PERCY PARK 54 – 6 HARTLEPOOL ROVERS
Rovers travelled to Preston Avenue, already knowing that next season they will be playing in Durham and Northumberland 1, and Park fielded much the same side that won mid week against Morpeth in the cup.
Rover kicked off with the wind in their sails, but conceded a try inside 2 minutes, when David Griffiths spun through a tackle on the line after dummying his way to the posts. Marcus Rutter converted, and 7 – 0 up Park were off to the best of starts.
Percy Park were much the more dominant pack but were penalised in the first 2 scrums for driving up then boring in. The home side did incur the wrath of exchange referee Richard Loton on several occasions and were penalised for various misdemeanours, but a penalty on 8 minutes gave Chris Sainty the chance to convert for Rovers.
Park hit straight back with their first attack from the restart. From a scrum in the Rovers half, Ponton picked up and passed to John Scott who sped up the blind side and offloaded to Thomas Turnbull in space, for the left wing to cross the line for a try, which Rutter converted. Rovers then had a further penalty chance but Sainty was wide of the mark.
Despite Rovers lowly league position, they were well up for the game, and only a last ditch tackle on the Park 5 metre line, stopped them scoring after Park were caught napping from a quick line out and hooker
With the wind in the second half, Park kept Rovers deep in their own half for much of the time. Howard Stock scored his second try of the game as he was put clear by Sean Williamson only 2 minutes into the half, Rutter missed the conversion, but it was the only one he missed all game.
Sean Williamson then got on the score sheet himself after good support play, put the rangy back row forward on hand for a pass close to the line to score on 51 minutes.
Rovers were now well under the cosh, particularly in the scrum, and when they were awarded a scrum on their own 5 metre line, the Park eight shunted them off the ball driving them backwards over their line, with James Ponton dabbing the ball down for a try, converted by Marcus Rutter for 40 – 6.
Marcus Rutter then scored a well earned try of his own after coming into the back line at pass and dummying his way through a gap in the visitors defence to cross the line. Converting his own try this took Park to 47 – 6 with roughly 10 minutes still to play.
Rovers never say die attitude, was commendable, but Park had the last word with a try by Craig Fidler on 80 minutes again converted by Rutter. Although there was still time for one more play, the game ended 54 – 6 and Park can look forward to a play off for promotion to National League 3 North, the highest position Park will have achieved since the leagues were formed.
On a lighter note, some of your will have spotted Lions Manager Paul Jobson walking round like a film extra for that Scottish epic Braveheart sorry 'Pinkheart' . He was in fact collecting money for Cancer Research and managed to collect over £300. A big thank to everyone who donated.
