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.

Morpeth 3 - Percy Park 27

Percy Park are now guaranteed at least a play off spot with this 27 – 3 win over Morpeth at Mitford Road. West also won away at Carlisle with a bonus point, so they only need 7 points from their remaining three games to be confirmed as league champions. If Park can win the remaining two games away at Durham City and home to Hartlepool Rovers, they should be favourites for a home fixture for the play off against the runners up from North 1 West.

Park kicked off with the wind and slope advantages, in bright sunny conditions, and for the first 10 minutes exerted all the pressure on the home side, although solid defensive work meant the visitors could only come away with a 6 point lead after two penalties from the boot of Ash Smith on 9 minutes then four minutes later. Jinks for Morpeth clawed three points back with a well taken penalty after Park had been offside.

 

With Martin Shaw moved to the bench, Marcus Rutter assumed the fly half position, and scored his first try of the season with a break through midfield after an attack in the Morpeth 22. The Park number 10 jinked his way through the defence and scored under the posts. Ash Smith converted to take Park into a 13 – 3 lead.

Percy Park 26 – 11 Carlisle

Although Percy Park won with a bonus point, the stats would show that the visitors had far more of the possession. In an error strewn game, Park maintained pressure on league leaders West Hartlepool, who also won, but it is now looking more likely that the runners up spot and a play off will be the just reward.

 

Carlisle kicked off on a cold day with a harsh easterly wind, but it was the home side that notched first with a try by flanker Greg Dixon. Park had won a line out in the visitors half and Ali Blair made a break, but was held up over the line, but from the resulting scrum Park spun the ball right, and after re-cycling from a ruck, Greg Dixon was on hand hugging the touch line to go over in the corner for the score. Ash Smith then stepped up and kicked the difficult conversion.

Ten minutes later, Ali Blair was rewarded for his industrious work looking for the ball. Park’s top try scorer was given a lovely inside pass by John Scott, but he still had a good deal of work to do to get over the line. Once again the Park wing was stopped near the line, but his strength allowed him to retain the ball and wrestle it to the ground, shrugging off the Carlisle defenders to score. Again Ash Smith converted the difficult conversion.

Carlisle came straight back and after a good ten minute spell, scored on the right through wing Martin Brodie after a deft pass by Chris Harris put fellow centre Luke Bell through a gap in midfield. The ball was then shipped to the right winger who went over for the score on 24 minutes, but Grant Connon’s conversion attempt hit the post and stayed out. Park now led 14 – 5, which was how the half ended.

Percy Park 36 – 15 Northern

The Percy Park coaches kept faith with the team that narrowly lost away last week by a single point at Cleckheaton, with one enforced change in the second row, with Sean Williamson in at lock for the injured Michael Langlands. The game which was re-scheduled from December 2010, due to the snow, was played in ideal conditions for running rugby with a firm dry pitch.

Park had won the earlier encounter between the two sides at McCracken Park, and were looking to exercise a few ghosts from last week’s topsy-turvy performance. The visitors were looking for some well needed points to keep them out of the drop zone, back to Durham & Northumberland 1.

 

Park got off to a bright start with an early try after only 3 minutes, when Howard Stock crossed the line after a good break by skipper John Scott. The try in the right hand corner, meant a difficult conversion shot for Ash Smith, and the kick at goal dropped short.

Northern came straight back and a try from full back Jon Job, after a patient build up, levelled the scores. A nice inside pass by fly half Andy Sutherland put Job through the gap and under the posts, making the conversion attempt, a simple one, as the visitors took the lead 5 – 7.