NORTH 1 EAST
DONCASTER PHOENIX 39 – 36 PERCY PARK
Phoenix snatched the game from Park in the final furlong, denying the visitors an improbable double given the respective league positions of the two sides. Percy Park are the only team to have beaten the league leaders in almost 2 years, and for large spells of the game Park were on top.
There were a couple of changes to the squad that won through to the Northumberland Senior Cup last weekend with a win over Tynedale Raiders. Johnny Kidd came into the front row for the injured Mark Cook, Lome Fa’atau for the unavailable Toby Davison and Sam Jobson in the centre for Ricki Hasnip.
Park got off to a dream start with a typical scrum half try by Davy Kay. The hosts had a scrum on their 5 metre line after Park had pressured for the first couple of minutes. The ball was won by Doncaster but quick reactions by Kay saw him pick the pocket of his opposite number and brush aside the full back for an early try.
Donny replied on eight minutes when influential 8 Adam Kettle cantered through the Park defence to score and Jamie Lennard converted to take by a short head 7 – 5.
Both sides were running the ball at every opportunity, but it was Percy Park who re-took the lead when Guy Pike was put in space by fellow centre Sam Jobson to score in the corner and Michael Grove kicked the extras.
Park’s back line looked far more effective that the table topper’s and Guy Pike scored his second try to put the visitors further in front. With the Grove conversion giving Park a 19 – 7 lead.
Doncaster came back strongly and scored from a caught and driven line out on the half hour and Lennard converted for 14 – 19.
The home side drew level at 19 – 19 after a quick line out saw their left wing race down the flank and find Adam Kettle in support to score wide out.
Park hit back within 3 minutes when Richie Berne went over on the left wing for the first of his 2 tries. Once again Guy Pike cut through the Donny defence and was pulled down inches short of the line. Quick hands saw the ball spun left and Michael Birkett gave the final pass to Rich Berne to score and secure the 4 try bonus point.
With the half coming to a close Donny were awarded a penalty in Park’s half and Jamie Lennard stepped up to take the kick with the last play. His kick looked to be falling short but caught the crossbar and sneaked over, so at half time Park led 24 – 22.
In the second half Phoenix edged back into the lead with a Lennard penalty before Michael Grove scored in the right hand corner. Once again Guy Pike burst through the defensive line and found his full back in support. Michael Groves raced to the corner wrong footing the full-back for the try which he then converted from an acute angle to go back in front 31 – 25.
Percy Park went further in front with Richie Berne’s second score. Park were defending but stole the ball from Donny in the maul. Davy Kay passed to Andy Dunn who wasn’t expecting the ball and the referee judged that the ball had hit his chest and called play on, Donny then knocked on and Michael Grove picked up the loose ball and sprinted up field. Everyone stopped expecting the whistle that did not come and Michael Grove passed to Richie Berne who ran the rest of the way to score in the corner to the cries of protest from the home support in the grandstand.
With 10 minutes remaining Park led 36 – 25, but Donny showed why they are leading North 1 East and came back with a try by Ollie Harrison converted by Lennard.
Park defended resolutely and just had to hold out in the final minute of play. Phoenix battered away at the Park defence and eventually a gap appeared which was all fly half Lennard needed to cut through to score under the posts. His conversion went over and then the final whistle came to the relief on the home support but disappointment for the Park players.
Donny consolidated their lead at the top of the table and now look to be odds on favourites to win promotion to National 3 for next season. Park stay in 9th place but are improving game by game as they go to next week’s Northumberland Cup Final to play Morpeth. The game is at Northern’s McCracken Park and kicks off at 1pm.
CANDY PLATE SEMI-FINAL
NORTHERN WANDERERS 8 – 62 PERCY PARK LIONS
This comprehensive league and plate double header saw Park’s 2nd XV progress to the final where they will meet Morpeth who defeated Billingham in the other semi-final game. The game was originally scheduled for 23rd April, but the Lions have another game that day, so the match will be re-schedule with the venue to be decided.
NORTHUMBERLAND RIVER ALN LEAGUE
PERCY PARK PUMAS 25 – 22 WHITLEY BAY ROCKCLIFF VIKINGS
The Pumas completed the league double over Rockcliff Vikings avenging last month’s cup defeat at the hands of their Whitley Bay neighbours. Tries came from Chris Hawkins, Joey Wilkinson, David Mellstrom, Jeff and Jonny Burn.