A nail biting finish and some heart stopping moments for the home supporters, but a win against fellow league strugglers Stockton moves Percy Park outside the relegation zone. Last Friday the RFU announced that there would be no relegation for National League 1 as they expand the numbers from 14 to 16 teams, and although this will have a knock on effect some way down the leagues it still seems as though the bottom 3 sides in North 2 East will be relegated in any event.
Park made 3 changes to the side that won against Sandal last week, bringing in Michael Conn at scrum half for the unavailable Paul Davison, Michael Langlands came in at second row for Carl Griffiths who was thought to be injured but covered a place on the bench. The final change was Andy Dunn for Mal Donald also thought to be unavailable and due to a mix up Nick Vickers was unfortunate to be left out of the squad altogether.
The conditions were conducive to a fast flowing game following sterling work by the ground staff, transforming a pitch which was looking unplayable on Tuesday. Stockton opened the scoring with back to back penalties by Jeremy Goode after Parks backs had infringed offside.
In the encounter earlier in the season at Stockton, the red and whites over powered the Park pack, but not today with Chris Dunn and Stu Denny beefing up the front row, and the greater supremacy in the tight allowed Park's backs possession, which they had not previously enjoyed.
David Griffiths opened the scoring for the home side with a powerful run in midfield scoring under the posts to allow Phil Morse to convert and take the lead 7 - 6. Morse who had been practicing all week had his kicking boots on today and soon after slotted a penalty to extend the lead.
Park were still gifting the Teesside outfit penalty after penalty which Goode punished with un erring accuracy kicking 6 penalties all told during the game. 3 penalty kicks by Goode of Stockton, and another by Morse took the half time score to 15 - 13 to the visitors.
Mal Donald came on for Andy Dunn in the second half although Park gave away another silly penalty which Goode kicked to extend the Stockton lead. With Park now behind, the home side decided to play more adventurous attacking rugby and following a period of pressure inside the park 22, Liam Casey decided to run the ball out of defence with a typical jinking run taking the play well into the Stockton half and linking with David Griffiths to score his second try.
Phil Morse converted and Park were now back in the lead 20 points to 18.
From the kick off Michael Langlands caught the ball on the Park 22 and made off down the pitch brushing aside would be tacklers with the odd side step thrown in for good measure. The visiting supporters couldn't believe what they were watching after one by one Langlands passed the whole Stockton side and scored a remarkable individual try in the corner. The delight of the Park players was clear for all to see as they mobbed the young second row to celebrate his debut try for the Ist XV. Morse was unable to make the difficult attempt at goal.
Stockton were not about to give up without a fight and again took play back to the Park 22, and with 8 minutes to go scored through lock Mark Scrivington. A conversion by Goode would have tied the scores but his kick went wide, and Park held on to a slender 2 point lead.
Pressure this time on the Stockton line gave Park a chance to increase their lead. With the visitors scrum half Armstrong deliberately preventing quick release from a ruck in front of the posts. Percy Park had an overlap as referee Peter Forsythe played advantage as the ball came back to Thomas Turnbull who opted for the drop goal which was successful and Park were now 28 - 23 up with a nervous 5 minutes to go.
Neither side added to their tally and Park were deserved winners 3 tries to 1, but the penalty count and an on song Jeremy Goode could have been their undoing.
Next week Percy Park play host to league leaders Penrith at Preston Avenue, and the match sponsors are local solicitors Hadaway and Hadaway.