At last, a game of rugby! Park had not played a league game since 20th November 2010, and even this game against Old Brods was in doubt, right up to the morning of kick off. Earlier in the season Park had beaten the Woodhead side at home, but with so many weeks off due to the worst winter for sport many can remember, it was anyone’s guess as to who would perform best on the day.
Park’s preparation took a dent as early as 9.30am when the bus broke down before leaving the clubhouse. Some rallying phone calls saw a convoy of cars leave Preston Avenue an hour or so later than expected. Nevertheless, supporters and players arrived at Brods in good time for the warm up, and a very nice steak pie lunch for the non-combatants.
Percy Park were without player coach Martin Shaw, who was unavailable, so Ash Smith stepped in to the fly half slot, with David Griffiths moving to full back. Old Brods kicked off playing with the slope and the wind in the first half, and it was the home side who drew first blood with a penalty by Olly Ackroyd on 21 minutes.
It was a perishing cold day, with most of the supporters huddled in the stand, and much to the chagrin off the older element of the Park support, two of the Park back line were sporting black tights, disproving the urban myth that Geordies will go out in any weather, under clad!
The conditions did take it’s toll with both sides finding it difficult to handle the ball without errors creeping into the game, although it was the visitors who had more of the ball in the first period. Park struck back on 27 minutes when mercurial (animated, sprightly quick witted) skipper John Scott burrowed over the line after a loose Brods pass allowed Park to regain possession close to the line, and from the resulting ruck the Park scrum half snapped up the chance to score. Ash Smith kicked the conversion for a 7 – 3 lead.
Percy Park had two further chances to stretch their lead, the first when a kick ahead by Ash Smith, saw Park’s left wing speedster recover the ball only to be adjudged offside. The referee must have clearly been unsighted as Thomas Turnbull was a good two yards behind the kick. Moments later, and well timed pass by Andy Dunn put Craig Firth through the gap in the home defence to go under the posts, only to be brought back for a dubious forward pass.
Old Brodleians pressed the Park line just before half time, but resolute defence kept the Yorkshiremen out, and Park went into half time 7 – 3 up, but without talisman James Ponton, who had to leave the field of play shortly before the break with an injury. This allowed young Jack Davidson to come on from the replacement bench.
In the second half both sides struggled to gain a stranglehold on the game, although Park had far more of the possession as they had in the first half. Park were dominating the set scrum, but the line out, normally Park’s tour de force, was shaky, relieving the pressure on the home side on more than a couple of occasions from promising attacking positions. There wasn’t much of note to report until a few minutes before the end of the contest when Park were awarded a penalty five metres from the Brods line, bang in front of goal.
Surprisingly, the visitors spurned the 3 points, instead opting for a scrum. Park won the ball as expected and started the drive towards the line, but the scrum collapsed and was reset – no penalty. Take two – scrum won drive on, scrum collapsed, Brods penalised. Take three, scrum – Brods collapse – penalty but no penalty try, then on the fourth time of asking, the East Midlands referee gives a penalty against Park for collapsing the scrum! Bizarre.
Both sides were now playing edgy nervous rugby, a break out by Brods could have sealed the game, a score by Park could win the points and deny the home side a losing bonus point. On 84 minutes, Park scored again through John Scott to win the game. A scrum in the Brods half was won and Greg Dixon at eight picked up and went down the blind side off loading to John Scott with Thomas Turnbull outside him. The Park captain sped for the line feigning to pass outside, drawing both defenders wide, he then stepped inside to cross the line.
Ash Smith had left the field with a cut to his eye, so replacement fly half Marcus Rutter stepped forward, but was unable to add the extras. Nevertheless, Park had secured another valuable win on the road, maintaining second spot in North 1 East.
Next week Park play host to Old Crossleyans at Preston Avenue.