PERCY PARK 40 – 9 MIDDLESBROUGH

Once again Percy Park’s pack domination led to a comprehensive victory which keeps promotion hopes still alive with a game in hand on second and third places in North 1 East. Middlesbrough remain in the runners up spot, as Wheatley Hills also lost to league leaders Billingham.

Boro kicked off with a strong wind behind them, with both sides showing total commitment to the break down, a clash of heads inside 5 minutes meant Jack Davidson had to leave the field with a blood injury and Tom Holden for the visitors was bandaged up. Middlesbrough took the lead with a penalty kicked by fly half Jack Bircham, after Park were penalised for going off their feet at a ruck on 11 minutes and another penalty soon after doubled Boro’s lead.

From the first scrummage it was clear that despite being a bigger and heavier pack, Middlesbrough were under severe pressure in the tight, and after 24 minutes Hamish Lockwood finished off a push over try which was converted by Simon Greatham.

The game was a physical encounter and when Gavin Fingland threw a barrage of punches in front of the referee, he was shown a yellow card, and was possibly lucky not to have seen red for his actions, With a man advantage Park scored on the left wing through Ali Blair after John Scott had broken through the Boro defence from the back of a scrum, although Simon Greatham’s conversion attempt into the strong wind fell short.

Bircham kicked another penalty on 33 minutes to keep his side in the hunt, and on the stroke of half time had a chance to draw level but his penalty attempt went wide. At half time Percy Park led 12 – 9, with the elements in their favour for the second period.

TEAM NORTHUMBRIA 0 – 95 PERCY PARK 

In a howling gale and on a fast firm surface, Park inflicted a record defeat against Team Northumbria, and in doing so also scored their highest points tally in a game since league rugby began. The visitors played into the wind in the first half, and inside 5 minutes Jack Davidson had scored the first of Park’s 15 tries. Percy Park’s strong pack put the students under pressure on their own scrummage with Park’s open side pouncing on a loose ball and surging to the try line. Simon Greatham kicked the conversion.

From the restart Park were on the attack again and a powerful run by man of the match Joe Wafer saw the young prop break through several tackles before offloading to fellow front rower Allan Blakey who was stopped just short of the try line. The recycled ball found Greg Dixon who crossed the line, and again Simon Greatham converted to take the score to 0 – 14.

Percy Park were playing a fast open game with both backs and forwards involved in most of the plays, and after several phases in the Team North half fly-half Thomas Turnbull dummied and went through a gap in the defence throwing out a wide pass to Howard Stock on the right wing who went over in the corner. The strong wind made kicking extremely difficult and Simon Greatham was unable to add the extra points.

The bonus point came on 23 minutes when Park were awarded a scrum on half way. Hamish Lockwood picked up at the base and fed scrum half John Scott who did well to hold on the pass. The ball went wide to Ali Blair on the left flank and the winger set off and then stepped inside the cover defence to score an unconverted try.

Northumbria were being totally starved off possession and Ash Smith made several inroads through the home defence, and on one occasion only a last ditch tackle five metres from the line kept the Park full back from scoring. Howard Stock then received the recycled ball and crossed the line, but the try was disallowed.

GATESHEAD 5 – 26 PERCY PARK

Despite their forward dominance, Percy Park never really got into gear against second bottom side Gateshead. On a cold day and on a heavy pitch, Park needed to put their woeful performance against Old Crocs behind them and started well enough with 2 penalties from Simon Greatham who was back in the 1^st XV at centre and took over kicking duties from Marcus Rutter who was on the injury list.

Park were pleased to see skipper John Scott back in the 1^st XV after a prolonged spell out of the side due to injury, and David Griffiths resumed the full back position which in previous seasons had been his regular slot.The visitors had most of the early pressure and were rewarded with a penalty on 5 minutes, which was made all the easier by an extra 10 metres given for back chat to the referee. Minutes later one of the Gateshead locks was shown yellow for some injudicious words to the match official.

The second Greatham penalty on 15 minutes, kept Park noses in front, although the home side had a penalty chance which fly half Jack Dove pulled left of the posts. With Park on the attack play was halted with a high tackle and flanker Greg Dixon was shown a yellow for taking the law into his own hands on 27 minutes.

Old Crossleyans 21 – 15 Percy Park

Any hopes Park harboured of promotion were dashed in a slow motion performance against Halifax side Old Crossleyans on Saturday. Crocs had won only three games so far this season and were on the wrong end of a 45 – 18 drubbing earlier in the season at Preston Avenue. Park’s spirits were high having started the New Year so well with a comprehensive win against fellow Yorkshiremen Old Brods the previous week.

The 1^st and 2^nd XV’s both playing Old Crossleyans, left North Shields not knowing if the games would be played or not, as overnight sub zero temperatures had frozen the pitches, but the signs were good for a rise in temperature as the sun came out and the 1^st XV game went ahead - just, although the Lions game did not.

Park fielded much the same team as last week with Tony Dunn coming into the back row for Sean Williamson, Crocs welcomed the return of hooker Richard Wheale and number 8 Manny Riaz, to bolster their side.