Boxing Day Friendly (if you can call it that)
Percy Park RFC 12 v Whitley Bay Rockcliff RFC 13
A game of two halves as Park run out of time
On behalf of Percy Park RFC I would like to wish readers of this enlightening column a happy harmonious and healthy New Year. 2022 has been a good year for our club. Success on and off the field has cemented a close-knit community and team spirit that bodes well for our future in trying economic times. As 2023 rolls in along with mentioned rising costs, general strikes, failing businesses and a European conflict that could easily explode into a third World War, one can only hope that the year leaves us with calm prosperous serenity and knowledge of a storm left behind, along with a stomping victory over our nearest and dearest at Rockcliff RFC. It’s a fixture that brings two communities together, two clubs who share an enduring friendship and a year long desire not to get beaten. Trust me its important and has been since 1879 (or thereabouts)!
Surrounded by friends and former team mates, who wear the red and gold, my ears were left ringing with 20 years of awoken banter. Although I thoroughly enjoyed their company, I was left somewhat downbeat by the manner in which we lost this game. Am I the only one that felt the stinging knife of disbelief, observing a first half performance that was, in my opinion, one of the most disappointing in recent memory? Rockcliff deserved their moment, marshalled by former black and white coach Dean Harrison, they steam rolled into a Park side that looked as if they had entered the field with an entitlement of victory by merely turning up. As the afternoon, evening and early hours of the morning wore on I became aware that their victory gained was fashioned months ago by a young Whitley Bay side that were determined to make this one game their season statement. Although they were hanging on at the end it was little too late from the home side and post-game, I was genuinely pleased for their supporters that they hung on to win. They loved it and rightly so. Hopefully this year we will take the fixture seriously by arriving at Hillheads with sober intent so that I (and others of the faithful) can return the decibel banter tenfold. Until then what repartee is thrown our way, we are going to have to take it.
The game certainly had an immediate explosive start with Chris Reekie shown a yellow card for a high tackle. The collision brought squawking and loud demands for a red card. Referee Graeme Crozier was on hand to bring a measured response by brandishing the yellow. After all he was closer than any other longsighted observer. From the restart we were caught offside and gifted 3 points to the away side. Then we dropped a ball punted high and deep into our half. A high sun didn’t help. Pressure stayed on. Albeit we had the edge in the scrums, despite being a man down, we couldn’t break out. Our passing and support play in midfield was not as crisp as usual. Then there was a bit of rough stuff with scrum half Tom Robinson on the end of some treatment and some skull doggery in the line out. Intent to disrupt and put Park off their game was there to see. Could we respond? The answer was not in that moment. Caught offside again we gifted another easy shot at goal. 6 nil the score and we hadn’t been in their half.
From the restart we again failed to deal with another long punt although the set piece allowed Chris Reekie to come back on. Restored to parity we created space and made good inroads. One such move broke down as Ross Young was lofted high in the tackle. The breakdown was scrappy and we lost the ball. Another long punt down the field was dealt with badly. One pass to nowhere received derision. When we got the ball, we dropped it. Rockcliff were intent on playing our ‘9’ off the ball and causing a fracas where possible. Disruption. It was working as Park could not get into their ‘flow’. When we did get forward the ball was kicked away and returned with gusto. Park were not dealing with the lofted ball. And it was another kick that undid us. A little grubber kick behind our defensive line was won by the Rockcliff player who was quicker and braver to get down to the loose ball than his Park counterpart. As a consequence, the ball was recycled and the away side went over in the top left-hand corner. A good conversion taken and we were 13 points down.
A nice foray into the visitors half came to naught as we didn’t compete in the breakdown. They certainly wanted the game more than we did and to be honest the faithful couldn’t wait for the half time whistle to allow the coaching team to reorganize and energise the team. That desire was more than reinforced by a short line out move from the visiting team (that was taken from the Percy Park handbook) that wasn’t read and a penalty kick that did not go to touch and was belted back to us.
13 nil at the half. Relief around the ground edged with quiet optimism. As the half approached we had made some as some bench changes which saw Percy Park gaining solidity. Our forward pack were looking good and had the upper hand. Jonny Dubois was being a menace and the arm wrestle was being won. Fingers were crossed that this would be a happy tale of two halves.
It didn’t start well with a mix up at the restart and it took a Matty Atkinson tackle to prevent a score. The home support was being drowned out. We needed a spark and you could feel that tension building inside you where you just wanted to scream ‘Come on’!!!
A Tom Robinson ‘nick’ and a Jake Smith break out had the crowd on their feet. We moved the ball really well and looked likely to score. Rockcliff scrambled and we over egged the pudding and lost the momentum. Penalty advantage and the play was brought back to a nice shot at goal. Three points looked likely only for the expectant crowd to see the ball hooked wide in front of the posts. Still, it was better and we continued to grow into the game. Our forwards gave us forward ball and Rockcliff were hanging on. Pressure created another penalty chance. This time we went down the line.
A great catch and drive had the black and whites rolling to the line. Excellent stuff. Rockcliff pulled the train to the floor. Penalty advantage. The forwards carried. Josh Hedley was unlucky as he was held short. Another penalty as the defending team went offside. We went wide and butchered it. Just keep it in! Park elected to go for the scrum. We got the nudge and went forward. The referee getting in the way of the ‘8’ pick. Back again; same result. This time Keith Laughlin was held short of the line. Then a long looping pass missed out several forwards coming around the corner. Why? Ross Young caught the ball in the air and did well to get through the cover and cross the line, only to be brought back for a double movement. With more patience that was a try all day. On the positive we were showing intent.
That positivity continued as we took a penalty to the line. We made a mess of the line out but got the ball back and our forwards drove forward to send one of our number crashing over the line. TRY (hallelujah!). Conversion taken. At this point Rockcliff weren’t in the game. It was ‘hang on’ stuff for them. Our forwards were dominating. We needed to be patient, work through the phases, and other scores would come. Jonny Dubois went over but the pass was adjudged to have gone forward. Rockcliffs scrum was creaking. Tom Robinson did another nick but ran out of good options to keep the ball alive. All Park.
Another catch and drive took us to the line and eventually over but held up. Thomas Moore was running the ball back with power. (Great to see him back). Another penalty in front. We elected to go back to the line. Time was the enemy in fading light. We made a mess of the line out and Rockcliff broke out. Frustrating. We had opportunities to put this game away. Another penalty and Rockcliff were marched back. They were losing their cool. Back to the line. This time the line out was good and the catch and drive better. Straight over. TRY. The conversion was missed. 12-13. Time left. Not much but enough.
Some tired defending gave Rockcliff a knock on in our 22. The first time they had been there all half. We wheeled and gave away the penalty. The shot kickable. Fortunately, it went wide. Another Park foray took us to the line. The line out was disrupted and an opportunity was lost. Back to the scrum. Rockcliff were destroyed and Joe Cassidy made a dart to the line. Held but the player kept the ball alive. We drove on. Pick and go , pick and go…just keep going we were almost there! Somehow the ball found its way to the left wing …where we lost it. Penalised for holding on. A Rockcliff punt gave us the lineout. Took this one and rumbled forward gaining good field position. This time we gave it out to the backs in space. Paul Spowart made it to the line before the covering tackle prevented him putting the ball down. Ross Young was unable to hold the ball and the game went to the ruck. Rockcliff belting the ball away into the car park to end the contest.
Percy Park 12 Rockcliff 13. Much rejoicing from the red and gold before heading to the bar to ensure our guests didn’t leave us sober. Our turn next year
Representing Percy Park RFC.
From 8: Michael Langlands, Jake Smith, Mickey Fisher, Josh Hedley, Chris Reekie, Matty Atkinson, Jonny Dubois and Aaron Smith
From 15: Paul Spowart, Dan Jackson, Ross Young, Seb Reece, Sam MacDonald, Toby Davison and Tom Robinson
Finishers: Adam Hay, Tristan Grant, Eddie Saint, Keith Laughlin, Niall Combe, Leo Caulfield, Joe Cassidy, Thomas Moore and Jamie Wrigley