North One East
Bradford & Bingley 17 – 15 Percy Park
It was a case of history repeating itself as again Park had a chance to draw at Wagon Lane with a last second conversion, but sadly the visitors could only come away with a losing bonus point.
Once again late changes to the pack saw Jonnies Kidd and Dubois replace Joe Wafer and Andy Dunn both out injured, but Ben Bell returned to the back row. In the three-quarters Toby Davison returned to full back and George Lewis was in the squad starting on the bench.
Park opened the scoring on 9 minutes when Ali Blair broke through the Bees defence for a try converted by Ash Smith. The Bingley based outfit had most of the first half possession and scored on 26 minutes with an unconverted try by Shaun Driver.
Just before the interval Ash Smith slotted a penalty for a 10 – 5 lead after the Bees were punished for a high tackle.
In the second half the home side levelled as back rower Tom Cokell went over, but again the conversion missed the target.
With the game heading for a draw, the Bees must have though Christmas had come early after a loose back pass in the Park in goal area to no one in particular was dabbed down by centre Adam Mitchell under the posts for the easiest 7 points the West Yorkshire side will score this season.
Park never gave up then cue comedy moment of the game, as the referee awarded Park a try as the ball crossed the 5 metre line. Realising the mistake the visitors were awarded a scrum from which John Scott picked up and darted for the line, but it was number 8 Sean Williamson that got the all important touch down under a pile of bodies.
With the scores at 17 -15, the conversion would have drawn the sides level, but from an acute angle the ball went wide of the mark, and the Bees took the spoils.
Next week Park take on table toppers Dinnington for what we believe is their first visit to Preston Avenue.
UBS Candy League One
Percy Park 55 – 7 Morpeth Reivers
Bucking the trend of diminishing team numbers, Percy Park had 3 senior sides at home, with the Lions taking on the Reivers in Candy 1. Park set off a quick pace and scored 3 early tries inside the first 8 minutes as the visitors had no answer to Park’s passing and offload game.
All in all Park’s second XV scored 8 tries with club captain Michael Langlands, back from a foot injury scored twice in a cameo appearance in the last 20 minutes.
The try of the game however came from Dan Chambers on Park’s left flank. The ball was spun through several pairs of hands as Park attacked from their own half. A loose final pass to the rangy winger was volleyed on the full and using his pace, Chambers outstripped his opposite number to retrieve the ball after one bounce to dive over for the try.
Next Saturday the Lions are away to Billingham.
Northumberland River Aln League
Percy Park Pumas 12 – 33 Medicals II
The students had too much pace for the Pumas as Park’s 3rd XV relinquished top spot in the league. On the adjacent pitch the Marauders lost to Medical Serpents by a single late score.