It's now 5 wins from 5, but Park slip from the top of the table following Rovers 15 try demolition of a makeshift Wallsend team, blighted by stag weekenditis. To say Northern haven't had the best of starts is an understatement, but the McCracken Park side often prove to be Park's bogie side, although the home side got off to a good start with an early try by prop Chris Reekie.
Park had a sustained period camped in the Northern 22, and were awarded a penalty on the 5 metre line and from a quick tap Reekie drove over the line, but Greetham couldn't convert the extra 2 points. Northern's injury woes deepened when fly half Jonathan Job had to leave the field after receiving a bang on the head in a tackle.
On 14 minutes Park scored there second try when Man of the Match Brett Sylph made a break from half way through the Northern defense, taking the ball up to the 22 before being hauled down. A series of rucks developed as Park moved closer to the try line, and eventually the visitors ran out of defenders and Greg Dixon was on the left wing to receive a pass and go over the line unopposed. Once again the try was not converted, but Park led 10 - 0, and seemed to be cruising for a comfortable victory. When Liam Blackburn was sin binned for tackling a player in the air, Northern seemed to find a different level and when Park were penalised for being offside, full back Robbie Thompson kicked the 3 points to cut the deficiet. Northern's backs looked dangerous when the had the ball in attack, and spurned a try scoring opportunity when O'Sullivan kicked the ball over the dead ball line, in a kick and chase rather than keeping the ball in hand. The visitors drew level on the half hour when Park's fly half Marcus Rutter threw and pass which was intercepted by Ali Womack who ran 70 yards to score under the posts, and Thompson kicked the conversion. Park were awarded a number of penalties close to the Northern line and Ian Pearson who was standing in at hooker was lucky to stay on the pitch after repeatedly being warned for slowing the ball down. Greetham stepped up to kick a penalty to go back into the lead. Shortly before half time Percy Park's full back David Griffiths was yellow carded for a shoulder charge and again Park were down to 14 men. No sooner had Griffiths returned early in the second half, when Northern's Smith was sin binned for repeated infringements, and Greetham kicked 3 points with the assistance of one of the uprights. When the home side were penalised for being offside Thompson stepped up and kicked the penalty to take the score to 16 - 13.
Ali Blair replaced Simon Greetham in the centre, and Marcus Rutter resumed kicking duties, but missed 2 penalty opportunities. For the second time in 2 weeks, Park's supporters were subjected to a nervous, nail biting last 10 minutes, but just before the final whistle, hooker Tom Pollock scored his debut 1st XV try being on hand to receive a pass from Sylph who had picked up from the back of a scrum and making several yards taking a number of Northern players to bring him to ground. Marcus Rutter missed an easy conversion attempt, but Park had won 21 -13.
Park will need to step up a few gears if they are to maintain their 100% record, and the big test comes in 2 weeks time when Percy Park play Hartlepool Rovers away. Next week, Park travel to Creighton in Carlisle to play in the EDF Energy Senior Vase. At home there are 3 games with Percy Park Lions taking on Northern Wanderers, the Pumas, play Blaydon, and the Marauders take on Alnwick IV.