PERCY PARK 22 – 20 HARTLEPOOL ROVERS
A last minute converted try by Man of the Match Marcus Rutter sealed victory for Percy Park in this second versus top clash in Durham & Northumberland 1. Earlier in the season only one point separated the two sides when Rovers were victorious 10 – 9 at the New Friarage, and this two point win at Preston Avenue shows just how close the two sides are. The howling wind blowing straight down the pitch threatened to spoil a potential classic game with both sides keen on playing running rugby. Park had most of the early territory and possession and to emphasise the strength of the gusty wind on one occasion Gareth Foreman kicked the ball dead all the way from his own try line to the Park dead ball area, and Percy Park were awarded a five metre scrum.On 18 minutes from a scrum, Brett Sylph picked up from the base and attacked Rovers, and from quick ruck ball Phil Morse went over in the right hand corner to give Park a 5 point lead. The conversion against the wind was always going to be difficult and from an acute angle meant Marcus Rutter couldn’t add the extras.
The Percy Park pack had the upper hand on their opponents, but the Rovers half back pairing can be lethal if given any space as their prolific points for tally bears out. In a 10 minute spell from 3.20pm to 3.30 pm, Park allowed Rovers to amass a 20 point haul, and going into the break 15 points down was going to make it a tough second half.
Sainty got Rovers first points from a long range penalty, straight on to the posts, after Thomas Turnbull was penalised for going off his feet in a ruck, the on 23 minutes Gareth Foreman waltzed through several tacklers after Phil Morse had failed to find touch with his clearance kick. The ball was retrieved by Chris Sainty and then to Foreman who scored near the posts to make Sainty’s conversion that much easier, and Park who minutes before had led, were now behind 5 – 10.
Things went from bad to worse only 4 minutes later, when again that man Foreman (G) chipped the Park defence and retrieved the ball to exuberantly dive over the line for his second try, and again Sainty was on target.
Shortly before half time a comedy of errors saw David Griffiths knock on and Brett Sylph retrieve the ball but from an offside position, and Sainty kicked another penalty. Marcus Rutter had a chance to reduce the deficit a little with a penalty kick, but his attempt was wide.
Park turned around with the elements in their favour, and when Brian Foreman was sin binned for handling in the ruck close to the Rovers line, Park opted for the kick to the corner. From the resulting line out the home side drove the ball over the line and Anthony Dunn got the all important touch down. Marcus Rutter wasn’t having his best day’s kicking and missed on the right with his conversion attempt.
Park were to score again on 52 minutes with another Morse try, again started by skipper Brett Sylph. Brett burst through several tackles and fended off the final tackler to offload one handed to David Griffiths who 
found Morse on his right. The Park winger stepped inside to score in almost the same spot as the previous try, and again Rutter missed the conversion to the right the swirling wind taking the ball away from an extra two points.
Hartlepool Rovers were battling against the strong wind and couldn’t kick their way out of defence, instead opting for the strength sapping war of attrition keeping the ball tight with the forwards. This worked for a long spell but they never looked like breaking through the meanest defence in the league.
Andrew Foreman left the field and was replaced by the veteran Jonathan Wrigley, and there had been several stoppages for injury in the second period. As the clock was wound down by Rovers, they conceded a penalty near halfway and David Griffiths kicked to the corner. The Rovers touch judge indicated that the ball had gone dead, but referee Wayne Falla who was directly behind the kicker, and ruled than the ball had gone in touch a metre out, so Park had a line out in injury time needing a converted try to win.
The line out was won and the ball recycled, and Park had men over on the right. Rutter joined the line and cut through the smallest of gaps in the defence to dive over to bring the scores level. Rutter now had the
chance to make amends for his earlier missed kicks, and this time made no mistake, judging the wind to perfection and bisecting the uprights, and Percy Park now led 22 – 20.
The game continued and Rovers pressed to get near the Park line for a penalty or drop goal attempt, but conceded a penalty on the Park 10 metre line. The referee indicated there was no more time, and Dave Griffiths kicked the ball dead to bring an end to a very exciting game for the large crowd.
Rovers still lead the table, and although Park have games in hand, it is unlikely they will be able to overhaul the Hartlepool side’s point’s difference.
Next week it is the semi final of the EDF Energy Senior Vase, when Park take on North Lancs and Cumbria side Tyldesley for a one in a life time trip to the home of English rugby on 9th May 2009.