North One East
Huddersfield YMCA RUFC 15 v Percy Park RFC 14
Percy Park Lions 20 v Darlington Mowden Park Seconds 17
Houghton Boars 19 v Percy Park Pumas 14
No fun at the YMCA
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The number of phone calls received on the journey home querying the defeat probably sums up the afternoon. Following Huddersfield’s recent form in North One East many at Percy Park expected our 1st XV to win this game and in the loss expressed great surprise. A surprise born from our recent home form. For periods in this game we did play well and in periods so did Huddersfield. This game was all about possession. If you were going forward, or dominant, you received the referees favour, if you were on the back foot you didn’t. Two yellow cards, one for each side whilst defending and a penalty try awarded to Park as they hammered the home side’s line is testament to that. Meaning who kept hold of the ball ‘best’ would come out on top and on this day that side was Huddersfield. They were constantly unsettling Percy Park. If I could create a picture it would be akin to a terrier with a bone; they didn’t let go.....on the last play Huddersfield were trailing by 4 points and managed to retain possession for 8 minutes before scoring a try. For the faithful that try looked a little contentious as it appeared the eventual scorer was held ‘turtle’….however in the spirit of sportsmanship many of our players confirmed that the score was good and in that confirmation we can learn from this result and ‘’pick ourselves off the ground’’ and move on…. as they say ‘’there is no need to be unhappy’’....’’there’s a place we can go’’…and that place is Preston Avenue and Moortown next week!!
The conditions for this game were difficult with a strong swirling wind going across the pitch it was not certain who had the advantage. The tone of the contest was set in the first 15 minutes in what looked to be a wrestle for the ball without any one side creating anything of note. Percy Park were allowing Huddersfield to ‘come on’ and were guilty of missing some first up tackles and as a consequence lost ground. Huddersfield liked the scrummage and Park were under pressure. On two occasions Captain Seb Reece received ‘the chat’!
After 18 minutes Percy Park were on the back foot defending their try line. Huddersfield retained the ball well and their 7 went across for the score. In the try’s creation… a glimpse of things to come!
Park then struck referee difficulty giving away a number of penalties culminating in the ‘YM’ captain questioning the referee for numerical advantage.
Our scrummage was ‘not going to plan’ and on the ‘half hour’ Park decided to ‘change it up’. Jake Smith and Marc Cook entering the fray. The scrum gained some solidity and Park received some ‘good ball’ only to kick it away. Percy Park were being frustrated and starting to question decisions. Josh Hedley receiving a chat. Half time couldn’t come quick enough. Our boys needed to regroup. With no further score we went into the half 5 points down.
The half time chat was positive with Coach Ash Smith laying the law down. The Park side were told to ‘stop whinging about the referee’, ‘make more noise’ and more importantly to get on the front foot and create our own opportunities ‘rather than waiting for Huddersfield to create them for us’.
As a consequence Percy Park started the second half really well. From the restart Ash Smith and Ali Blair were able to get across the gain line. One audacious pass from Ali Blair with the side of his foot put Captain Seb Reece through only to be dragged back by his shirt attracting the penalty
Park were dominant and the referee decisions were going our way. Park camped in ‘Huddersfield’s 22’ and the home side started to creak. A series of penalties took Park to the scrum. Winning their ball the Tynesiders drove for the line again and again. YM panicked and a wild kick at the ball in the ruck attracted the yellow.
Park went back to the scrum and continued driving forward with Josh Hedley crossing twice only to be judged as ‘held up’. A tad unfortunate on one as the Huddersfield’s team reaction was to head for the posts and in that action confirming the score. In the end it didn’t affect the score as the referee awarded the penalty try. Which probably was the better result. The wind was such that I am not sure the conversion would have been kicked. 7-5 to Percy Park.
Percy Park began to ‘turn the screw’. The away side missing one glorious opportunity with a ‘knock on’. The Tyneside team were playing with real energy. The Smith, Reece and Blair combo were causing real problems with some last ditch tackle s made to prevent scoring possibilities. During this period Sean Williamson was carrying the ball well, ably supported by his team mates. Huddersfield were struggling and Park needed to score.
That score came from the scrummage. After the initial difficulties Percy Park were dominant in this area. Sustained pressure on the 5 metre line allowed Sean Williamson to hold the ball at the back. Park marched and Huddersfield folded. Sean Williamson getting the critical touch down. On any normal day the conversion would not have been challenging. With the wind blowing a ‘hooley’ across the pitch the kick was not certain. The strike was good and crossed the upright before the wind caught it and blew the same back towards the kicker. Fortunately coming to ground on the scoring side of the bar. Here’s one for the purist….What would have been the result if the ball, having crossed the upright blew back onto the non-scoring side? 14 -5 to Park and we were well in control of the game. Even the travelling contingent were relaxed with the Penzance Princess ‘taking the michael’ out of the author’s age!!
The Huddersfield coaching team started ‘bellowing out’ instructions from outside their technical area. Whatever was said had a positive effect. They kept the ball. Percy Park were starved of possession and as we have mentioned before dependent on who had the ball going forward received the referees favour. Penalties went against and Huddersfield used the line to positive effect. YM inched their way down the stand side deep into Park’s 22 and from a catch and drive they went over for a try. The conversion from wide right was caught in the wind and it sailed towards the upright striking the far right post before bouncing harmlessly away from 2 points. 14 to 10.
Buoyed by the score and the tactical change, Huddersfield were ‘at Park’…like a terrier with a bone…they played the phases. Park defended well. Sometimes they were guilty of going to high in the tackle rather than chopping down at the leg…all said the defense was good all we needed was the ball.
Park rang the changes. Other than an Ali Blair interception, which agonizingly dropped away from his hands, possession remained with Huddersfield. Momentum swung and it was Percy Park’s turn for the scrum to creak. Park could not get onto the front foot. Time edged to the final whistle and we were at the wrong end of the pitch. Camped on our line Huddersfield took to the scrum and received instruction of ‘last play’. What occurred was a real ‘nail biter’…Park defended and defended and defended…Huddersfield attacked and attacked …they did not lose possession attracting penalties in the doing……and as a consequence Sean Williamson was shown a yellow….I think for ‘hands in’…Park continued to valiantly defend but Huddersfield would not let go eventually sucking in defenders before releasing wide to score a try toward the corner flag. Try given. Conversion missed. Game over. Jubilation from YM…. desolation from Park…15 to 14 the final score.
Our congratulations go to YMCA…they have had a torrid time for reasons known on the circuit and for once this season their side and their ridiculously small supporting team entered the bar post game exhibiting a smile…shame that it had to be against us however it was well deserved and we hope YMCA can keep all together and remain playing rugby for the foreseeable future…they have our best wishes.
Representing Percy Park from 15: Mattie Boustead,Chris McCabe, Ali Blair, Seb Reece (Cpt), Michael Grove, Ash Smith and Ruairi Meharg. From 8: Sean Williamson,Michael Langlands, Andrew Dunn,Josh Hedley, Eddie Saint, Jonny Dubois,Adam Hay and Aaron Smith. Finishers:Marc Cook, Jake Smith and Ollie Stephenson.
Our Lions had a cracker and this is what ‘our Tim’ had to say
‘’ Building on the last two weeks the Lions put in the performance of the season to beat a very good DMP side. The opposition were big and well organised and from the off put Park under pressure. Their ‘pick and go’ was causing us problems and they had a ‘crash ball centre’ that, on occasion, we had to double up and on occasion and triple tackle. No surprise when they went 5-0 up after 10 minutes.
Park defended heroically as DMP saw to increase their lead and it was still 5-0 after 30 mins when Park started to make some inroads against their pack. On a rare visit to the opponents 22 their ten looked to clear from under his posts, but against the wind the ball hung in the air. It was duly caught by ‘15’ Jamie Diamond, who bounced both the DMP kick chasers and ran in to the corner. Good try 5-5 the score.
Shortly afterwards though a nasty injury , Bradley Spokes and Brett Sylph clashed heads , both drew blood and had to go off for the remainder. Mark Sanderson also went with a ‘popped rib’, DMP piled on more pressure and scored again! 10-5 at the half.
The expected onslaught came in the second half, with the wind behind them DMP camped in our 22 for about 20 minutes, the tackling was ferocious and despite giving away several penalties we survived. The reorganised pack with Ross Young hooking and Joe Cassidy flanking worked as a great defensive unit.
Joe Cassidy transgressed and was binned. Down to 14 although we had taken ‘the sting out’ of DMP. Our Blacks from the breakdown were making ground now and we slowly but surely made our way up the paddock. DMP started to be penalised and Richard Chadwick pushed us into their territory with a series of good touch line kicks. Then a penalty in their 22. Quick hands through the backs saw Ross’s Young go over in the corner 10-10. Wow.
From the restart we made ground again. Austin Phillips and Andrew Steinberg were making metres on every carry. Swift handling saw Jamie Diamond beat two tackles and before they could bundle him into touch a deft offload to Andrew Walker saw him get over the whitewash 15-10 (not a day for conversions) . 5 mins to go.
Shortly after the restart we came out of the 15 metre channel with a perfectly executed black which saw Austin breach the defence, a pop to Steiners saw the prop make 30 metres up the pitch into the 22, great vision by him led to an offload to Drew Walker who swallow dived under the posts 20-10. Surely that must be it ,back came Mowden , some deft handling saw their right wing go three quarters of the pitch to finish under the posts, duly converted 20 -17. At last the final whistle. What a win.
Great to see Howard Stock, Andrew Steinberg and Austin Phillips back playing, some great individual performances from so many players, but this was about teamwork and sheer grit. Alnwick away next week. No easy games in this league".
Our Pumas were desperately unlucky not to get anything from their game. As Kev Dale reports:
'' Losing to last a minute try, after being pinged numerous times from an attacking position, leaves a bitter taste in the mouth but that's 'how the cookie crumbles'.
A couple of late cry off’s saw the Pumas take the field with another changed team form last week. Fortunately boosted by a few of the lads form the colts we were able to start with a squad of 16.
The first 10 minutes was a 'nip and tuck' affair with neither side having the edge. 15 minutes in saw Ruiri Embleton intercept a Houghton pass and run half the pitch to score our first try which was converted by Matthew Dale. On the stroke of half time some loose defending around a ruck allowed Houghton to go straight through the middle to score unconverted leaving a half time score of 7 - 5.
Early in the 2nd half saw Houghton go over again, this time not converting, to take the lead 12 - 7.
After much huffing and puffing and with some decent hands Park were on the offensive with Josh Wanless bursting through a couple of tackles to bring the scores level with Matthew Dale converting to restore Park's lead .
As the clock wound down and with some “unusual” interpretations of the laws took Park from the Houghton 10 metre line to our 10 metre line.Unfortunately Houghton managed to cross line on the final whistle. Converted gave a final score of 19 - 14
Overall a good performance which can only bode well for the future with the lads from the Colts certainly making a difference. Long may it continue.''
