PERCY PARK 54 – 6 HARTLEPOOL ROVERS

Although Percy Park had already guaranteed the play off place in North 1 East, this win should give home advantage, subject to official confirmation from the RFU North Competitions Committee. The play off match will be against Burnage who finished runners up in North 1 West. The date is still to be confirmed although it is likely to be Saturday 23^rd April 2011, as neither club has a game that day and this was the original play off date, despite many other clubs still playing to complete their league program.

Rovers travelled to Preston Avenue, already knowing that next season they will be playing in Durham and Northumberland 1, and Park fielded much the same side that won mid week against Morpeth in the cup.

Rover kicked off with the wind in their sails, but conceded a try inside 2 minutes, when David Griffiths spun through a tackle on the line after dummying his way to the posts. Marcus Rutter converted, and 7 – 0 up Park were off to the best of starts.

Percy Park were much the more dominant pack but were penalised in the first 2 scrums for driving up then boring in. The home side did incur the wrath of exchange referee Richard Loton on several occasions and were penalised for various misdemeanours, but a penalty on 8 minutes gave Chris Sainty the chance to convert for Rovers.

Park hit straight back with their first attack from the restart. From a scrum in the Rovers half, Ponton picked up and passed to John Scott who sped up the blind side and offloaded to Thomas Turnbull in space, for the left wing to cross the line for a try, which Rutter converted. Rovers then had a further penalty chance but Sainty was wide of the mark.

Read more …Rovers routed in final league game

Percy Park 80 – 17 Morpeth

Park booked their place in the final of the Northumberland Senior Cup, with an emphatic 12 try win over Morpeth last night. To be fair to the visitors they had one eye on their league game at the weekend against Old Crossleyans, so rested some of their regular 1^st XV, but that doesn’t take away the fact that Park took their opportunities and played an exciting brand of 15 man rugby with backs and forwards all working well as a unit.

The try fest was started by Thomas Turnbull on 5 minutes, and then a further 8 first half tries followed from Griffiths (2), Williamson, Shaw, Blair, Dunn, Baldwin and Fidler. Marcus Rutter regained his kicking "mojo" with an excellent display with the boot slotting 10 out of 12 conversions on the night.

With the game won at half time 59 – 0, Park made several substitutions. A further 3 converted tries followed from Barlow, and Stock (2). Morpeth came back with 3 tries of their own with one converted.

The final is to be at Northern FC on 27^th April 2011 KO 6.30 where Park will meet Tynedale Raiders, who won the other semi-final at Druid Park against Gosforth 36 – 15.

Durham City 24 – 26 Percy Park

Hollow Drift doesn’t bring out the best in Percy Park, and a conversion attempt well into injury time could have earned a draw for the home side, but the kick went wide, and Park move a step closer to having home advantage for the play off which will determine promotion to National 3 North.

 

Park started like a runaway train and scored after only four minutes through Ali Blair, after a precision chip through by Martin Shaw, found the Park centre in space to dab down the ball over the line. With the absence of Ash Smith, Marcus Rutter assumed kicking duties but missed the conversion.

Four minutes later Park were 10 – 0 to the good after Martin Shaw crossed the line after a solid scrum and pick up from Michael Langlands who had moved to number 8 after the mid week injuries to Brett Sylph and Greg Dixon. Rutter missed the conversion, but had the chance to make amends soon after when the visitors were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Unfortunately Park opted to kick to the corner instead of accepting the three points on offer, and City managed to snuff out the attack after a mis-directed line out.

Percy Park 20 – 19 Alnwick 

Park squeaked through to the semi final of the Northumberland County cup where they will meet Morpeth at Preston Avenue next Wednesday KO 7pm. The coaches had decided to rest several key 1^st XV players for the league game on Saturday against Durham City, and started with only 6 of the team that started last Saturday against Morpeth. 

Alnwick had much of the early play, but Park scored after quarter of an hour when Brett Sylph picked up from a five metre scrum and drove over to score, Ash Smith converted then added a penalty five minutes later to take a 10 – 0 lead. 

The home side had the benefit of the wind in the first half, but despite the elements, it was Alnwick who played the more controlled rugby, although Park had the dominance in the set piece. The visitors were rewarded for their tenacity when Rich Ellis scored after a Rutter clearance kick was charged down just before half time. 

In the second half Alnwick scored out wide through Ed Shell and the conversion by James Bird gave the Northumbrians a temporary lead 10 -12, before normal service was resumed and Michael Langlands powered over from a line out which was caught and driven over the line. 

Park extended their lead through an Andy Dunn try close to the end, but Alnwick had the final word with another try by Ed Shell with the conversion making the final score 20 – 19. 

It is easy to criticise the selection process in hind sight, but several Lions players were given a taste of 1^st XV rugby, but Park only really gained control in the last 20 minutes when the big guns, Dunn, Ponton, and Griffiths came on. A different approach will be imperative next week if Park are to progress to the final at the expense of Morpeth. 

In the other semi, Gosforth have the pleasure of entertaining Tynedale, in a repeat of the fixture last season which the green and whites conceded without a ball being kicked.