Regional North 2
Morpeth RFC 19 v Percy Park RFC 20
‘If Rockcliff was a zero that was a ten’
Percy Park arrived at Mitford Road sober and with an intent to put that Boxing Day debacle to bed. Unfortunately for Morpeth they were on the receiving end of a very impressive rebound. The anger (and yes that is the right word to use) did not come from the coaching team, they correctly let their team fester, but from wives, girlfriends, partners and family. I can assure you that many a back was turned on Boxing Day evening. Sympathy was in short supply. All that ire dissipated as the boys left the pitch surrounded by those same people who were as quick to praise as they were to criticize. Congratulations abounded yet the performance exposed our frailties as much as it highlighted our strengths. With two minutes to go, one point ahead and in possession of the ball why kick it away and allow the opposition to run it back to you? Instead of relying on tackles being completed just keep it and wind the clock down. As former Park winger Jonny Ward battered and nearly broke through the defensive line, tension screamed out from the travelling support. If he had got through (and he nearly did) that would have been game over. Instead of a victory, Morpeth would have had a bonus point win and we would have left with very little to show for our efforts. Small margins but they matter. No wonder many of the faithful are grey and on medication for high blood pressure!
The day started on ‘the wrong foot’ with scrum half Charley Miller pulling his groin in the warm up. Joe Cassidy stepped up from the Lions and had a great game. I know theplayer coverts that spot and, on this performance, made a statement to stay there. His forward pack were immense and took the fight to Morpeth. The start was furious and intense with both teams flying into each other. As a consequence, the game stayed in the middle.
Percy Parks first foray into home territory brought a penalty chance as the Morpeth player was penalised for not rolling away. Paul Spowart elected to kick narrowly missing the posts. The game stayed with Percy Park as they edged the individual and team contests. Paul Spowartand Jamie Wrigly sprayed the ball around with some astute kicking over the top of the Morpeth defense. Morpeth were turned and struggled to exit their half.
On 8 minutes Kieran Sutherland entered the fray replacing centre Ross Young who needed a few minutes to overcome a heavy collision. It was great to see Kieran back playing after breaking his ribs in a soft tackle early in the season. Morpeth were struggling with Percy Parks intensity in the tight and it was no surprise when referee Rikki Handa began to penalise the home team for sealing off as they tried to break up the pattern of the game. Paul Spowart strode up and converted with aplomb. Park ahead by three.
Percy Park continued to turn the Morpeth defence. One really good kick had the full back collecting deep with two Park players providing the chase. Unfortunately, the chase was not as good as the kick. As he turned, he beat the first and then the second releasing to his supporting wing who then beat the third and fourth tackle and before you knew it, we were 7 points down. It was a great break away try and demonstrated why Morpeth were top of Regional Two North. Yet the feeling remained that we had gifted the home side the score.
From a promising start Parks performance took a dip. We weren’t playing badly not by a long way. One or two errors started to creep in. We missed several line outs throwing to the back and our back play faltered through a poor final pass. Morpeth’s ‘8’ broke through as we dropped off the tackle. Further attempts were made before the ball was punted behind. Morpeth winning the foot race to score. 14 to 3. Shame as we were the better side. Both scores could have been avoided.
Undeterred our forwards continued to press with a Morpeth slap down attracting a ‘free ball’. Percy Park continued to drive and ruck to the line. The forwards took the opposition on with Chris Reekie crossing the line to finish some really good forward play. The conversion taken. 14-10.
The game see-sawed. A lineout in our 22 was easily won and as we box kicked to clear, the high ball was collected by Jonny Ward. Ward broke several tackles before the ball went inside from Morpeths left. The ball delivered to their wing forward who crossed the line for a score. Fortunately, the conversion bounced off the post failing to add the additional points. 19 points to 10.
A good scrum put Percy Park on the front foot. Although the first up tackle on the advancing Park player was good the second wasn’t, with Morpeth penalised once more for an infringement at the ruck. The Morpeth defence was really struggling with Parks tenacity with and over the ball. Paul Spowart elected to go for posts. A 50/50 decision that went against, as his shot pulled up short. The Morpeth collect was nothing short of calamitous as their fly half, pursued by Jake Smith, ran to his right along the try line. A hospital pass put his centre in all sorts of bother. Unable to work a way-out Morpeth conceded a scrum. Percy Park edged the contest and an ‘8’ pick from Leo Caulfield drove the player toward the try line. Quickly supported and mauled over the line for (I believe Caulfield) Leo Caulfield to score. Conversion missed. 19 points to 15.
Percy Park continued to dominate the play constantly attacking. Their play was rewarded as Morpeth flew in from the side in an attempt to disrupt the ruck. Quick thinking from Cassidy kept the free ball alive. From a good position a lack of patience resulted in Percy Park kicking the ball away, when further possession could have delivered five or more points. Back to the penalty with the referee indicating the shot was the last kick of the half. A big moment that could see Park ahead at the turnaround. The strike saw the ball hooked to the right of the near post. Into the half two points behind.
The chat on the sideline was all about patience. The scrum was 50/50 but we had them in the loose and tight. Our backs had good ball and with a little more patience we good rack up some points. The second half was eagerly awaited.
Those thoughts appeared to concern Morpeth and their play descended to the red mist. Tristan Grant entered the game for his league debut and what he entered must have had the player scratching his head. As the game kicked off Morpeth played long and deep. The collect good but the player held. As we attempted the exit the Morpeth scrum half tackled a Park player whilst lying on the ground. On the ground and out of the game. The resulting ‘free kick’ went down the middle and took Park into the home sides half. The resulting run back culminated in a minor fracas.
Park continued to run the ball through the forwards. A good tip punched a hole and attracted another penalty. Percy Park went down the line and took the line out. Ball came down and we took several steps forward before another fracas and a flash of yellow saw a Morpeth player dismissed for 10 minutes. Percy Park launched forward taking advantage of the extra man. They muscled their way and over the line before the referee deemed, we were ‘held up’. Morpeth were in further trouble when Chris Reekie was tackled ‘over the shoulder’ and appeared to be driven head first into the ground. Reekie stayed down. Referee Handa took several minutes to contemplate what he had seen, electing to brandish the yellow. Fortunately, Chris Reekie was able to continue. Could have been red. 15 versus 13 surely Percy Park could take advantage?
Morpeth (understandably) cynically started killing time and breaking up play, much to the annoyance of Percy Park’s bench. Morpeth’s stalwart prop became a verbal nuisance as the game descended into tantrums and lectures. First the referee had stern words with the Morpeth player ordering him to desist before approaching the Park bench and delivering an address. The subject matter unknown to the author.
Percy Park missed several penalty kicks to the line wasting good ball. A kickable penalty toward the post also missed. Coupled with disruptions and stoppages Park lost momentum. A bit more patience in this period of the game could have delivered more, especially when Morpeth received another yellow. A good line from the forwards sucked Morpeth in and with Jonny Dubois loitering out wide (really wide) the ball travelled and, despite a valiant attempt to stop him, Dubois went over for the try in the far-right hand corner. The conversion difficult and missed. 19 points to 20.
Although our fly half was having a 50/50 game with the boot his all-round play was really good. Enjoying the forward domination, the player kept putting his forwards into the line. Chris Reekie was excelling ably supported by Michael Langlands. One ‘tie in’ promised much but we went the wrong way when a score looked likely. The defending was desperate and we gained another penalty. Looking to go to the corner we kicked the ball dead. The large visiting support took in an audible deep breath at the mishap.
Morpeths bench was having a meltdown. A meltdown that brought a lecture from the referee. A home supporter was admonished. Something to do with time on yellow cards. Akin to our Caroline telling off her wayward child. Morpeth were under the cosh but we didn’t take advantage, kicking ball away and missing the line.
Both sides were back to strength with ‘10 to go’. We kept kicking ball away and allowing Morpeth to come on. Percy Park came in from the side. Morpeth took the free ball. Kieran Sutherland was a delight in defense and worth his sponsorship for the season (even though he hasn’t played much!). Morpeth went to the scrum in front of the posts. Why not take the points? They wheeled and came off the back. They attacked the line before passing the ball to a runner who took the ball at real pace. The move had try all over it. As the player crashed over Captain Seb Reece took the contact and held him up. If there was a moment where the game was won and lost this was it.
Morpeth went to thrash rugby without any structure. Park defended and defended well sucking the life out of the home attack. Their bench again went to the mist accusing Park of time wasting when it was their player lying prostrate on the floor. That thoughtless remark produced an amusing ‘Jobbarisism’ from our linesman that has long been missing.
The home side lost the plot being marched back 10 for back chat. Their relationship with the referee had diminished beyond repair. The game became feisty and there were one or two flare ups. Daniel Shuttleworth was being an irritating menace. As the game came to its close Percy Park didn’t manage the play well. We ran away from support and kicked ball away when we should have kept it. Free kicks failed to make the line or you could argue hit the line. Out is out. It didn’t help nerves on the sidelines one bit! Especially when Leo Caulfield took the ball down the wing and booted the ball dead.
The travelling support was bolstered by a victorious Lions side emerging as 12 -7 winners and they became quickly emersed in the tension of the game. As we entered the final minutes, we kicked possession away allowing Morpeth to run the ball back. Jonny Ward nearly broke the line. The game went to the scrum. We lost the ball as we went off our feet. The penalty was drilled down field where Kieran Sutherland kept the ball in play. We went up the field to the ruck, moved the ball neatly to the back allowing Joe Cassidy to have the final say in the game by booting the same onto the adjacent car park. The cheer was deafening and hands were held aloft.
The game had drama lots of drama and attracted the comment from a seasoned supporter ‘If Rockcliff was a zero that was a ten’. Hard to disagree. Park edged the contest by a point.
Many thanks to Morpeth RFC for their excellent hospitality in their refurbished clubhouse. It looks and is fantastic. We at Percy Park recognize the hard work it takes to generate and create such a facility. The facility certainly has the wow factor. Thanks also go to my former team mate Guy Goodings for sponsoring the game and providing impressive fare. Albeit Guy lives in Morpeth once you have played for Percy Park a part of you always remains there. The post-game broad grin gave it away.
Represententing Percy Park RFC:
From 8: Leo Caulfield, Jake Smith, Niall Combe, Michael Langlands, Chris Reekie, Matty Atkinson, Jonny Dubois and Aaron Smith
From 15: Jamie Wrigley, Howard Stock, Seb Reece, Ross Young, Dan Jackson, Paul Spowart and Joe Cassidy
Finishers: Tristan Grant, Dan Shuttleworth and Kieran Sutherland