With Horden losing at Northern, Percy Park move back to second in Durham and Northumberland 1, by a clear two points with a game in hand. Sunderland travelled to Preston Avenue, their season so far blighted by injury and players leaving the club for pastures new, but hoping to retain the form that saw them defeat Yorkshire 1 side Skipton for a place in the last 32 of the EDF Energy Senior Vase. Park were able to field a strong side with the welcome return of Sam Walton to the pack after a shoulder injury and work commitments had kept him out of the 1st XV for the last 3 seasons.
Park had a very mobile pack with all three of the front row also capable of playing in the back row, and it was Sam Walton who had come into the side for the unavailable Chris Reekie at loose head prop, that scored the opening points, finishing of a catch and drive from a line out eight minutes into the game. Greatham kicked the conversion and Park led 7 -0.
The home side had much of the early pressure and should have scored minutes later when Rutter was free with an unrestricted run to the line, only to be brought back for a forward pass earlier in the move.
On the 20 minute mark, Percy Park stretched their lead, when a move down the left flank saw Blackburn almost bundled into touch, but the left wing had the presence of mind to keep the pass the ball back in play and after a slick handling move, former skipper Greg Dixon finished off the try as Sunderland ran out of defenders.
From the restart, Michael Langlands drove the ball on into the heart of the Wearsiders defence and passed to scrum half Michael Conn who chipped the ball over the oncoming defenders. The ball was neatly retrieved by Blair who offloaded to centre Griffiths in support for Park’s third try, with the upright deflecting Simon Greetham’s conversion attempt.
Percy Park had much of the play in terms of both territory and possession, but the visitors from Ashbrooke continued to defend to keep the home side at bay. Liam Blackburn had a chance to score wide out on the left wing only to be tackled into the corner flag with an excellent try saving tackle by the Sunderland fullback.
With the first half coming to a close, Sam Walton scored his second try, a carbon copy of his first, and again Greetham hit the post with his conversion, but at the break Park led 22- 0.
At half time Park brought on Ollie Gilmore at scrum half for Michael Conn, and the visitors continued to tackle, tackle tackle, but eventually the defence was breached when hooker Andy Dunn went over for a try after the ball was passed out open then back blind through several pairs of hands.
Park brought on Ash Smith at fly half for veteran Thomas Turnbull, and with his first touch of the game cut through the Sunderland back line and chipped the full back, retrieving his own kick in the process of diving over the line. This time Rutter kicked the conversion, and now Park were beginning to run away with the game.
On 64 minutes Andy Dunn scored his second try after a deft inside pass from Smith found the hooker on his shoulder to almost walk in a try. Surprisingly Rutter missed the kick in front of the posts to leave the score at 39 – 0.
With plenty of time left on the clock, Park were keen to try to rack up the points to somehow claw back the huge points advantage amassed by league leaders Hartlepool Rovers, but not for the first time in the game a try went begging when Fidler passed the ball to fellow lock James Grieve who couldn’t hold onto the ball and dropped it over the try line.
With time running out, and Sunderland tiring in defence, a miss cued kick found centre David Griffiths who retrieved the high ball and ran through the defence to score his second of the game. Park’s final try came on the right wing when Ali Blair went over in the corner to take the final score to 49 – 0. All credit to Sunderland who never gave up despite the one sided scoreline.
After the game Park found out who they will meet in the next round of the EDF Energy Senior Vase, when news came through that Scarborough had beaten Wigton. Percy Park will now play Scarborough, away on 17th January 2009 for a place in the last 16 of the tournament.
Meanwhile Percy Park Lions were playing Morpeth Edwardians in a top versus second in Northumberland League 2b. In the end Morpeth won 18 – 10 with some indicipline costing the Park side dearly, with 3 kickable penalties conceded in front of the posts.