Having been cancelled on two previous occasions due to a frozen pitch, the game originally scheduled for 15th December 2007 took place at Ryton, with Park running out eventual winners 29 - 0. Conditions were near perfect with no wind which must be a first for the normally exposed Barmoor ground.Percy Park had made a couple of changes to the side that defeated Horden last week, with seventeen year old Rich Berne coming into the side at full back, for fellow Under 17 Ash Smith who had a school game in the morning. Chris Reekie came in at loose held to allow Michael Langlands to revert to his more accustomed position in the back row. Ryton lost Duncan Simpson due to a mid week injury so veteran Robin Scott moved from blind side to number 8. Only a penalty by Phil Morse on seven minutes separated the sides at half time, with Park spurning several chances, the first inside 5 minutes when Morse decided to ignore his outside support and was stopped inches short of the line. The visitors had most of the territorial advantage in the first period, although stoical defence by the Ryton side kept Park out.In the second half, Park scored their first try through Andy Dunn who finished off a catch and drive from a line out inside the home 22, and Phil Morse kicked the conversion to stretch the lead to 10 points. Ryton had the chance to cut the lead when Park were penalised in front of the posts, but the kick went wide.With 20 minutes to go, Jimmy Baldwin came off the bench for John Scott and then Adam Fidler was brought on for skipper Greg Dixon who was carrying a knock. Soon after Percy park scored from another catch and drive with lock Carl Griffiths getting the important touchdown. Phil Morse made up for his earlier missed penalty chance by converting the try and Park led 17 - 0.When a scrum collapsed inside the Ryton half, the home side loose head took exception to something and was sin binned by the referee after the ensuing fracas broke up. This was a blow for the Barmoor side who then conceded 2 further tries in 5 minutes, both scored by youngster Rich Berne. His first try came from a kick ahead which was tidied up by the Ryton wing, who was enveloped by Liam Casey who then stole the ball and off loaded to the Park full back who went over in the corner. The try was unconverted.Immediately from the kick off Brett Sylph caught the ball and set off in a rampaging run through several defenders deep into the Ryton half. The ball was quickly recycled to the Park backs, and Rich Berne came into the line to cut through the fractured defensive line to score. This time Phil Morse was successful with the conversion and Park finished off winning 29 - 0.After the game news filtered through that Alnwick had emphatically beaten Sunderland 47 - 3, which meant Park had risen 2 places in the league to third spot, 2 points behind Northern and 4 behind leaders Billingham.Next week Park are again away from home with a trip to Stockton.
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