Percy Park 30 – 20 Old Brodleians

This was a pulsating and highly entertaining game, particularly for the neutral, not that there were many neutral supporters at the Preston Avenue ground to see league leaders Percy Park take on third placed Old Brodleians. Last season, Park only managed to take one point from the Yorkshiremen, losing away from home and earning a scrappy draw at home.

Brods kicked off with the advantage of a strong but swirling wind with both sides knowing that today would be their strongest test yet of the new season. The opening exchanges were a little tetchy, with a couple of fracas breaking out within the first few minutes as both sets of forwards looked to gain the upper hand. The first scrum however showed that it would be Park that would dominate the set piece as the Brods pack disintegrated under the pressure of the black and white eight.
Percy Park were awarded a penalty inside the visitors half, and David Griffiths kicked to the corner to set up a line out. The ball was won and Park drove to the line. The first wave was repelled, but then James Ponton crashed the ball up close when the ball was recycled from a ruck. The ball came out again, and this time lock Craig Fidler, powered into the Brods defence taking several tacklers with him, and using all of his 6 foot 6 inch frame to stretch for the line to score on 5 minutes. Ash Smith kicked the conversion, and Park had a deserved 7 – 0 lead.

Read more …Four wins from four for Percy Park

Northern 10 – 26 Percy Park

Percy Park maintained pole position in North 1 East with a bonus point win over league new boys Northern at McCracken Park. Park’s start to the season couldn’t have been better with two previous bonus point wins against Hartlepool Rovers and Morpeth, Northern on the other hand were looking for their first win, having lost narrowly last week away to Old Crossleyans.

Northern kicked off, and they had the best of early territorial advantage, but couldn’t break the Park defensive line. Both sides were trying to play adventurous and expansive rugby, but several handling errors often ended promising moves. It wasn’t until 20 minutes had elapsed that Alex Clark for the home side had the first chance to put points on the board with a penalty in front of the posts, which surprisingly he pulled right.

Northern continued to look more dangerous and open side Harrison Clark looked a handful, breaking several tackles on a couple of occasions, but the home side could capitalize. It was Park who scored after 26 minutes when left wing Ali Blair finished off a sweeping move hitting the corner flag in the act of scoring, but the Northern touch judge kept his flag down and the score was awarded, much to the disappointment of the home supporters and players. Ash Smith came close with the conversion attempt, but couldn’t add the extra points.

Percy Park 33 - 7 Morpeth

Morpeth made the short trip from Mitford Road to Preston Avenue, holding bragging rights having beaten Park in the last two matches of the previous season, one in the league and the other in the Northumberland Senior Cup. Both sides had enforced changes to the teams that won last week against Hartlepool Rovers and Old Crossleyans. Morpeth were missing number 8 Dawson through injury, and Park were missing Chris Reekie and George Purdy in the front row, Greg Dixon in the back row and David Griffiths in the centre. Their places were taken by Alan Blakey, Joe Wafer, Adam Fidler and Colin Murphy, who all staked their claim for 1^st XV places with fine performances in the convincing win.

 

Park kicked off into a strong wind, and the bright conditions, with the pitch in excellent nick, promised perfect conditions for running rugby. The home side had the first opportunity to get on the newly installed scoreboard, with a penalty attempt by Ash Smith after Morpeth were judged to be offside, but the kick was off target. Matthew Jinks then had a penalty kick which he pulled right of the posts, but the resulting drop out went straight into touch giving Morpeth an attacking scrum on the Park 22. It was from this, that Joe Forsythe scored the opening try of the game after a couple of phases saw the burly lock barge over on 10 minutes, and the Jinks conversion gave the visitors a 7 – 0 lead.

Hartlepool Rovers 8 – 44 Percy Park

With pre-season complete, Park travelled to the New Friarage to take on Hartlepool Rovers in the first league game of the 2010/11 North One East campaign. Conditions were good for a running game which suited the visitors, but the wind was tricky which made kicking difficult. Rovers kicked off with the wind at their backs, and in bright sunshine.

Early exchanges were scrappy with several knock ons from both sides, but Park were always more adventurous, and player coach James Ponton scored first for Park after 9 minutes after skipper John Scott had taken a quick tap penalty, he was stopped short of the line but from the resulting ruck Craig Fidler took the ball on and offloaded to Ponton for the try. With regular kicker Marcus Rutter absent, kicking duties fell to Ashley Smith, who had to take his first conversion attempt without a kicking tee, a salutary lesson to be prepared before kick off. The conversion hit the post and stayed out.