Durham and Northumberland 1
Percy Park RFC 83 v Hartlepool Rovers RFC 7
Hartlepool kept striving and Park kept scoring.
In our Presidents pre match notes mention was made of ‘a hope’ for a competitive and closer game of late. That hope quickly evaporated as the Hartlepool Rovers alikado’s and team arrived in ‘dribs and drabs’ beset by selection issues, unavailability through injury and post COVID catch up’s. Not forgetting to mention transport problems. As a consequence the game was delayed as (I believe) five stoic Rovers members jumped into a car and drove up arriving late in the day. Percy Park’s thanks go to those players and to Hartlepool for fulfilling the fixture, without complaint, even though they knew they would be in for a tough afternoon. We too have been there…for the faithful all we have to do is cast our mind back to that infamous trip away to Morley where we had to start a game shorthanded, forced to select a player used to playing at prop in the centre and our Director of Rugby arriving with reinforcements as half time approached. We lost handsomely that day and the announcer at Morley proved to be an ungenerous scoundrel sarcastically recording his surprise when we did manage to register a score. Thankfully we are a better than that. Saturday’s game might have ended at 83 to 7 but that was never the story here. This story will always be about character, playing right to the end, taking the result ‘on the chin’ and promising a better game in return. Hartlepool have been around since 1879; as a club they certainly do not lack character and I hope they will look forward to providing a closer game in the return just as we did when we next played Morley and reacquainted with the said Morley announcer!!!
Over the years we have maligned our team for underperforming against opposition that are not as strong as we are…that did not happen here. Player coach Ash Smith and his team have to be congratulated in ensuring their side play ‘what is in front’ and continue to play from first to last. We appear to be developing a ruthless mentality that will be needed in games to come ensuring the chasing pack remain chasing!
The game started with a try….A Leo Caulfield pick up at ‘8’ saw a drive to the defense. Rooted to the spot Caulfield breezed through before committing the Hartlepool full back and releasing the supporting Ash Smith into acres to register the first score. The next came from the long stride of Josh Hedley. Nobody seemed to want to make the tackle and as the ball was moved to the left Thomas Moore was on hand to touch down. Paul Spowart made it three. A series of scrums saw scrum half Joe Cassidy release the back line. A reverse pass to the looping Paul Spowart put Park in space. Ash Smith bulldozed forward to the ruck where Howard Stock was able to pick up and dive over.
A yellow card to Hartlepool for a ‘no hands’ (and high) tackle felled wing Ross Young. Park took advantage taking a scruffy scrum against the head allowing hooker Adam Hay to capitalize from the resulting play. Ash Smith was having a 50/50 with the conversions. Still it didn’t really matter as the scoreboard was only going in one direction. And it was that man who scored the next. Despite being down one Hartlepool kept it tight and had a good period. That said when it went wide…well next over Ash Smith! As the half approached we made a right mess of the ‘last play’ despite Hartlepool kicking the ball back to us…best not dwell on that. Into the half well ahead.
The second started with a mazy run by Ash Smith that took him from inside our 22 to a great attacking position. A position we didn’t waste. Retaining the territory a well-designed lineout move took Percy Park on the roll and over. A well-constructed try. A failure to stop a Michael Langlands charge cost Hartlepool as the resulting pass out wide was collected by Josh Hedley who put in a sublime dinky pass to allow Ross Young the room to score. Same scenario as the away side failed to contain Thomas Moore. The supporting Joe Cassidy was up there and although he had a bit to do the score was made.
A high tackle saw Adam Hay to the bin and for the first time Percy Park were under a bit of pressure. Andy Dunn came into the hooker slot. Shorthanded the Hartlepool 15 slipped through to score under the posts. With a man down Park responded in the right way. A dominant scrum had Hartlepool on the back foot, a Thomas Moore flick with the boot and the resulting inside ball saw Jake Smith over.
Drew Walker entered the fray and had an impact creating a line for Thomas Moore to exploit. The run up the field was finished by a swan dive by Leo Caulfield that looked more like a belly flop than anything artistic…anyway another score on the board!
Just before Park were restored to 15 Ash Smith made one of those a jug avoiding passes when it’s easier to score yourself…having said the beneficiary didn’t complain as Ross Young went over. Three tries a man down. Again I don’t think Adam Hay moved before Leo Caulfield sprinted down the line before passing to ‘his cheery mate’ Joe Cassidy for the scrum half to notch another.
Hartlepool kept striving and Park kept scoring. Drew Walker scoring from an eye catching run that took him the whole length of the field. Hartlepool were okay in the tight yet when the ball went loose or wide they had no answer…tough afternoon on the back foot. 83 to 7 the final score
Represententing Percy Park RFC;
From 15: Ash Smith, Nathan Coxon, Howard Stock, Thomas Moore, Ross Alexander Young, Paul Spowart and Joe Cassidy.
From 8: Leo Caulfield, Jake Smith, Michael Langlands, Karl Thompson, Josh Hedley, Marc Cook, Adam Hay and Sam Digman.
Finishers: Andrew Dunn, Michael Birkett and Andrew Walker.