Saturday 19 October 2024
Percy Park 7 Scunthorpe 62
Regional 1 North East
(HT: 7-24)
On a bright, sunny day with only a gentle breeze, Park welcomed Regional 1 North East league leaders Scunthorpe to Preston Avenue for the very first fixture between the clubs. For the visitors, the long trip from Lincolnshire was rewarded with a crushing victory to cement their position at the top of the table, for the hosts, a chastening afternoon which more than brought home the challenges posed by rugby at this level. Scunthorpe are the best team we have seen at Preston Avenue for some considerable time. They were fit, fast, dynamic, very physical and the hard truth is that for all but the opening moments, Park found it almost impossible to live with them, particularly in the second half when, with the home forwards tiring, it seemed that Scunthorpe could score at will. It was indeed a very tough day at the office for the home side.
There were several changes to the Park side after last weeks defeat at Sandal. Jordan Carey returned at fullback with Andrew Walker moving to the left wing. Nathan Newbound switched to the centre to partner Seb Reece with Dan Gallon, Frazer McGlashan and Phil Crichton coming into the forwards.
Scunthorpe kicked off and Park were straight on the attack, taking the game to the league leaders with Seb Reece making a great break in the first minute to put the visitors under pressure. A Park scrum on the visitors 5 metre line had the ball moved quickly left but it was lost and the visitors were able to clear their lines. A Scunthorpe error led to a Park scrum on the visitors 10 metre line but from that, a kick into space was charged down and suddenly Scunthorpe were charging into Park territory. A penalty for a high tackle (there were many for the same offence throughout the match) in centre field gave Scunthorpe the opportunity to open the scoring which they duly did, standoff Ethan Taylor kicking the goal on 7 minutes (0-3).
After the home sides excellent start, the penalty seemed to galvanise the visitors who began to show their attacking prowess and physicality. Another Scunthorpe penalty was kicked into the left corner and although the catch and drive was held by the home forwards, another penalty saw Scunthorpe tap and go with hooker Matthew Mason crashing over wide out on the left for the opening try of the match on 12 minutes. Taylor kicked an excellent conversion (0-10). From the restart, Park were immediately penalised for a high tackle which enabled Scunthorpe to kick deep into the Park half. Yet another penalty for a high tackle gave the visitors the chance to kick for the left corner, the catch and drive resulting in a try for flanker Marcus Payne on 17 minutes. Taylor kicked another excellent conversion (0-17).
Scunthorpe were dominating possession and territory, but frequent infringements halted momentum with, eventually, both captains being spoken to by referee Jonny Cartwright regarding the penalties for high tackles. With Park under the cosh and the visiting eight beginning to get the upper hand Park suddenly found a way back into the game. A midfield break with captain Howard Stock running a great line had Park on the Scunthorpe 22 and, with possession retained, standoff Fergus Simpson found room to break through the defensive line to score just to the left of the posts on 34 minutes. Fullback Jordan Carey converted to give Park a lifeline back into the game (7-17).
The Park score was quickly cancelled out after a couple of minutes when a fantastic break by visiting centre Laurence Pearce (who caused Park problems throughout the game) along the right touchline had the home defence in all sorts of trouble, No 8 Ben Hyde evading a couple of tackles to score an excellent try to the right of the posts on 37 minutes. Taylor converted (7-24). As half time approached, Park were awarded a penalty midway in the Scunthorpe half but Carey was unable to convert.
HT: Percy Park 7 Scunthorpe 24
Park began the second half much as they did the first, a good break by centre Nathan Newbound along the left touchline leading to a Park penalty but a knock on in centre field gave possession back to the visitors and that was really that for the home side. Unforced errors littered the Park performance. After 48 minutes, Scunthorpe struck again after another strong break from Pearce, Payne scoring again for their bonus point try, Taylor converting (7-31). Park were under sustained pressure and two yellow cards within a few minutes of each other killed any real hope of a revival. Captain Howard Stock was the first, adjudged to have committed another high tackle, and on 61 minutes wing Andrew Walker followed. Park were defending a 5 metre scrum in centre field when the ball was moved quickly right. Walker managed to get his hand to the ball but the referee immediately signalled a penalty try, sending the Park player to the sin bin for a deliberate knock on (7-38).
With Park now reduced to 13 players, Scunthorpe capitalised. Yet another penalty was given away allowing the visitors to kick deep into the home 22. A well executed catch and drive had prop Jordan Beresford go over on 64 minutes, with Taylor kicking another excellent conversion (7-45). On 70 minutes, a period of brutal forward pressure had Beresford go over again from another smart catch and drive, converted by Taylor (7-52). Three minutes later, an excellent kick ahead was collected by wing Lewis Talbot who raced in for the try wide out, Taylor missing the difficult conversion (7-57). With the home forwards visibly tiring, Scunthorpe scored their final try almost as full time approached, flanker Will Harrison seeing a gap and cantering in from just outside of the Park 22. Taylor was unable to add the conversion (7-62).
FT: Percy Park 7 Scunthorpe 62
Post match, hooker Jonny Dubois tried to sum the game up: “That was tough. Scunthorpe were really, really good, very physical and very well drilled. The disappointing thing is that in the last couple of games we just haven’t been able to put the things we are doing in training into our play. It is so hard to understand. The effort we put in today just isn’t reflected in the score. Losing by over fifty points at home hurts so much but with a tough game next week we have to pick ourselves up and go again. Credit to the Scunthorpe lads, they were good and at the end of the season will be there or thereabouts. They are definitely the best side we have faced this season”.
Scunthorpe are an excellent side and thoroughly deserved their victory. Their back row was immense and in centre Laurence Pearce they have a real match winner. I would agree with Mr Dubois that they are the best side we have played this season. However, as far as the Park performance is concerned, there are mitigating factors. A lengthy injury list and unavailability are problematic but are not offered as an excuse; that would be unfair to Scunthorpe. We fielded an almost new back row and had to switch Nathan Newbound to inside centre. In the past two games, we have played the leagues top two sides and after six games, we are seventh in the table having won three of them. Conceding 119 points in two games is a concern as is our recent habit of starting games too slowly but as far as this scribe is concerned, there is still much to be positive about and to look forward to.
Our visitors were gracious in victory, and we hope that they enjoyed their first ever visit to Preston Avenue. We applaud their performance and wish them well for the rest of the season and look forward to the return in January. Our grateful thanks as always to the referee Jonny Cartwright from the Manchester Society.
The Lions suffered defeat at Sunderland 38-5, conceding five tries in the league encounter, but earlier today (Sunday), our Colts recorded their first league win of the season with a hard fought 19-17 win over Penrith while the Panthers continued their winning ways with a commanding victory over Gateshead, 44-5.
Next weekend, both the 1st XV and the Lions travel to North Yorkshire to take on Selby in league encounters, both KO’s at 3pm. If you are unable to travel to Selby or fancy your rugby closer to home, on Sunday 27 October, the Colts take on Northern at Preston Avenue in the Northumberland Cup, KO at 1pm. The Panthers have a rest weekend. All support would be most welcome.
Percy Park: 15 Jordan Carey; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Nathan Newbound; 11 Andrew Walker; 10 Fergus Simpson; 9 Tom Robinson; 8 Leo Caulfield; 7 Phil Crichton; 6 Fraser McGlashan; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Dan Gallon; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Jonny Dubois; 1 Tristan Grant
Replacements: Marc Cook; Luke Foster; Paul Spowart
Referee: Jonny Cartwright from the Manchester and Districts referee society.