Tynedale Raiders 29 – 20 Percy Park
Park completed their pre season preparations with a run out at Tynedale in blustery autumnal like conditions. In the first half the visitors had the advantage of the elements and with strong scrummaging threatened the home side on a number of occasions with several penalties being conceded. Park opted against kicking points instead looking to run patterns of play honed on the summer training ground.
Second rower, Craig Fidler opened the scoring for Percy Park with backing up after a good run by Phil Morse who came into the side at centre for Martin Shaw who had contracted a virus. Some 2 minutes later Park scored again when Ian Elliot picked up on a loose Tynedale line out on their 5 metre line, which had been earned courtesy of a pin point kick to touch by Marcus Rutter. Unfortunately Marcus was unable to convert either try, but the visitors led 10 – 0.
Tynedale hit back with a well executed try spinning the ball through the hands after a scrummage in the Park half, with the left wing going over in the corner. Soon after Park restored the 10 point lead with a try on the right wing with Thomas Turnbull stepping inside the covering tacklers, but again the try was unconverted. Turnbull was unlucky not to score moments later when he crossed the line after a break by Marcus Rutter set up the try only to be ruled out for obstruction.
At the break Percy Park led 15 – 5, but a ten point gap was going to be difficult to defend with Tynedale now playing with a strong wind in their sails couple with the fact that Park lost lock Craig Fidler and prop Chris Reekie through injury. The Corbridge side hit back with 2 tries and a conversion to take the lead 17 -15, but Park continued to battle and had a try ruled out after a forward pass from Greg Dixon put Stephen McPherson clear on the left wing.
Tynedale stretched their lead when their young right wing finished of a try when it looked as though there was no room in which to manoeuvre down the flank, and the score under the posts allowed Simon Allen to convert his second of the day to go into a 24 – 15 lead.
Park ran the ball at every opportunity and pressed the Tynedale line, and when miss cued clearance kick reached the hands of Marcus Rutter playing at fly half, he used his pace to cross the line, to bring the black and whites within a try of winning. On the stroke of full time however it was the blue and whites who scored the final try of the day to win 29 – 20.
This was a good run out for both sides, but for Park the signs were good with an improved performance from the previous week at Sedgeley Park. Next week Park start the league off on the road to Driffield. Due to a wedding at Kellythorpe the kick off has been brought forward to 2pm.