Durham City 24 – 26 Percy Park
Park started like a runaway train and scored after only four minutes through Ali Blair, after a precision chip through by Martin Shaw, found the Park centre in space to dab down the ball over the line. With the absence of Ash Smith, Marcus Rutter assumed kicking duties but missed the conversion.
Four minutes later Park were 10 – 0 to the good after Martin Shaw crossed the line after a solid scrum and pick up from Michael Langlands who had moved to number 8 after the mid week injuries to Brett Sylph and Greg Dixon. Rutter missed the conversion, but had the chance to make amends soon after when the visitors were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Unfortunately Park opted to kick to the corner instead of accepting the three points on offer, and City managed to snuff out the attack after a mis-directed line out.
Park were totally dominant in the first 20 minutes, then City hit back with a try by veteran Knowles. This spurred Durham into action, and the home side scored again 20 minutes later through full back Smith, and the kick was converted by Alistair Blair for City to lead 12 – 10 at half time.
City, buoyed by their win last week against Team Northumbria, were looking for an upset, and Smith scored a good individual try after some slopping tackling allowed the City full back to build up a head of steam and eventually crossed the line to score, after the home side had run the ball out of their own 22, after Park had coughed up a great attacking line out. The conversion by Blair took Durham City into a 19 13 lead, which they looked unlikely to relinquish.
Park brought on skipper John Scott from the bench, and fresh legs gave Park a lift with Michael Langlands scoring a try after a well worked line out had resulted from an incisive break by Martin Shaw. The conversion hit the post, so hit still led 19 – 18.
Percy Park then scored again with a bonus point try by right wing Howard Stock on 71 minutes. Marcus Rutter was not having his best day with the boot and missed the conversion. Park now eased into a flimsy lead 19 – 23.
The influence of the Park skipper was evident, and a break through mid field brought play up to the City 10 metre line, and they were penalised for the tackler not releasing. Some injudicious back chat earned Park a further 10 metres, and Rutter kicked the penalty.
With the game drawing to a close, City needed a converted try to draw, and mounted a concerted attack on the Park line. The home side looked to run the ball at every opportunity, and nearly scored when the ball was spun left, but the ball was knocked on with the line at their mercy, and the Park supporters breathed a collective sigh of relief.
With time almost up, Park then embarked on a mad two minutes and chose to run the ball out of defence instead of opting for a clearance kick to touch. City retrieved the ball and then kicked ahead, with Ali Blair calling a mark on the 5 metre line. With time up, the ball should have been kicked off the pitch but instead the kick ballooned in field and the home side ran play back and scored through Metcalfe, with the assistance of some astute mid field blocking which the referee chose to ignore. This brought the score to 24 -26 and the conversion would bring City level, which was no less than they deserved. Sadly for them lady luck was otherwise engaged and the kick went wide as the final whistle blew. Twice in the space of four days Park had played their “get out of jail free card”.
Next week Park meet Morpeth at Preston Avenue in the semi final of the Northumberland County Cup. KO 7pm. On Saturday Park play Hartlepool Rovers also at home. With West Hartlepool winning away to Wheatley Hills, they now only need 2 points from 2 games to secure promotion. A win for Park next Saturday will earn home advantage in a play off against runners up of North 1 West, which at this stage looks like being against Burnage.
Back at Preston Avenue, the Lions secured a well earned win over Morpeth Edwardians, which meant they had now completed a league and cup double, cementing their position as Champions of Candy League Division 2.