NORTH ONE EAST

PERCY PARK 27 – 15 DINNINGTON

A passionate Percy Park performance at Preston Ave put paid to Dinnington’s 100% record. The league’s new boys had started the season with a bang with 6 straight wins in their first year at this level and they started this game well enough keeping the home side pinned down in their own half for much of the first 15 minutes.

A lapse of concentration from the kick off meant that Park were under pressure from the off, and when they were penalised for being offside inside the first minute, Dinno’s fly-half Chris Williams kicked his side into a 3 – 0 lead.

The Yorkshire 1 champions have built their game on a strong forward pack and several driving maul were repelled near the Park line by stout defence, but inevitably they did cross the whitewash on the ten minute mark, and a superb Williams conversion from the touch line took them 10 points in front.

This seemed to be the catalyst that spurred Park into action as they played against a strong wind in the first half. With 20 minutes gone, Percy Park set up camp in the visitors 22 and the defence were penalised for a high tackle in front of the posts. The referee allowed Park to play a good advantage that saw Ash Smith dummy and cut through to score. The conversion hit the upright.

North One East

Bradford & Bingley 17 – 15 Percy Park

It was a case of history repeating itself as again Park had a chance to draw at Wagon Lane with a last second conversion, but sadly the visitors could only come away with a losing bonus point.

Once again late changes to the pack saw Jonnies Kidd and Dubois replace Joe Wafer and Andy Dunn both out injured, but Ben Bell returned to the back row. In the three-quarters Toby Davison returned to full back and George Lewis was in the squad starting on the bench.

Park opened the scoring on 9 minutes when Ali Blair broke through the Bees defence for a try converted by Ash Smith. The Bingley based outfit had most of the first half possession and scored on 26 minutes with an unconverted try by Shaun Driver.

Just before the interval Ash Smith slotted a penalty for a 10 – 5 lead after the Bees were punished for a high tackle.

In the second half the home side levelled as back rower Tom Cokell went over, but again the conversion missed the target.

North One East

Rochdale 24 – 15 Percy Park

So after 25 league games of the 2014/2015 season neither Rochdale nor Percy Park could gain promotion or for that matter be relegated. Rochdale started in third position with Park 2 places behind in fifth, and after 80 minutes that was how the league table finished.

The visitors took to the field to the cheers of the travelling Percy Park Under 15’s and their mothers and fathers who were on tour in the North West, and staying at a local holiday camp; there is no truth in the rumour that they were organising an escape committee.

The game started in glorious spring sunshine, but those who watched in short sleeve order soon regretted the decision as a biting wind blew across the firm pitch. The visitors had stunned league leaders Sheffield in the previous week and were hoping to continue that level of performance away from home.

The early exchanges were evenly balance before Rochdale took the lead with a try on 6 minutes. Outside centre Josh Schofield kicked ahead in the Park 22. Full back Michael Grove looked to have the ball covered but only succeeded in getting finger tips to it as it sailed over his head and Schofield touched down. The conversion attempt from a wide angle was off target but the home side led 5 – 0.

NORTH 1 EAST

PERCY PARK 9 – 8  SHEFFIELD

Prior to this penultimate league game of the season the formbook would suggest that table toppers Sheffield just had to turn up and a bonus point win would see them as League Champions 2015. Percy Park however had other ideas with club captain Michael Langlands returning to league action after his eye operation to repair a detached retina had kept him out of the team for a considerable period of time.

Before the game there was a gathering of some 130 guests including 2 former Presidents of the Rugby Football Union, and many former Percy Park players spanning 7 decades who attended for lunch. They were then treated to a display full of spirit and determination that put the icing on the cake of a good day for the club for the last home game of 2014/15.

For much of the season Park had had to contend with a mounting injury and unavailability list which has seen some 46 different players selected for the 1^st XV in league rugby so far, and today was no different with 2 more players making their league debuts namely Mal Donald and Austin Phillips. There was a new look back line too with flankers Leo Caulfield and Ethan Wilson selected on the wing and centre respectively.

Park kicked off with the tail wind but were penalised for bringing a Sheffield player down whilst still in the air and the visitors cleared the ball to touch back in Park territory. The home side tackled with determination, and forced the Sheffield into several errors and turnovers. Ash Smith had his first penalty chance on 6 minutes but the kick hit the post and bounced out, however he was on target on the quarter hour to give Park a 3 – 0 lead.