EDF ENERGY SENIOR VASE ROUND 4 : PERCY PARK 24 – 6 BRIDLINGTON
Round 5 beckons, and on Tuesday Percy Park will know who they face in the last 8 of the North Division of the EDF Energy Senior Vase. The game against Yorkshire 1 side Bridlington took place in appalling weather conditions, and it is testimony to the hard work put in by the ground committee who were pumping water off the pitch all morning, that the game could still go ahead on a gloomy day with the fllodlights on from the very start. Park were back to a near full strength side and had the first opportunity for points when the visitors infringed in their own half after 5 minutes, but the penalty attempt went wide. After a string of penalties, Bridlington’s Callum Cappleman was sin binned, shortly followed by inside centre Kieran Lawry, reducing the Yorkshire side to 13 men.Percy Park opted for a scrum in front of the visitor’s posts, and spun the ball wide to Ali Blair who went over in the right hand corner for the first of Park’s 4 tries of the day. The try remained unconverted, and on 22 minutes when Bridlington were restored back to 15 players, South African Mfongen Prince slotted a drop goal in front of the posts.
The wet conditions meant the game was never going to be a spectacle of running rugby, and Park kept the ball tight in the forwards retaining possession for long periods. The second try which came after 25 minutes was a pack effort with the forwards driving over the try line with lock Craig Fidler getting the touch down. Simon Greetham converted and the home side led 12 – 3.
Brid cut the gap with a penalty from Tom Kemp and at half time Park were up 12 – 6. The weather was so severe, that both sides opted to take the 10 minute half time break in the changing rooms, with hot sweet tea and a change of shirts keeping up the spirits.
Percy Park had most of the possession in the second half, but were penalised several time when close to the Bridlington line for the forwards going off their feet. A surging break by Prince and a chip ahead could have given the East Yorkshire side the lead but for rear guard action by full back Marcus Rutter. Bridlington were nevertheless awarded a penalty in front of the Park posts, but the kick hit the right hand post and the home side cleared their lines.
Park continued to pressurise and scored again through David Griffiths. The centre took a crash ball and took several defenders with him into the post protectors, and slid down to score at the base of the upright. Simon Greetham was on target with the conversion and with a full 10 minutes left in the game Percy Park were leading 19 – 6.
Bridlington who lie third in Yorkshire 1 were not going to go out of the competition without a struggle, and in a rare trip into the Park 22, looked to have an overlap in the backs when quick thinking Ali Blair, intercepted a pass and ran the length of the pitch to score just before the final whistle.
Park’s Lions lost narrowly against Blyth Ist XV and the Pumas also lost to Blyth II. Next week Percy Park 1st XV play Sunderland at Preston Avenue when the next round of league matches resumes, and it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that the two sides could meet in the next round of the Senior vase as the Wearsiders defeated Skipton 8 – 5 at Ashbrooke to also progress to round 5.