Regional 1 North-East
Saturday 28th September 2024
Percy Park 26 – 23 Alnwick
Alnwick made a relatively short journey to Preston Avenue for a Northumberland derby for week four of the 2024-2025 league campaign. The visitors hadn’t had the best of starts and lie at the foot of Regional One North-East with Park now at the dizzying height of third top as a consequence of 3 home wins and a couple of bonus points.
The visitors kicked off, playing west to east and Park decided as is their wont to run the ball from their own 22. After a couple of phases, they turned over the ball and Alnwick gave siege to the home side line eventually winning a penalty for offside. Alnwick kicked to the corner and whilst the catch and drive was repelled, the ball was played out to the backline with centre Cuthbert cutting back inside to be stopped short. Hooker Alistair Blackett was in support and picked up, going over in the 3rd minute for the try which Evan Moir converted. 0-7.
Park went further behind shortly after when some injudicious back chat was punished and Moir stepped up to kick the penalty from just inside his own half 0-10.
Percy Park were stung into action and from a penalty following a high tackle, Park opted for the kick to the corner. Park won the line out mauled the ball close to the Alnwick line and then spun the ball out to the back line which saw Andrew Walker score under the posts from the left wing rather than his accustomed position of scrum half. With Ash Smith out injured, Will Ponton assumed kicking duties and converted to bring the score to 7-10.
On the 20 minute mark play was halted with what looked like a serious knee injury to one of the Alnwick wingers who had to be stretchered from the field of play, we hope he recovers quickly.
With the relatively new tackle-height law in play, referee interpretation can be somewhat of a lottery and Louis Adamson was shown a yellow card for a high tackle and Moir punished Park with the boot to stretch the Alnwick lead 7-13. Ponton traded penalties with Moir before Alnwick improved their lead after Park were penalised for a line out infringement. The visitors kicked to the corner and although the original catch and drive was repelled after a couple of phases one of the Alnwick locks crashed over for the try shortly before half-time. With the touch down under the shadow of the posts the conversion was a mere formality for the left foot of Moir as both side trotted off to the changing rooms for a 15 minute tea break with the visitors 10 -20 to the good.
Park started the second half brightly and just 4 minutes in turned the ball over from an Alnwick line out. Tom Robinson made a break but bumped into the referee so a scrum was awarded. Park pushed fellow Northumberland side Alnwick backwards before the ball was shipped out and a deft outside of the foot chip by Ponton had the defence turning to face their posts. Jonny Dubois was beaten by the bounce of the ball but Nathan Newbound managed to cross the line for a Percy Park try once again converted by Ponton.
The home side were again reduced to 14 men when Tristan Grant was carded for a “no-arms” tackle although even with 7 in the pack, Park had superiority in the tight and levelled the score with another Ponton penalty whilst a man down.
Another high tackle was punished, this time it was the Alnwick replacement prop Drew Thompson who was shown yellow shortly followed by his name-sake Drew Walker for being over vociferous.
Both sides were defending well and it soon became apparent that a tight game would be settled with penalties. Percy Park were awarded a kickable penalty to break the 20-20 deadlock, but Will Ponton was off target and the score remained tied.
With 10 minutes of the game to go, the home side were again awarded a penalty which was duly converted by full back Jordan Carey, although just 2 minutes later Evan Moir brought his side back level with another penalty.
With just minutes to go Alnwick had a line out in their own half and opted for back ball which was pounced on by Jonny Dubois who secured possession for Park. Eventually Alnwick were penalised for not rolling in the tackle and Carey kicked the crucial points to snatch a slim but valuable win for Percy Park who hadn’t beaten Alnwick in the league for several years.
The two sides lock horns again this Saturday, again at Preston Avenue in the Northumberland Senior Cup.
On the far pitch the Lions played Alnwick 2nd XV in the Candy League running out winners 65-12 scoring 11 tries in the process.
Referee - Adam Tweddle