Regional 2 North
Percy Park RFC 26 v Middlesborough RFC 7
Dubois does an impression of Fran Cotton as Park enjoy a wrestle in the mud.
Middlesborough travelled ‘en-masse’ to Preston Avenue hoping that they could complete the double over fellow sesquicentennials’ Percy Park. The season’s first encounter went the way of the visiting side by 28 points to 24 in a game that the faithful honestly believed we should have won. Pre match entertainment was provided by President Albi Durhin who informed all attendees that 150 years ‘doesn’t happen overnight’. As the gathering, who included many former players, captains and Presidents fell about laughing the visiting Middlesborough Vice President presented Percy Park with a commemorative plaque that he assured to all was, in all probability, made overnight! Eager anticipation followed as the black and white support made their way to touchline and grandstand to watch their heroes in expectation of a victory. Nothing else would do and the boys did not disappoint.
The game kicked off under gloomy skies that threatened and delivered rain. The pitch was sticky and heavy with the ball quickly becoming difficult to hold. For the first 15 minutes the contest was fought between the two 22’s. Both sides were very competitive. Big carries from both sets of forwards had defences working hard. Middlesborough went to the rumble and had the first meaningful attack to the line. As they drove and mauled a player received the ball in front and as a consequence a good opportunity was lost.
Penalties followed Middlesborough as Percy Park dominated the scrum. They couldn’t compete and when they had made ground lost the ball in the set piece. Finding themselves pinged back deep into their own half. Failure to clear opened up the play for Park to spread the ball stand side. Park fortunate they weren’t penalised for a forward pass and Middlesborough were unlucky to knock the ball on; having worked hard to win the ball back. The scrum went to the penalty with Ash Smith electing the line rather than a ‘pot at posts’. The bold decision was rewarded as Percy Park showed the visiting team how to drive with Aaron Smith touching down for the home side. Conversion taken. It has to be said that many of the faithful were unable to determine who had scored however a strutting chest out Aaron Smith ‘kinda’ gave it away!
Mikey Fisher was enjoying a stand out game with his defensive work at the fore. Hard work and robust tackling saw an ebb and flow punctuated by weather influenced mistakes. Middlesborough came close when their full back entered the line and chipped over. The foot race won by Park wing Andrew Walker, as the two raced toward the Park line. Lack of success at the set piece was beginning to hurt the away side. Middlesborough were enjoying territory but unable to find any quality to take advantage. Punishment came from a strong ‘punch through’ and offload from Chris Reekie. Toby Davison took the ball on before being brought to the halt. As the tackler hung on to the contact scrum half Charley Miller remonstrated before the referee penalised the defending team for failing to roll away. Ash Smith took his side to the corner where the forward pack drove and mauled to the line. Jonny Dubois peeling off on the blind side to score in the corner. Smith converting from out wide. Percy Park into a half time lead at 14 points to nil.
The second half commenced in the gloom where it was becoming difficult to know who was on which team. The mud and wet obscuring club colours. A cross kick had wing Andrew Walker chasing and matched once more with the Middlesborough full back. On this occasion the Teeside man won the race. A high tackle on Mikey Fisher had Ash looking for Middlesborough’s five metre line once more. Park’s forwards were comfortable with the decision. Hooker Dan Shuttleworth was proving ruthless with the throw. Up we went and the gather drove Park to the line. Boro had learnt the first half lesson and quickly brought the ball carrier to ground. Miller spun and moved his forwards toward and in between the posts. Middlesborough threw bodies into the ruck and left themselves light on the outside. Park went wide and a loitering Howard Stock dived over the line. Or was it Seb Reece?....nobody had a clue the only pristine shirt on the field belonged to Andrew Walker! The conversion was tight and missed. 19-0.
The forward battle was taking its toll as Chris Reekie and Aaron Smith left the field. Andrew Dunn and Adam Hay providing the replacement bulk. Both players joining Andrew Walker in the pristine shirt club! Middlesborough forced Park back and remained camped in the home sides half. Middlesborough’s ‘9 and 8’ demonstrating real ability around the field. Two really good players. Percy Park were strong in defence, working hard on the floor, often turning ball much to Middlesborough’s frustration.
The visitors were keen to remain in the fixture, ignoring kickable penalties with kicks to the line in an attempt to get onto the scoreboard in a positive way. On one occasion Park broke from under their posts. Quick hands and a deft chip to the carpark corner turned defence into attack. Although Middlesborough retained their throw. Their desire to move the ball to the wing was anticipated by Leo Caulfield who was able to intercept the pass on their 22. The simplest of run ins had the touch down between the posts giving Ash Smith an easy strike at goal. 26 nil to the home side.
The try proved to be Leo Caulfield last real involvement in the game. A clash of heads with his Captain Seb Reece left the back row forward with a nasty cut to his left eye. Physio Caroline Jones was most concerned about Leo’s good looks admitting to all that she thought Leo was quite ‘the dish’. Those concerns remained as Leo was whisked off to the RVI where, apparently, they do a mean stitch. Coach Keith Laughlin forced to reshuffle his pack with Andrew Dunn joining Josh Hedley in the middle, Dubois went to 8 and Adam Hay went to 6.
The game went back to the middle with Percy Park probably edging the territory. Tom Robinson entered the fray at scrum half adding his pristine shirt to that of , you guessed it, Andrew Walker!...by this time Andrew Dunn and Adam Hay were as indistinct as everybody else. Jonny Dubois was doing a good impression of Fran Cotton.
For the first time in the game Percy Park went backwards at the scrum losing the ball at the feet of Jonny Dubois as the opposition scrum half nipped in and kicked ahead. Andrew Walker ran across the front of the advancing player impeding the run ahead. The penalty was quickly taken. A cross kick had Percy Park scrambling across. A poor pass saw the ball go to ground. Neat footwork had the full back kicking past the rushing defence with the player diving in an attempt to score the try. Marginally beaten to the ball. The play went to the scrum. Middlesborough’s eight picked up and drove forward Boro came round the corner .Parks defence was really good forcing the knock on and the scrum award. We played out the back but the pressure remained on. We couldn’t clear. Knock ons went to the scrum. Middlesborough were camped on and in our 22. Scrum followed scrum. Park kept the visitors at bay and eventually turned ball over. We cleared our lines but only to the half. From the ruck we went left with overlapping players and shot ourselves in the foot as we passed the ball to the opposition who then ran in between the posts unopposed.
Shame for up to that point you had to admire our tenacity and desire not to concede. On the flip side Middlesborough deserved the score for, like Park, they had shown that same tenacity to keep going until they scored. Conversion taken 26-7
Middlesborough ran everything with their scrum half at the heart of their attack. He was keeping Tom Robinson busy and as a consequence Tom’s shirt was as filthy as everybody else. Although they were enjoying possession time was against them. A fine interchange of passes created space for their left wing to break and make a swift dart to the corner. Toby Davison was across and made his tackle, taking the wing into touch. The tackle was brilliant and again demonstrated Park’s desire not to concede even when the game was won. The referee blowing time as the Middlesborough player took to his feet. 26 points to 7. A five point win that saw Percy Park make ground in the table to fourth place. If we can maintain this form a shot at third is on the cards.
Percy Park Lions recorded a good win against Middlesborough’s second string and with the Panthers winning another league game on Sunday, rugby is definitely on the up on the coast.
Representing Percy Park RFC:
From 15: Toby Davison, Andrew Walker, Seb Reece, Paul Spowart, Howard Stock, Ash Smith and Charley Miller.
From 8: Leo ‘the dish’ Caulfield, Jonny Dubois, Mikey Fisher, Josh Hedley, Chris Reekie, Sam Digman, Dan Shuttleworth and Aaron Smith.
Finishers: Adam Hay, Tom Robinson and Andrew Dunn.