the form which had dispatched Gosforth the previous Saturday, but couldn't gain any meaningful possession to let loose their backs. Stockton never really threatened in the back line, but were making inroads from back row moves from the base of their scrum. It was from one such move, early in the second half that allowed Gareth Foukes to score after a driving maul was driven over the Park line and Good secured the extra points from the conversion.
Park now 5 - 16 down drew closer with a Morse penalty on 53 minutes, and then closer still with a fine Liam Casey try. The home side scrumage secured good ball on the half way line, and the ball was fed through the backs to Casey at outside centre, who waltzed through the Stockton midfield and side stepped the despairing Taylor at full back to go in, under the posts. With the Morse conversion, Park were now within a point of the visitors with 20 minutes to play.
Stockton were finding it hard to get out of their own half, and Park as in previous weeks dominated the line out. The final score of the game came from a line out in the Stockton half and a sniping run by Jimmy Baldwin. The Percy Park scrum half off loaded to lock Craig Fidler who was in close support to take the pass and score. With the conversion made by Morse, Park now led 22 - 16.
Towards the end of the game it was all Park pressure, and another try seemed certain went Marcus Turner cut through the Stockton defence only to be scragged on the line by the last defender and couldn't off load the pass to the supporting players. In the final few minutes Park were denied a try when Brett Sylph went over from a scum, but scrum half Baldwin was penalised for obstruction.
On the adjacent pitch Percy Park Marauders won 41 - 7 against Wallsend 3rds, but Park Lions who were playing at Morpeth were well beaten by a strong Morpeth Reivers.