North One East

Dinnington 44 - 13 Percy Park

Three late tries by Dinnington put the gloss on their win, in a game where the hosts were on top from the first minute. From the kick off Park were in front of the kicker, and oddly the referee gave the home side a penalty on half way rather than a scrum, and they capitalised kicking to the corner to set up a catch and drive.

Park conceded a penalty for collapsing the maul and a quick tap saw Will Marshall crash over for a try inside 2 minutes, with full back Chris Williams converting for an early 7 – 0 lead.

The visitors shook off the early score and came back with a good 10 minute spell which Dinnington defended well until minute 24 when Will Marshall scored his second at the back of a maul which was driven over the line.

Percy Park struck back on the half hour as Josh Hedley used his giant frame to good effect powering over the line for the try. Several players dived on top of him in the act of scoring and a melee ensued with Harry Watson being shown a yellow for Park although punches seemed to be thrown from both sides none of the Dinnington players were spoken too and to add insult to injury the home side were awarded a penalty from the restart.

NORTH 1 EAST

PERCY PARK 8 – 28 ILKLEY

Percy Park’s 1^st XV went down to their third successive defeat losing to a well-drilled Ilkley side who leap frog Park into second place in North 1 East. The conditions were a little warmer than when the game was originally scheduled before Christmas, with ideal conditions but for a low winter sun, which Park faced in the first half.

Ilkley capitalised on an early Park mistake and soon set up camp, scoring inside 2 minutes when burly wing Johnson barged his way through several tackles on the left flank to cross for the try. Josh Kimber kicked the conversion from the acutest of angles for a 7 – 0 advantage.

The visitors doubled their lead on 16 minutes when centre Monks cut back on the angle shrugging off several tackles to score under the posts, and Kimber kicked the easiest of conversions.

Park came back with a good 10 minute spell where they attacked the Ilkley line, but the Dalesmen’s defence held firm and at half time they led 14 – 0.

North One East

Wheatley Hills 23 – 22 Percy Park

Despite Park scoring 4 tries to Wheatley’s 3, they went down by a single point which was in the main a combination of not converting crucial kicks and gifting penalties for moments of indiscipline.

Park had an early penalty kick at goal but the ball drifted wide, however soon after Ali Blair was gifted an interception which he gratefully accepted, running half the length of the pitch to score on 11 minutes. Toby Davison’s conversion attempt hit the right post and bounced out.

Wheatley hit back with 2 tries in 2 minutes, the first coming from Number 8 Tom White, and the second another interception which saw James Montgomery stride in under the posts for a try which was converted by Owen Gilvray to give his side a 12 – 10 lead after 20 minutes.

The visitors came back with a catch and drive try with Joe Wafer getting the touch down and Davison kicked the extras to level the scores which was how the half finished 12 – 12.

NORTH 1 EAST

PERCY PARK 7 – 16 ALNWICK

Park lost their season’s unbeaten home league record going down to Alnwick who have now won their last 4 league games and are pulling themselves up to mid table in North 1 East. The game was moved to the nearby Kings Priory School pitch as the high winds had brought down one of the posts on the 1^st XV pitch, and for the match the wind speed had reduced from hurricane to a mere gale force.

Percy Park had won the earlier encounter at Alnwick, but with their recent improved form the visitors were looking for another win

Alnwick had the slight slope advantage and some benefit from the cross wind in the first half and the game was tight for the first 20 minutes before James Bird put his side ahead with a penalty.

Alnwick kept up the pressure in Park territory and were rewarded with an Elliot try on 27 minutes after several phases of play. Bird kicked the conversion then on half time kicked a penalty to give his side a 13 – 0 lead at the interval.

Both sides tackled their hearts out on a cold dreary day, with many supporters returning to the shelter and warmth of the clubhouse. The die-hards were rewarded with an Andy Dunn try 10 minutes into the second period after a solid catch and drive from a line out in the Alnwick 22.

Park turned down a kickable penalty opportunity for a kick to the corner, hoping to keep up the pressure on the Alnwick pack with another catch and drive, but stout defence kept Park out.

Alnwick lengthened their lead with another Bird penalty on 54 minutes, and for the next half hour or so both teams battered each other into submission, with no further additions to the score.

In the end Alnwick well deserved their win, and hope to keep up their unbeaten run next Saturday against league leaders Sheffield.

Park make the trip to Wheatley Hills hoping to regroup to maintain their second place spot in the league.