Regional 2 North
South Shields Westoe RFC 12 v Percy Park RFC 46
Park's back row shine on the Tyne
A comfortable win for the North Shields team as they swopped riverbanks on the Tyne. Although we were missing a few, the side looked awesome on paper and more than capable of dispatching a struggling Westoe side. And so, it proved. Westoe played very well, in possession of the ball for long periods without ever finding the ‘cut’ to score points. Percy Park were disciplined, organised and when they broke Westoe were punished. The game reminded the author of the EFL cup final where Newcastle could not find away through or trouble a Manchester United side. Westoe were good ‘box to box’ but when it came to be in front of goal…enough said.
Percy Park were ahead in minutes and the score reflected the game overall. Westoe enjoyed a fast start pinning Park back in their 22. A mis placed pass was intercepted by Andrew Walker and we were out of the blocks. Although the carrier was brought to ground Percy Park recycled and Westoe were chasing, and failing, to catch Jamie Wrigley who scored in the bottom left-hand corner of the ground. Ash Smith made a difficult conversion look easy. 7 nil to the visiting team with a younger 'Matty' version of Paul ‘Flags’ Jobson waving the linen with some energy and aplomb. Although we will say very little about the ‘Bambi’ style of running!
Undeterred Westoe came straight back with their scrumhalf conducting the play. The fact that he had legs like two ‘pipe cleaners’ didn’t hinder the pace he moved the ball or hinder his carries.
Park were penalised for not rolling away, quickly followed by Andrew Walker being caught offside. We were under pressure; although we didn’t look to be in any real danger. Our back row of Michael Langlands, Mickey Fisher and Chris Reekie were outstanding, constantly picking off their opponents until they too offended and we cleared.
Dan Shuttleworth broke free and unfortunately couldn’t find the pace to ‘out strip’ the recovering Westoe defence. We lost the ball to a penalty and the home side put the visitors under pressure until Paul Spowart took matters into his own hands. Scanning ahead Spowart saw space and demanded the ball. Duley given the centre strode through the Westoe defence. Power and strength took him to the last man. Ash Smith was on his shoulder and deft pass had our player coach under the posts to score a very good try. Easy conversion.14 nil.
Percy Park were playing within a ‘purple patch’. Howard Stock kicked and chased, closely followed by our back row. Mickey Fisher wrapped up the ball receiver and turned him. Michael Langlands gathered the ball and with a Westoe defender hanging onto his ankle placed the ball over the try line. A noted downhill slope on the pitch aiding the kick and chase.
Westoe regrouped retaining the ball well between the 22. Percy Park were giving away far too many penalties and you just had that feeling we were going to be punished. Park had to resort to the exit and transition. Ash Smith and Jamie Wrigley combined well and were unlucky not to add to the scoreline. The home side kept returning to Park territory. What edge they had was blunted by Langlands, Reekie and Fisher. One ‘shot’ from Michael Langlands had the travelling faithful purring. However, the persistent penalty count came home to roost. With Park failing to roll away the referee went to the yellow dispatching Aaron Smith to the bin for ten.
Where Westoe struggled against 15 they certainly didn’t against 14 scoring a really good try. Their blindside intercepted a loose pass and sailed through several attempts to block him. Ash Smith came across and dropped off the tackle. A long pass flew across the field to their winger who was running hard. The player took the ball at pace without missing a step. Park were caught on the ‘flat foot’ and unable to turn. The score made in the corner. The pass making the try. The ball was placed right in front of the advancing player. Great skill. The conversion was difficult and missed. 5 points to 21.
A man down, Percy Park went to the forwards and ‘keep ball’. Something they did with aplomb. Eating up time and territory. The game went to the set piece with Percy Park taking Westoe ball. Westoe went backwards toward their try line. An almighty shove. The ball came back to Park who organised and rumbled forward. Dan Shuttleworth found himself at the back of the drive with ball in hand. Over we went. Unfortunately, we missed the conversion. 5 points to 26.
Restored to 15 Percy Park, annoyingly, kept giving away penalties and Westoe kept coming back. Just before the half Michael Langlands received the ball and was ‘mullered’ for his efforts. Caroline Jones our physio used an awful lot of tape wrapping up his left leg. Into the half time chat.
A large contingent of support had crossed the Tyne for this fixture. Marc Cook was seen to be wearing a snazzy pair of sunglasses. I’m not sure where he thought he was. A cold wet Westoe pitch on a Saturday afternoon does not look like Monte Carlo and the only sportscar that could be seen was battered Ford Escort. Alongside was a grinning Leo Caulfield exhibiting 12 neat stitches across his eye. Leo regaling all around with the story that his brother had abandoned him at the RVI with sufficient cash to get a taxi home. Apparently he had to be rescued by his in-laws.
The game restarted and both sides clashed. Michael Langlands went ‘chest to chest’ and Charley Miller pulled the shirt over the head of his opposite number. The game was getting a bit ‘spicy’ especially when the Westoe eight took revenge on Miller by taking his shirt off his back in the ruck.
We needed to channel our energy into the score and not the physical challenge. A penalty line out gave that opportunity. A neat catch and drive saw the contest fought on the Westoe try line. Chris Reekie ensuring all about him that he had got the ball over. “I’m down. I’m down” was the cry; Attracting the referee to take a look. Try awarded with a jubilant Chris Reekie making a bee line to ‘yours truly’ to make sure the try was recorded for prosperity and not given to Josh Hedley! Apparently, I do that quite often despite the very obvious height disparity. Never mind… the conversion was missed. 5-31
Dan Shuttleworth went off with a shoulder injury and we reshuffled. Ross Young joining the pack. Toby Davison was penalised for crossing as we broke from our 22. From an attacking platform we found ourselves defending, and conceding, as a Westoe forward managed to break free of the maul. Conversion taken. Percy Park responded from the restart. Ross Young ripped the ball from the receivers grasp and set his team on the offence. Paul Spowart was in possession at the breakdown. Aware that Westoe had failed to cover the blind he ordered Charley Miller to his outside. The scrum half reacted and took the ball in a narrow channel crossing to score. Great communication from the pair. Paul Spowart took responsibility for the conversion and was unfortunate with the kick as the ball scraped the nearest post. 12 points to 36.
Keith Laughlin entered the fray and immediately gave away a penalty the transgression put the ‘black and whites’ under further pressure. Injuries were taking their toll. Chris Reekie was off following a clash of heads. Langlands left the fray to be replaced by Tom Robinson coming off the bench to scrum half with Charley Miller moving to…..number 8! Understandably we lost the advantage up front. Tristan Grant stepped up with some terrific carries and Mickey Fisher made tackle after tackle. Westoe had possession but couldn’t find a way through a very determined defence. And it was Tristan Grant who instigated our next score. A huge carry turned Westoe around. With the ball in our three quarters we took the game to the Westoe try line. Josh Hedley making the ground to score the try. As Chris Reekie was off the field of play I’m sure I got this one right. The conversion was missed.12 to 41.
Westoe couldn’t handle Tristan Grant. Another carry saw Percy Park recycle the ball wide to Andrew Walker. The winger kicked past his opposite number and in the chase pulled the Westoe player back by his collar incurring the wrath of the home crowd and the referee. Penalty against was further punished with a walk back for arguing with the man in the middle. Our player fortunate not to see a card.
The home side weren’t so lucky. Percy Park kept the ball moving and a tip passing move (which looked a tad forward) took the away side back to the Westoe line. A score prevented by some skulduggery with one of the Westoe back row seeing yellow. Their loose head was also having a moment with some unseen arm movements. Park retained the ball and moved toward the top right-hand corner where Ross Young provided the extra man to overlap the defence to score. The conversion missed. After the score the game fell away without any further incident or notable mention. Petered out to the whistle. Bonus point win by 46 points to 12. Tristan Grant 'getting the Lion'.
Many thanks to Westoe for their very generous hospitality pre- and post-match. The Hedworth Hotel next door to the ground is a wonderful building and the fare provided was excellent. We all know the difficulties Westoe are enduring with their clubhouse but the lack of should not give visiting clubs the excuse to go straight home after the game. We didn’t.
Representing Percy Park RFC:
From 15: Toby Davison, Jamie Wrigley, Howard Stock, Paul Spowart, Andrew Walker, Ash Smith and Charley Miller.
From 8: Chris Reekie, Mikey Fisher, Michael Langlands, Josh Hedley, Sam Digman, Tristan Grant, Dan Shuttleworth and Aaron Smith.
Finishers: Keith Laughlin, Tom Robinson and Ross Young.