PERCY PARK 59 – 17 CONSETT
The first mid week league game was played at Preston Avenue under floodlights, to catch up on the missed fixtures due to a combination of adverse weather and Park’s progression to the semi final stage of the EDF Energy Senior Vase. Park started brightly and scored with Liam Blackburn diving over in the corner on 3 minutes, after the winger had made a break down the left hand wing, passed inside to Rutter, then received a return pass to score. Marcus Rutter missed the difficult conversion attempt that was only a metre in from the touch line.After Consett were penalised on half way, Griffiths kicked to touch, and from the resulting line out Sam Walton drove the ball on but was stopped five metres short, in centre field. The ball was quickly recycled by John Scott to Thomas Turnbull, who handed off a would-be tackler and went through a gap in the defence to score under the posts. Rutter’s conversion gave Park a 12 – 0 lead.
Park’s next score and Liam Blackburn’s second was a similar build up with Sam Walton carrying the ball again, with John Scott releasing quick ruck ball to Thomas Turnbull who put Liam Blackburn in at the corner, and this time Rutter was successful with the conversion on 25 minutes.
There was a short interlude whilst referee Les Gutteridge changed his batteries (he was miked up to the two touch judges) and this break in place seemed to unsettle Park’s rhythm and Consett hit back with an interception try and conversion on the half hour.
Only a minute later Mark Walton made amends for his earlier intercepted pass, with a mazy run through the Consett midfield to score under the posts, and the conversion made the score 26 – 7.Consett struck back twice before half time with a penalty, and then a fine try and conversion to take the score to 26 – 17 at the break.
Park’s normally rock solid defence had uncharacteristically leaked 17 first half points, although Consett were kept out in the second period, as the home side exerted more pressure. With Brett Sylph injured, Greg Dixon moved to number 8 and scored the first of his push over tries on 45 minutes. 5 minutes later another forwards try saw Craig Fidler drive through a ruck to score and again Rutter was on target to take the score to 40 – 17.
The Percy Park pack were in dominant mood, particularly in the set scrummage, and when Consett were driven off their own ball, Dixon picked up, passed to scrum half Scott who found Rutter at pace for the full back to cross the line and score then converted his own try on the hour.
Greg Dixon scored his second pushover try five minutes later and despite missing the conversion Park led 52 – 17 with 10 minutes of play remaining.
The final try of the game came from David Griffiths who scored a good individual try after the ball was won from the top of a line out. John Scott found the powerful centre who dummied to pass outside then surged through a gap in the defence. Rutter’s conversion gave Park the lead by 59 – 17, which was the final score.
Park and Consett go head to head again on Saturday when they play at Medomsley Road