Ryton, to those who have played or supported there, is a windy and exposed site on which to play rugby, but it’s good for blowing away the cobwebs, or anything else that is not securely fastened down. The strong cross wind in part was instrumental in Park scoring their first try of the game.
The home side kicked off, but the ball was blown out of play on the full, and the visitors took a scrummage on half way. Brett Sylph picked up and passed to scrum half Michael Conn who made a break passing to Marcus Rutter coming in from full back, who in turn released winger Ali Blair. Blair drew the last defender and popped the ball back inside to Rutter in support, and Park were on the score board inside a minute.
Percy Park had much of the play, and should have scored twice through scrum half Conn and then Liam Blackburn but an overlap was ignored and the chances went begging. Percy Park did score through skipper Brett Sylph on the half hour when Ryton were reduced to 14 men after number eight Robin Scott was sent to the sin bin for back chat to referee Paul Fincken. Park were awarded a penalty close to the Ryton line, and Conn took a quick tap to Sylph who charged over the line to score. Rutter converted and Park now had a 12 point lead.
With about 6 minutes of the first half remaining, the referee sent Michael Langlands for Park, and Scott Finlay to the bin for fighting, although the Park second row would take no further part in the game, as a visit to Queen Elizabeth Hospital was required for stitches. From the resulting penalty Steven Fudge reduced the gap for the home side.
Park seem to make a habit of scoring just before the break, and this time on 42 minutes centre David Griffiths took a pass from Ali Blair to score after the winger had made a break from his own half. With the Rutter conversion the half time score was 3 – 17.
With Park’s player coach Ponton not being able to come off the bench for Langlands due to an aggravated injury, the versatile Phil Morse came on in the back row, and scored an opportunist try after a defensive kick by Ryton was charged down, and Tom Pollock retrieved the ball and popped it up to Morse in the home sides 22. Rutter was again on target with the conversion.
Percy Park’s final try of the game came on 68 minutes from a scrum in mid field. Sylph picked up from the back of the scrum which by now was under a little pressure from the heavier Ryton pack, and the ball was fed to Turnbull then Greatham who made an excellent break, off loading to left wing Liam Blackburn to score. Once again Rutter made sure of the extra 2 points and Park led 3 – 33.
The visitors had 2 more chances to stretch the lead further, with breaks by Greetham in the centre, but the 2 on 1 chances were spurned with the final pass being given too early, allowing the cover defence to drift on to the Park wing.
It was Ryton who had the last word in the match with a well taken try by the ample framed Steven Fudge who powered through the Park mid field to score from short range, and with his successful conversion took the final score to 10 – 33.
Once again Percy Park managed to field 4 senior sides on Saturday, with the Lions winning 24 – 5 against Novos at Preston Avenue. Park’s Pumas won away at Wallsend II 24 – 12, but the luckless Marauders lost to a strong Novos Centurions 40 – 10.
Next week Park 1st XV have a break from league duty, but entertain Northern in Round 3 of the EDF Energy Senior Vase at Preston Avenue.
