North One East

Percy Park RFC 20 v Driffield RFC 13

Park deliver with thrills, spills and an unhealthy amount of tension

With the Coronavirus having a major impact on live professional sport Percy Park and Driffield served up a classic game of rugby that exhibited thrills, spills and tension…lots of tension…and demonstrated that grassroots sport provides more excitement than some of the drivel that you see on TV. Despite the excitement of watching this monumental contest the coronavirus question would not go away. The subject was the chat in the bar prior, on the terraces and in the stands during and never left the room until all had departed Preston Avenue. The subject matter seemed to spin around the thought that this could be Percy Park’s last fixture of the season and, if so, what would happen with the remaining league fixtures and how would that affect the outcome of promotion and relegation. With relegation firmly on our minds they were key questions for ‘the faithful’ and all agreed that at the end of the day we needed to be out of the bottom three. If a decision had to be made in the coming week (and all suspect it will) it is probably best to be out of the relegation zone. With that in mind Captain Seb Reece led his troops into battle and delivered an impressive performance against a really good Driffield side.

Josh Hedley led the charge from the off. The gargantuan second row was immense and in those vital opening minutes demonstrated real power as the Driffield bodies fell off him as he carried the ball into advantageous areas for the Percy Park team. The speed in which Park attacked had the Driffield ‘boys’ scrambling’ and it was no surprise when they went offside allowing Ash Smith a punt at goal. Unfortunately his effort fell well wide following a rather ‘hollow’ strike on the ball. The miss did not dampen Percy Park’s spirit and they were at the door and knocking loudly. The movement of ball from fly half Michael Grove had Percy Park purring like a well-tuned Rolls Royce engine! The scrummage was immense as Driffield went skidding back. Penalty’s followed as Driffield hung on but that ball zipped and the space could not be covered as a flying Mattie Boustead added the finish to a really good team try. Just to add to the excitement the conversion struck the inside of the left hand post before crossing the bar. 7 nil to the home side.

Driffield are a very good side and a turn over ball gave them their first meaningful possession and with ball in hand they came alive. The defence from both sides was awesome. The Driffield ‘5’ were up and quick….they do not play with traditional second rows preferring 5 athletes that can get up and away…..that quick defence stifled Park and’ gained them ball’. Only a nifty try saving tackle from Seb Reece kept them at bay. The aggression in the game brought a toll to both sides as players were replaced…it was hearty stuff. As Driffield pressed Park exited really well and as a consequence the game went to the ‘coal face’ or if you prefer it was ‘even-steven’s’.

The next on goal attempt came with only 6 minutes left on the half….As Park stretched the play Driffield crept offside allowing Ash Smith ‘a free ball’ and in the doing he elected to chip to the corner. The kick asked a lot as Adam Hay gallantly chased the ball. As the player was nowhere near the referee moved Percy Park back to the original offence, allowing Ash Smith an attempt at goal. Adam Hay received some banter from his team mates which signified that the Tyneside team were confident and enjoying; ‘the battle’. Unfortunately the strike was ‘scruffy’ and as a result the ball ‘spiraled wide’. Smith did not need to worry as Driffield offended again giving Park another attempt at goal. This time lying all over the ball as Park attacked. Ash Smith did not miss. 10 nil to Percy Park.

Driffield responded. Carrying the ball deep into Park’s 22 and recycling well as they went through the phases. A pass to their open side flanker hanging wide had Michael Grove making the tackle. The tackle looked good and the ball appeared to be dropped. As the referee indicated play on a foot race over the 22 took place with Grove getting the vital touchdown. The drop out went long and as Driffield ran it back the game got a bit tasty with the Driffield scrum half appearing to drop his knee on a prone Percy Park player. After a little ‘dust up’ the referee blew to the half with Percy Park ten points to the good and all enjoying a really good game of rugby.

Ash Smith restarted the game with a high kick deep in the Driffield half. The home side were all over the receiver taking man and ball into touch for the lineout. Only resolute defence from a well organised Driffield side kept Park at bay. In fact their defence was that good Percy Park were going backwards…… and that was with possession of the ball! As the game went to the set piece, both sides started to cancel out each other’s threat. It was akin to a game of chess as each side probed for a weakness or tried to force a mistake. Unfortunately for the home support that mistake came from a wandering Park hand in the ruck. With a quick tap Driffield were ‘at the home line’ and on this occasion resolute defence was shown by the Tyneside team as they eventually turned over ball and winning the scrummage decision. Instead of clearing ‘the lines’ Park ran the ball out and were penalised for holding on. Driffield decided on the points.10 -3 the score.

The response was almost immediate with a well set up maul hurtling toward the Driffield 22. Driffield could not find the purchase to prevent the momentum so a well-timed ‘pull down’ brought the attacking team to the floor. A points scoring opportunity Ash Smith did not turn down.13-3 on the scoreboard.

The score took Driffield to the ‘huddle’. A change of ‘tack’ saw the ball passed across the face of the Park defence…risky as it invited the interception. Park called for ‘line speed’ to combat the change but one lofted pass caught out the advancing defence and Driffield got behind. Only a fine tackle around the legs from Ali Blair prevented the winger from making the try line. Driffield retained the possession and flung the ball wide and right. Park defended really well and for long periods holding the visitors on their own line. In the end pressure told with another long pass out wide and Driffield went over for the score. The angle of the conversion was difficult and as a consequence the conversion was missed. 13-8.

The game went to the ‘ebb and flow’ with no quarter given by either side. It was absorbing to watch and as time marched with 5 points the difference tensions started to ramp on the terraces. Mattie Boustead caused major excitement as he gathered a well worked move off the back of the scrum. Slicing through the defence his pace took him into the Driffield half…drawing the full back he passed the ball to a supporting Ali Blair. Blair had a clear run to the line only to be felled by the best tackle of the day from a chasing Driffield winger. Gripping stuff.

Percy Park had already proved adept ‘at the maul’. Driffield gave Ash Smith an opening by failing to roll away. Well placed on the 5 metre line Smith took the play to the line out. A catch, drive, maul and spin saw Aaron Smith crash over for an excellent forwards try. A try that was wildly celebrated by the whole team. Only the shrill whistle of the referee prevented another ‘little dust up’. Converted at 20 points to 8.

To say that the game got a little spikey would be an understatement…little contests were happening ‘off the ball’ all over the pitch. Park showed their mettle and stuck at the task in hand. Driffield were aggrieved they were behind and like any good side did not take it lying down. With ‘10 to go’ Park were forced to defend. The forwards were immense. Throughout the game Jonny Dubois was at the forefront and as the game went to the ‘kitchen’ he led from the front ably supported by Austin Phillips. There was a real urgency about the Driffield play and they probed and looked for any opening they could find. As Park defended the clock ticked down. Jake Smith was enjoying himself making hit after hit…and as he did so his voice got higher and higher! Austin Phillips gathered a ball and rolled over attracting the penalty and the final play of the game. Driffield took the tap and plowed across. With the conversion missed the final score …. Percy Park 20 Driffield 13.

Both sides took part in an engrossing game of rugby and warmly congratulated each other as they left the pitch. A great game to watch and that feeling crept over into the bar afterwards as the Driffield side and alikado’s stayed a tad longer than usual. Hopefully we will see them again next season.

The result meant that Percy Park gained 4 very valuable points and moved out of the relegation zone. Captain Seb Reece took his team onto the field to achieve that aim and to their credit they achieved it. Now all we have to do is wait and find out how coronavirus is going to effect the remaining games and in turn relegation and promotion from North One East…..and as I write this Bradford and Bingley have closed down for the season…….we wish them well…….
Best keep an eye on the web site…

Representing Percy Park v Driffield

From 8: Michael Langlands Leo Caulfield, Andrew Dunn, Josh Hedley, Austin Phillips, Marc Cook, Jonny Dubois and Aaron Smith.
From 15: Mattie Boustead, Howard Stock, Seb Reece, Ash Smith, Ali Blair, Michael Grove and Ruairi Meharg.
Off the pine (now called finishers!) Adam Hay, Sam Digman and Jake Smith

North One East

Durham City RFC 45 v Percy Park RFC 50

Percy Park Lions 10 v Tynedale Raiders 27

For 68 minutes Park shone brightly in the Land of Prince Bishops; for the remaining 12 they conspired to give the travelling support a nervous breakdown.

The Durham City’s Presidents pre-game address eloquently described Percy Park’s difficulty in defeating his side at their ‘Hollow Drift’ ground…he made a good point… over the years we really haven’t won many games here…history was on his side….a point he stretched further when he described their ground as Percy Park’s ‘Rourke’s Drift’….for the many who may not have seen that famous adaptation, ‘the story’ is centered around the defence of a mission station in Natal by a beleaguered company of British soldiers who are attacked by superior numbers of Zulu warriors, whilst being directed by their tribal leader on a nearby crest. Taking that analogy to a ‘far end’, I had this image of the Durham hordes, directed by a Prince Bishop high up on the ‘Hollow Drift’ bank, peppering our Northumbrian line until they emerged the victor by many points to nil. In this relegation ‘nail biter ’a five point win was as good as 10 and a buoyant Durham crowd were very assured that there was going to be one winner taking maximum points and it wasn’t going to be us!.......

As the game kicked off Park went on the attack, having decided that it was better to take the game to the opponent rather than sit back and wait for the expected beating, and we did with some aplomb and panache quickly moving into a 21-7 lead and in the doing gave the Bishop ‘a bit of a bash’. As half time came and went, Park were still flying and ahead by 28 points to 50…that is until 12 minutes to go!…the Prince Bishops must have gathered and obtained some divine permission… where leniency had been given to both sides the man in the middle had a change of heart and started waving yellow cards at the ‘Black and Whites’ in rapid succession…with 8 minutes to go we were playing with 13 and the score was creeping up…40 to 50…and it really was like ‘Rourke’s Drift’….the Durham support were getting what they expected at the beginning of the game….you could hardly watch as our boys ‘chased and chased’ in an attempt to make up for the lack of numbers. They were on their ‘last legs’ as Durham ‘attacked and attacked again’, the only thing we had on our side was time and Durham were running out of it….restored to 14 with 2 minutes to go Park still could not hold out and the score went to 45-50….and in the doing gave the extra bonus point to Durham…..happily (for me anyway) the referee called time and we all took a collective sigh of relief. The Park players were jubilant…and to keep with that ‘Rourke’s Drift analogy…..one or two medals were very well earned…five wanted points in the bag for Park….yet the Durham crowd and players were also exultant… from nothing they had gained 2 bonus points and as the ‘dust settled’, after what was a breathtaking game, Percy Park and Durham had exchanged league places with each other; only now Durham City were in the drop zone. With five games to go and only one relegation spot left to contest there is only one point in it…exciting times or heart attack city?....next week’s game at home to Driffield is ‘a must’ as Durham travel to bottom placed club Huddersfield YMCA…so how did Park do so well for 68 minutes and then end up shorthanded for 12?

NORTH 1 EAST WEEK 20
PERCY PARK RFC 15 – 36 YORK RUFC

The idiom where the timid curate for fear of offending his bishop comments that the bad egg served up to him for breakfast was “good in parts” goes some way to describing this Park performance against league leaders York.

Earlier in the season, Percy Park had outplayed the Clifton Park side winning 35-15, a rare win on the road, but today’s game was a must win for the boys in black and white to extricate themselves from 12th and final relegation spot in the league.With York playing in a green, black and white shirt, Park changed to red and white to avoid a colour clash.

With a very strong wind blowing from the west York started with the elements in their favour and opened their account after only 5 minutes when lock Cade Robinson powered over for the first try of the game easily converted by Liam Hessay.

After a fine break by Ali Blair, York were penalised for not rolling away from the ruck and a further 10 yards for infringing on the quickly tapped penalty put Park in kicking distance and Ash Smith took the 3 points.