Durham and Northumberland 1
West Hartlepool RFC 36 v Percy Park RFC 35
"You couldn’t write it but someone has to!"
With minutes to go the author of this report wrote his article title ‘West hit Card Trouble’ and having done so watched a Park side implode losing a 13 point lead against thirteen players. What was needed was calm collective thinking and what we got was the opposite. A bit like General Custer at The Big Horn or Captain Schettino on the Concordia. The loss of two players galvanised ‘West’ and we appeared to go into panic mode losing two players of our own before losing the game by a point. The cheer that erupted from the clubhouse end was volcanic and was joined by some very dubious daddy dancing. For one moment I thought I had seen Buster Bloodvessel. Still credit where credit is due the West Hartlepool side worked together and refused to be beaten and we applaud them for it. Unfortunately for us this has happened before; Huddersfield YM and Durham City away are two games that come to mind. The sharp lesson it provides can be (and should) embraced and taken onto the training field, where hopefully the defeat can be used to develop our young side onto to success in the future. If you like we can call it a re-set after all we are only half way through the season.
The game was all about the second half. The first was ‘nip and tuck’ and all about the catch and drive. West hadn’t lost at home and played with a confidence of a team that should be higher placed in the League. After an early exchange of penalties the first distance in the score line was achieved by a catch and drive from the home side. We responded with a penalty followed by a catch and drive of our own. Nip and tuck.
Both sides had opportunities to score. A poor pass robbed West of a try and a repelled catch and drive from a penalty saw a Park chance go to the wind. The first yellow card of the afternoon was given to the home side as their fly half took a 10 minute break. Although a man down a quick tap and go from West saw Park retreat 10 and then fail to tackle the ball carrier as he weaved across to score. 17-13 at the turn and an even contest.
On the half Percy Park mixed it up bringing Josh Hedley on in the second row. His appearance had an immediate effect for two very different reasons. His instantaneous impact gave us the advantage in the scrum and the ball at the feet of the West eight was less assured. Then Josh was given a yellow all of his own and we ended up a man down. A kick to the corner and West went to the catch and drive and bundled over for the score. 22-13
Our lineout wasn’t working and we weren’t protecting the ball as we should. A change of personnel and Jonny Dubois entered the fray. He like Josh Hedley had an immediate effect. West were penalised and a man down after a deliberate attempt to slow the play. Park went to the line-out and the (you guessed it) the catch and drive with Jonny Dubois getting that all important touch down. The conversion sneaked over. 22-27.A further Park penalty increased the deficit .22-30 and the match time clock was running out for the home side.
With minutes left on the clock a West Hartlepool player fell out with the referee in spectacular blue style and received his marching orders under the colour of red. You could call that colourful exchange of views.
Percy Park made the numerical player number count. Andrew Dunn getting the score. Unfortunatly the conversion wasn’t made, the ball striking the post. At that point it didn’t seem to matter. 22-35 with minutes to go and West Hartlepool shorthanded for the rest of the game. And it was here I made the fatal mistake of making a note of the title of this missive…West Hit Card Trouble…next time I will keep my thoughts to myself and my trap shut….and never to assume the loss of two points will be okay!
What happened? You couldn’t, and it hurts to, write this…Collectively West Hartlepool gave Percy Park a lesson that hopefully we shall never forget. Despite being shorthanded they showed a collective spirit and a desire to win that, when you are up against it, we would do well to replicate. Gaining possession of the ball the home side patiently worked their way down field until they were in a line threatening position. Once there they played keep ball and we went to pot. Michael Langlands attracted the first yellow closely followed by Paul Spowart who (accordingly to the post-match chat with the ref) deliberately slapped the ball away from a receiving West Player. The action preventing a try scoring position. With two players down, Park’s defence in disarray, West coolly fashioned a gap allowing their fly half to score. Conversion taken.29-35.
From the kick off the ball returned to the home side. I believe at this point it was thirteen versus thirteen however West Hartlepool may have been increased to fourteen players. Anyhow… the ball was retained and we lost 10 metres after some ill-timed back chat to the referee. The loss of the ‘10’ was crucial as the metres put the home side in a commanding territorial position. Not wasting the opportunity they worked the ball from left to right. A side step and a roving winger put them in front of the posts. Percy Park were scrambling to prevent a score. Our defence came up but could not prevent the Hartlepool wing from borrowing over to score. Having worked the ball to in front of the posts the conversion was a formality.36-35 and cue the volcanic roar and a Buster Bloodvessel appearance.
The conversion was the last play of a hard fought and even game. Congratulations to West Hartlepool; all you can say is ‘well done’, at least we came away with two bonus points so all was not lost…should have been five though!
Northern on Saturday where hopefully we will give a response…let’s see if we can bring a full house and encourage our team back to winning ways.
Representing Percy Park RFC:
From 15: Paul Spowart, Stephen Turner, Howard Stock (capt), Tom Moore, Andrew Walker, Ash Smith and Joe Cassidy
From 1: Matty Atkinson, Adam Hay, Marc Cook, Michael Langlands, Karl Thompson, Andy Dunn, Jake Smith, and Leo Caulfield.
Finishers: Jonny Dubois, Sam Digman, Josh Hedley.