The pitch in places resembled a beach, but the surface at Abbeydale was good and the weather condusive to running rugby despite the obligatory stiff breeze. Park arrived slightly later than planned due to a detour through Sheffield city centre, and coach Paul Jobson elected to keep the team on the pitch after the warm up.
Park made 3 late changes to the side that was announced in the programme, with Marcus Turner coming in to the centre for the injured Mark Walton and Jon Carlile in for the unavailable Marcus Rutter. Coach Paul Jobson stepped in to the bench to cover for Jimmy Baldwin who missed the bus!
Percy Park started brightly and scored from the first attacking move when debutant Jon Carlile finished off a try with his first touch of the ball. Sheffield had a chance soon after to narrow the gap but the penalty kick from Tom Gray went wide.
After 30 minutes Chris Rowley came on at tight head for prop George Purdy who looked a little peaky after the triple cheese bacon burger he had consummed on the journey down made a reappearance. The visitors had the better of the home side in the tight and scored in injury time after a catch and drive from a line out allowed Chris Rowley to secure the try which Brett Sylph was unable to convert. The try came with the final move of the first half and Park led by 10 points to nil.
In the second half Percy Park had several chances to score, with wing Mark Clarkson taking a pass to leave him a 20 yard unopposed dash to the line only to be called back for a forward pass, much to the relief of the home support. Park's centre Liam Blackburn was then sin binned for a shoulder charge on scrum half Matt Poste who was doing an admirable job refereeing the game for Mr Tovey of the Yorkshire Society.
When Sheffield's lock Nick Hayes was sin binned for repeated offending, Park opted for a penalty kick at goal rather than a scrum, but kicker Brett Sylph made good the 3 points. Moments later Brett was sin binned after being adjudged pulling down the jumper in the line out, but Park weathered the storm to keep the visitors off the score sheet.
Sheffield tackled well particularly in midfield, but a rare lapse allowed Marcus Turner to break the defensive line and when it seemed he would score himself passed inside to Liam Casey in support who was tripped and fell just as the ball was passed and a try scoring opportunity was lost.
All in all this was a good away performance and for the first time this season Percy Park are off the bottom rung of the league ladder.
Next week Park entertain Rochdale at Preston Avenue ko 2.15 pm . With 3 sides facing relegation from North 2 East at the end of the season this is a must win game to keep in touch with Horden and Hartlepool Rovers who both currently have a 4 point advantage.