National ‘Papa John’s’ Community Plate Competition
Regional 2 Plate North Round Two
Vale of Lune RUFC 17 v Percy Park RFC 26
Super moment from Spow wins the day
As the game spiralled into the final breath-taking ten minutes the game was tight. Percy Park led by two points and Vale of Lune were pressing. The contest was absorbing. For the neutral a great game to watch. For the home supporter it was nerve wrecking. For the visiting faithful seriously exciting. We felt victory was in the air and of our making. Park wrestled the ball free and attacked the home 22. A high tackle floored Jonny Dubois. He stayed down as a Vale forward was shown a yellow card. Groans from the stand. A home supporter went into melt down. Eight minutes to go and Park looked for a hero. The ball spun to the right to find the rushing Paul Spowart. With a strong grip ‘on the pill’ Spowart drove through and bounced off several attempted tackles to score wide right in the corner. The faithful were jubilant. The score took us to seven clear and we needed the conversion to create a two-score margin for the 14 men of the Vale to chase. The kick was from out wide and difficult. Spowart took time on the placing. The melt down to my right went atomic. Tension. A deeply drawn hush cascaded across the ground as Spowart walked back and set himself. As the player approached and confidently struck the ball there was an audible exhale. The ball sailed between the posts. Spowart converting his own try. Diggas watched and up went his flag, closely followed by the home linesman. A roar from the away side. 17 to 26. Park were home with 4 minutes to go. Silence enveloped the Powder House Lane ground. We knew it and so did they. A super moment from Spow had won the day.
Percy Park arrived decked in spring sunshine which lit up the beautifully manicured pitch at Powder House Lane, Lancaster. Hasty comparisons were made with our own Preston Avenue pitch and as a consequence the esteemed author of this column entered the clubhouse with earache. We were met with an apology. The barbeque wasn’t fired and that lunch would be liquid. As the hospitality flowed a granola breakfast was struggling to contain. My esteemed colleague from Vale was having the same issue and by kick off was unable to separate South from North Shields. To make matters worse a tall Park grandee admitted that he had received ‘tips’ off Henry Coopers wife!
We started quickly and were unlucky not to be awarded an early try with Dan ‘Fish’ Shuttleworth was adjudged not to have grounded the ball. Vale shook off the poor start and for the opening quarter provided the greater threat. Fly half Toby Davison kept Park in the game with three try saving tackles.
The deadlock was broken after fifteen minutes as Park drifted offside giving Vale by a penalty kick on the 22. A kick taken by their centre Chris Ramwell. Three nil to the home side. We responded well with some strong carries from our forwards. We continued to press. Tying in the defence before releasing our back line. In truth we wasted several good opportunities to score. Our lineout and set play were, generally, going well but we couldn’t execute. One penalty to the corner took us to their line. And what did we do.....butchered the line out. Vale attacked off our poor ball and with some aplomb. Only a last-ditch tackle from Jamie Wrigley brought their lightening attack to an end. We continued to press. We had the edge. From a quick penalty we created a three man overlap. Jamie Wrigley wide on the left. Outmanoeuvred and out numbered Vale could only watch as Jamie scored under the posts. Paul Spowart converting.
Tom Robinson was having an influence at scrum half. His darting runs ‘in and around’ the fringes was causing the home side consternation. A poor scrum on the half way line proved to be our undoing. Somehow Vale had their hands on the ball. Two quick and sharp passes had Vale full back Ben Walker crossing the line. The try converted as we headed into the half time huddle. Vale ahead by 10 points to seven.
During the interval Coach Keith Laughlin worked his magic and Park came out fighting. The interval chat had given the away side an extra step. The faithful’s chat was equally interesting as we heard that Josh Hedley’s mum and Dad had been away on holiday whale watching with Julie having difficulty in determining who was 'what'!.
Percy Park had determined space out wide and were keen to exploit. Only a dubious call from ‘Digga the linesmen’ prevented Park a promising start to the half. Not to be denied Tom Robinson was the beneficiary of some outstanding work from Ross Young. Attacking the space Ross drew in defenders. Unable to bring the player to ground we were behind and alive. The ball moved and Robinson was over in a flash. Park at their ruthless best. Unfortunately, we couldn’t convert. 10 points to 12.
We continued to carry and harry. Park were enjoying their moment and it was not long before Ross Young was causing further mayhem. We went to the ruck and then it was all about the line and delivery. Tom Robinson set Park away. Really fast passes put wing Howard Stock in space. Our speedy wing made sure crossing unopposed and under the posts to score. An easy conversion. Park ahead by 9 points.
Rattled and knowing this was knockout rugby Vale dug deep. Some astute coaching brought a rejig to their line. Keeping the ball in the forwards Vale restricted Park from playing. Their full back was having a major influence with some knowledgeable kicking.
Their riposte was superb. Vale carried to our try line. They held on and picked before substitute Sam Walton crossed claiming his first ever try for the Vale first team. The try was converted despite my assurances that the ball would be ‘hooked’. We had ourselves a two-point game. The atmosphere was tense. The tie absorbing. Knockout rugby at its best.
The game entered the final quarter. Vale knocked on and let Park off the hook. The Vale scrum half became too eager giving away territory as he repeatedly crept off side. A promising move came to naught as Josh Hedley, attempting to take a pass on his bootlaces, knocked on. The game ebb and flowed and then we were into the final two minutes and that moment.
Vale of Lunes second row Joe Harrison, who had been the Vale's most effective forward, went high on Dubois. The home crowd disagreed. Years ago, that would have been classed as a ‘great hit’ but times have changed and in the opinion of the referee, the second row saw yellow. The home support vehemently disagreed especially a gentleman to my right.
Down to fourteen men, the Vale defended and we attacked. Especially ‘that man’ Spowart. His try putting the game out of reach. A great performance by Percy Park that brought some praise and reflections for games ahead from Coach Keith Laughlin
“Overall super positive as we created ample opportunities to score. We had no idea what to expect and I was very pleased how we started the game. We have been working on our shape in open play as well as working off the ball in transition and this was evident yesterday with our shape and kick return creating aforementioned opportunities. Some of the defensive effort was pleasing to watch but a couple of lapses in concentration to stay connected and wrestling rather than chopping gave them easy yards and led to a couple of their tries.”
Representing Percy Park RFC
From 15: Jamie Wrigley, Howard Stock, Seb Reece, Ross Young, Tom Robinson, Toby Davison and Charley Miller
From 8: Leo Caulfield, Jonny Dubois, Andy Dunn, Josh Hedley, Michael Langlands, Chris Reekie, Dan Shuttleworth and Aaron Smith.
Finishers: Niall Combe, Paul Spowart and Adam Hay.
On a final note, I have to say that many of the faithful take a great deal of effort to be ‘sharp as a dart’ and it has to be said taking Compo and Clegg to Vale raised an eyebrow or two. I am sure that this, along with the liquid lunch, can only be the reason why the Vale think we come from South Shields because dressed like that who can blame them!
Talking of shockers. Our Toby misplaced his lap top on the bus and left his keys in the changing room at Park. Not the best thing you can do when your tired, worse the wear and needing to get up for work at 6:30 in the morning.....never again he says that is until the the third round!