Saturday 14 September 2024
Heath 37 Percy Park 13
Regional 1 North East
(HT: 27-13)
On a day that simply went from bad to worse, Park travelled to Halifax to take on Heath in their second fixture of the Regional 1 North East league season. It was the first ever senior match between the two clubs but one, with no disrespect to our hosts, that Park would probably rather forget. On arrival at the very picturesque North Dean ground it was discovered that the kit had been left on Tyneside and, as the teams were just about to take the field of play, it was realised that we did not have a touch judge! Up stepped the legend that is our Honorary Secretary Mick Ishida, a man who has held every conceivable post at Percy Park, to take the flag and an excellent job he did. If all that was not bad enough, Park were given a life at Level 5 reality check by a Heath side intent on getting back on track after a narrow opening day defeat at Ilkley. The visitors were never ever in the match and two yellow cards in the second half effectively put an end to any hope Park had of getting anything from the game.
There were several changes to the side that had beaten Driffield last time out, Josh Hedley, Oli Bartles-Smith and Matthew French were unavailable. Toby Davison came in on the left wing, Seb Reece moved into the centre to partner Will Ponton. Eddie Saint partnered Chris Reekie in the second row and in a surprise selection, centre and coach Ash Smith came in on the flank. In the continued injury absence of captain Howard Stock, Jonny Dubois again took the armband.
On a bright sunny day, warm with very little wind, Park kicked off only for the hosts to apply the early pressure. Park eventually gained possession but a long kick up field by standoff Fergus Simpson agonisingly rolled out of play behind the dead ball line and from the resulting scrum, back on the Park 22 metre line, Heath turned the screw in search of the first score which duly arrived after 6 minutes. A drive from a scrum had (I think) Heath hooker Alex McFadden crash over 5 metres in from the right touchline. Heath standoff Chris Johnson kicked an excellent conversion (7-0).
From the restart Heath attacked again, No 8 Jonny Garrity crashing through Park centre Will Ponton and in the next few minutes only the visitors scramble defence kept out the hosts, centre Seb Reece, wing Tom Robinson and flanker Ash Smith to the fore. When Park did gain some possession, it was quickly lost and on 12 minutes a kick into touch on the full gave Heath a lineout on halfway. Johnson broke through a couple of tackles and his offload to Garrity had the No 8 scoring in almost the same place as the opening score. An excellent try, converted by Johnson (14-0).
Park gained possession from the restart, and some go forward from flanker Sam Digman had Heath caught offside. Ash Smith kicked the resulting penalty on 17 minutes (14-3). Almost immediately, with the home eight in control, Park were penalised for holding on after the tackle and up stepped Johnson to kick the penalty (17-3). As the first quarter ended Heath were exerting huge pressure on the visitors and it was only a matter of time before the next score arrived. Park were missing tackles and from a scrum a series of drives had park in trouble and swift passing right had Heath centre Tom Owen dive over. Johnson again kicked an excellent conversion. 27 minutes played (24-3).
The visitors obtained a foothold in the game when, from a lineout just inside the Heath 22, the ball was moved left and after a series of drives, second row Chris Reekie crashed over on the half hour mark. The conversion was missed (24-8). Heath were quick to respond, winning a Park lineout against the head and forcing the visitors to concede a penalty which was kicked by Johnson (27-8). As the clock ticked down, Park were able to score again when a dropped ball in midfield on the Heath 10 metre line was snapped up by centre Will Ponton who scored wide out on the left on 39 minutes. Ash Smith missed the conversion (27-13) and shortly thereafter, referee David Rhodes signalled the end of the half.
HT: Heath 27 Percy Park 13
The story of the second half is simply told; one of dogged resistance by the visitors with the home side very much in control. Words must have been said in the dressing room, Heath having to wait some time before the visitors emerged onto the field of play.
Almost from the start of the half, Park were immediately under pressure with errors not helping the cause. Their first attack of the half resulted in a pass straight into touch and a strong series of drives by the Heath eight almost resulted in another try but they infringed, and Park were able to clear their lines. After 56 minutes, a Heath penalty was kicked deep into the Park 22. From the lineout catch and drive a Heath forward peeled off and although a brave last-ditch tackle from Will Ponton stopped him, standoff Chris Johnson was able to gather and stretch over for the home sides bonus point try which he converted himself (34-8).
Heath were on the rampage and only desperate defence was keeping them at bay. Park received two yellow cards as the pressure from the hosts intensified. The first, on 60 minutes, had centre Will Ponton sent to the sidelines for a deliberate knock-on and 9 minutes later, wing Toby Davison followed him for a high tackle in the shadow of the Park posts, the penalty being converted by Johnson (37-13).
Strangely, the last 10 minutes of the half had Park in a number of good attacking positions but they were not able to capitalise and the game ended with young Park replacement Jacob German hacking on deep into the Heath half but again, they were not able to take advantage.
FT: Heath 37 Percy Park 13
In truth, a difficult day, and as mentioned earlier, a reality check on life at this level. Missing several players (as were Heath), Park were never in the hunt and it was only dogged defence that prevented Heath from winning by a bigger margin, particularly in that second half. The Heath forwards were exceptional, and the game was controlled by their halfbacks Chris Johnson and Dom Walsh. As captain for the day Jonny Dubois said post-match: “Credit where credit is due, Heath were excellent. Their pack were relentless, and we were never in it. We cannot use the excuse that we were missing players, it is what it is, and you have to make the best of it and today, we didn’t. But, as with the game against Driffield, the youngsters stepped up and they will have gained so much from the experience. We must learn the lessons from today, put the game to bed, and prepare for next Saturday”.
We thank Heath for a great game (despite the result) and their wonderful hospitality. They were magnanimous in victory and we look forward to the return game at Preston Avenue in December. We also thank them for their understanding in respect of the kit issue and their generous donation of their changed strip for the game. Thanks also to referee David Rhodes who had a great game and without whom there is no game. The only light relief on a day to forget was the Presidential skydive from the team bus which brough smiles to many faces!
The Lions did not fare well on Saturday either, losing 19-29 at home to Morpeth and on Sunday the Panthers opened their league account in NC3 North (North) at Penrith losing heavily 41-5. Next Saturday, 21 September, Park host Ilkley in Regional 1 North East, KO 3pm, hoping to get back on track while the Lions travel to Middlesbrough in the Candy League, KO also at 3pm. On Sunday 22 September, there is a double header at Preston Avenue with the Panthers hosting Alnwick in the league, KO 2pm, and our Colts side are in action in the National Cup, KO 1pm. As ever, all support would be most welcome.
Percy Park: 15 Jordan Carey; 14 Tom Robinson; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Will Ponton; 11 Toby Davison; 10 Fergus Simpson; 9 Andrew Walker; 8 Jonny Dubois ©; 7 Ash Smith; 6 Sam Digman; 5 Eddie Saint; 4 Chris Reekie; 3 Matt Atkinson; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Tristan Grant
Replacements: Aaron Smith, Adam Hay, Jacob German