North One East

Percy Park 29 - 12 West Hartlepool

Park overcome ‘West’ to move out of the relegation zone

Percy Park ,buoyed by a Boxing Day win over their dearest rivals Whitley Bay Rockcliff, took to the field in a must win game against West Hartlepool. With both teams at the wrong end of the North One East table and with the ‘relegation cloud’ looming on the horizon the result was of paramount importance to both clubs and their supporters. The importance of the contest was shown by the number of supporters from both sides who turned up in numbers to create an expectant yet tense atmosphere. With the fixture being sponsored by North Shields based financial consultants Wade Financial their guests added their encouragement to the home side by attending the game resplendent in black and white outfits. The afternoon was set, yet it was West Hartlepool who started the game the more assured side by pressing Percy Park deep into their defensive zone forcing an error that saw Will Hilditch intercept a poor Park pass to score a relatively easy try. First blood to West.

North One East

Percy Park 18-Driffield 59

‘Now is the winter of our discontent’

(Richard III Act 1, Scene 1)

It’s hard to portray an accurate account of this game as the score line states that Percy Park were subjected to a crushing and overwhelming defeat. Yet at times they were mercurially brilliant and in that statement lies the problem. Percy Park are a capable side yet today , as in other games, they only play to their potential for brief hopeful periods then throw all their hard work away through a risky pass, a poor kick or a half-hearted tackle allowing the opposition to gain the upper hand. For the supporter the watching is becoming frustrating and to some discouraging, how it must feel to be player is anyone’s guess.  Never the less they have the answer. If they can learn to play with patience and stop trying to force the game and in doing so cut out the unnecessary mistakes the results will turn. For on their game Park are a talented side. Unfortunately we are only seeing glimpses of it and that is where the discontent along with the cold weather is starting to creep in.

Park started the game brightly and were at Driffield with power and pace driving the Yorkshire side deep into their own half. It was with no great surprise when Driffield were penalised for being offside at the ruck as they were throwing bodies from all directions into the melee to prevent Park from scoring. With a penalty kick directly in front of the posts Fly half Michael Grove earned Park a well-deserved lead. From the resulting kick off Park gathered the ball and drove deep into the Driffield half. With scrum half Olly Gilmore orchestrating a ‘pick and go’ game with his forwards Driffield took to ‘playing on the line’ to frustrate Park momentum and it did not take long for referee Craig Wrightson to lose patience and award Park a further penalty . Followed by a stern warning to the Driffield captain. On this occasion however Michael Grove missed the kick with the ball drifting wide of the left hand post. It appeared to many that the game was set and we were in for a good afternoon. Then, as I mentioned earlier, for the supporter that hope was all too brief.

North One East

Bridlington 34- Percy Park 10

‘’The loss of fortune to a true man is but the trumpet challenge to renewed exertion, not the thunder stroke of destruction. ‘’    

E.H. Chapin

The result may seem emphatic yet it does not tell the whole story. Percy Park were desperately unlucky to come away from Bridlington’s ground without any points. A wise old ‘Bridlington’ sage was heard at the back of their stand to say ‘Aye lads…..you were robbed today’ and with that he donned his cap as he made his way to the clubhouse for a pint. Now I believe he was being a bit unjust to his own side, who with Park delivered a great game for the neutral, but in small part he had a point. Bridlington received the benefit of the official’s decisions in Park’s red zone and were able to convert those opportunities into points. Park received the benefit of decisions outside the Bridlington 22 and were unable to convert their fortune into points. To many it appears as if fortune has deserted Percy Park of late, however they are a good side and with renewed effort and determination they will turn things around.

The game was evenly fought. Two good sides with good individual players causing problems for either side. For the supporter it was great to watch and the Bridlington support were vocally excited. Bridlington started off on the charge penning Percy Park inside their 22. But Park stuck to the task and weathered the early storm with Toby Davison and Michael Langlands excelling in defence. With the wily old fox Thomas Turnbull stepping into fly half Park kept absorbing the pressure and clearing lines when needed.

North One East

Percy Park 28- Bradford and Bingley 40

Percy Park played some inspiring rugby in the first half that had the crowd on their feet and on the half anticipating more of the same. Then, as in previous games this season, the opposition regrouped at half time and changed their game plan to stifle Park flair. Unfortunately Park seem unable to adapt and as a consequence are losing games they should be winning. As soon as Park understand the need to ask different questions of the opposition they will be competing at the top of the table. Continually playing to the same patterns when the opposition have adapted to their style of rugby will see this team competing at the bottom of the league. And that will be a shame as this team, despite recent results, are a good side. Many an opposition Captain has commented after the game that Park are one of the best sides in the league and that their ‘Achilles heel’ is that they are easy to work out.

The game started at pace and for the first 20 minutes the game see-sawed from end to end providing good value to the spectator. Morse in particular was having a fine half using a variety of different kicks to probe the Bradford defence and turn their defence around. Yet it was a wayward pass from the Park scrum half into the midfield that almost created the first score of the game. With Bradford expecting a short pass to the fly half the Park player saw that pass go soaring over their head into space. Park scrambled back and a deft pick up and pass saw the explosive centre Seb Rees power into unexpected space and with Davison in support quick hands almost put the winger in at the corner. A pacy Park back-line had showed their intent.