Candy Cup Final

Blaydon RFC Georgians 45 v Percy Park RFC Lions 50.

Discarded headband inspires Park triumph 

I am sure it was the loss of a black bungee headband that riled our Lions side as a Blaydon player cruelly removed the said item from the head of centre Nathan Henderson. The game to that point had been all about Blaydon and Percy Park were playing within themselves. That changed when the bungee came off, as like the Henderson locks, Percy Park got into their flow and played with some real grit, zest and panache. It was exciting to watch and you couldn’t help get drawn into the spectacle and drama that unfolded in front of your eyes. It was a privilege to be there and, if you missed it, you missed a gem of a second half display from a team that showed everything that is great about Percy Park. The only disappointment on the day was giving Blaydon a 26 to 5 point head start!

Blaydon literally smashed their way to a 14 point lead at the hands of a very large and athletic centre. Things were not going great and we looked disorganized. We held on and made our response on 23 minutes through Nathan Henderson. He still had his bungee in at that point. Park moved the ball through the backs and a series of good off loads gave Nathan the space to work the try. Unfortunately the score wasn’t converted. Blaydon came back and dominated the rest of the half with a try from their second row, following devastating work from their outside centre. Blaydon finished the half with a try from their hooker. Again the play had come from Blaydon’s centre pairing who looked very good. Enough said about that and we moved into the second half trailing by 26 points to 5.

Coach Tim Walker ran the bench and altered the line up to combat their midfield play. You could put the final result down to astute tactical management but I would prefer to stay with the bungee. As the half resumed Henderson attempted the carry and had his bungee forcibly removed. That was it the hair was out and Park were riled. Andrew Clyde and Eddie Saint led the charge and with a reinvigorated Jonny Dubois we took the fight to the Blaydon line. Sam Leeds (with noted pink socks) made a youthful dart through the melee to score. Try converted. 12 to 26 with 3 minutes played.

Three minutes later Andrew Walker loitered on the touchline and used his bellowing tones to demand the ball. Received try scored. 17 to 26 and the game looked a whole lot different.

The game was going to every three minutes. Up popped the Blaydon Hooker to score. 17 to 31. Another 3 minutes and their hooker was at it again, following a very good chip and catch from one of the Blaydon centres. 17 to 38

Following the re-start and you guessed it, 3 minutes after the Blaydon score, Paul Spowart made the tap following a penalty and went. Score made. 22 to 38.

You might think we have forgotten about Nathan we haven’t! Fortunately for the author a healthy 8 minutes passed in the game before Nathan Henderson benefitted from some good work from our forwards. James Guthrie was playing well. In fact all the forwards were playing well. A forward drive ate up ground and the secure ball was given to Andrew Walker. Walker playing in Henderson across the line. Paul Spowart converting.29 to 38. The half back connection of Steven Turner and Andrew Walker were on point.

Tension was creeping into the game and there were one or two flare ups. Eventually the referee lost patience and handed Blaydon a yellow card.

With half an hour gone  in the 2nd, Andrew Clyde received a pass off Nathan Henderson to take his bulk over the line to score. 36 points to 38. Then came the try that eventually tipped the balance as Andrew Walker took a 'tap and go' to give young Alex Midgley the ball on the left wing. The player had much to do and with great speed and strength danced and burst through tackles to score. A try reminiscent of his father in his slim playing days!). 43 to 38 and Percy Park had the lead with 5 (or thereabouts) to go.

Percy Park’s cheers soon went to groans as Blaydon nipped back with a try from their scrum half. With a conversion made 43 to 45. End to end. As the try scorer made his way to his team mates he came out with a great line “Lads you are two minutes away from the biggest two minutes of your life”’…he was right we had 4 minutes to go but I really don’t think that was what he meant…yet he was encouraging his team to stay in the race for that is what the game had come to. A race to the finish line.

With time ebbing away a contentious line out was given to Percy Park. A flurry of spiteful words were flung toward the touch judge in black. The referee was right to stay with his man as the decision was a Percy Park ball; albeit it probably was a Blaydon knock on and a scrum rather than a line out. Either way it was still a Percy Park ball and tensions were running high.

With the line out won Park moved the ball to the right hand corner.

Keeping possession they dragged Blaydon numbers in, leaving Nathan Henderson room out wide to the left. Barked orders were given and the ball came out. Henderson gathered and beat the covering defense to cross the line. Aware of the narrow score line Henderson took the ball as near as he could to the posts. Much to the joy and excitement of the travelling support and players. The conversion taken. Try converted Park ahead by 50 points to 45.

The referee called last play and Blaydon took possession, grappled away by Percy Park, who found that last play wasn’t really last play and Blaydon were in our half. (You could have cut the air with a knife…people needed to breathe…it was gripping drama) From the resulting line out the ball eventually ended up in Park hands and this time the ball was dispatched. The referee called time. That was it players were on the pitch, fists were raised in salute and the travelling support breathed as the home team following slumped to the ground with their team. The game meant that much too all who participated in it and this was something the presenting Durham Official commented upon. It was great to see.

With Captain Mark Sanderson’s mits on the small trophy, and following a rip roaring speech, all departed to the clubhouse for two sausages and a portion of chips. Once replete all headed back to the Coast for copious amounts of beer. Somehow the ‘small’ trophy followed refusing to be put back into the cupboard from whence it came.

 

 Representing Percy Park RFC

From 8: Liam Walker Jacob Dunsdon,Sam Leeds,Jamie Guthrie,Andrew Clyde, Mark Sanderson, Jonny Dubois and Steven Dryde.

From 15: Ben Anderson, Alex Midgley,Toby Davison, Nathan Henderson, Dan Jackson , Andrew Walker and Steven Turner

Finishers; Eddie Saint,Ollie Ellis, Paul Spowart and Phil Harrison

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