Saturday 17 February 2024
Percy Park 43 Durham City 7
Regional 2 North
(HT: 12-0)
Durham City arrived at Preston Avenue as one of the form teams in Regional 2 North, third in the table having won seven of their last eight league games and, pre match, there was a quiet air of confidence from their support that they could cause an upset and inflict only the second defeat of the league season on Park and their first at home. And when, after Park had needed to produce a superb first half defensive effort, Durham scored early in the second half to reduce the deficit to just five points there were more than a few spectators (President Keith Atkinson an honourable exception) who began to think Durham might just be able to do it but in an amazing twenty-three minute spell Park turned defence into devastating attack to score five tries and inflict the visitors heaviest defeat of the season. It has to be said, Durham were a little shell shocked at the final whistle, particularly after their first half efforts and it must have been difficult for them to understand how they had not scored in the opening 40 minutes. Regardless of the scoreline, this was a blood and thunder contest by two fully committed teams.
For Percy Park, there were several team changes after last weekend’s win at Aspatria; captain Howard Stock returned to the right wing and, after his very promising debut last week, Josh Sho-Perring switched to the left wing in place of the injured Toby Davison. Up front, Sam Digman replaced Tristan Grant at tighthead prop and Jonny Dubois replaced Jake Smith in the back row. Smith and Grant dropped to the replacements bench where they were joined by Ross Young, making a welcome return to the side after a lengthy injury spell on the sidelines.
On an overcast but thankfully dry day, with very little breeze, Park kicked off and were immediately on the offensive with the early exchanges taking place in the Durham half. After a great Josh Hedley pass, standoff Fergus Simpson broke through the visitors defence with a great run but was unable to get what would have been a scoring pass away to the supporting Leo Caulfield but Park had two further early chances to score, the second of which they took. Twice in the space of two minutes, Park kicked penalties into the right hand corner and after the first catch and drive resulted in the ball being knocked on, the second, on 6 minutes, was perfectly executed for No 8 Caulfield to score wideout. Paul Spowart kicked an excellent conversion (7-0).
From the kick off Park gained a scrum penalty almost immediately and seemed to be in the ascendancy, moving the ball well and gaining ground but then a series of unforced errors handed the initiative to Durham. A knock on, a turnover and a relieving kick to touch out on the full, in very quick succession, led to a Durham throw at a lineout just outside of the hosts 22. From here Durham brought their big ball carriers into play led by No 8 Peter Dent to get the visitors almost to the try line. For the next seven or eight minutes, Durham hammered at the Park line but the home defence was simply magnificent. Twice, Durham were held up over the line and whether they used the forwards as battering rams or put the ball wide every attack was met with a black and white wall. The tackling was relentless, every Park player involved, and while it is difficult to single out any one in particular, one tackle by second row Chris Reekie on Dent shook the Clubhouse! But as the first quarter ended, Durham conceded a penalty for not releasing in the tackle which was greeted by much fist pumping by the home players and centre Ash Smith was able to relieve the pressure.
The second quarter was an attritional battle; both sides wanting to play but both defences equal to the task. Again, the tackling was relentless with both sides hampered by unforced errors. One Jamie Wrigley run had the Durham defence scrambling to cover but Park were beginning to get the upper hand in the scrum which was to prove vital as the first half ended. Durham were awarded a scrum midway in their own half but a huge effort from the home eight sent the City pack backwards at a rate of knots forcing a scrum penalty which was kicked into the left hand corner. Another excellent catch and drive had Dan Shuttleworth touch down wide on the left on 39 minutes. Paul Spowart was unable to convert the difficult kick (12-0). An thunderously physical first half, superbly refereed by Anthony Lowery.
HT: Percy Park 12 Durham City 0
Durham kicked off the second half and were immediately on the attack, moving the ball both left and right probing the Park defence. After the Park scrum half strayed offside on the 22, Durham kicked the resultant penalty into the left hand corner. Although the catch and drive did not go to plan, Durham retained possession and a series of drives were held up, again with magnificent defence by the hosts. However, City No 8 Peter Dent eventually found a gap to squeeze the ball down to the left of the posts. Scrum half and Durham skipper Paul Armstrong converted on 43 minutes (12-7). Durham on the scoreboard, just five points adrift, game on (or so we thought) but then came the Park twenty-three minute purple patch…
From the kick off, Durham conceded a penalty after referee Lowery deemed a tackle on second row Chris Reekie was dangerous and although he played advantage play was quickly brought back to the Durham 10 metre line where the ball was kicked into the visitors 22. Excellent play by Dent disrupted the Park drive after the ball was secured from the throw but scrum half Andrew Walker saw second row Josh Hedley out on the left touchline. The big man crashed through two attempted tackles to offload a perfect ball inside to the supporting Walker who skipped through for an excellent try on 47 minutes midway between the touchline and posts. Spowart converted and Park had restored their twelve point advantage (19-7).
The next few minutes saw Durham playing in the Park half but they were unable to fashion any real pressure or scoring opportunities due to indiscipline. Eventually, a Park penalty brought play to halfway. From the lineout, the ball was moved infield but when Reekie was tackled the ball came back left and fullback Wrigley, running an excellent line at pace, scorched along the left hand touchline. He kicked ahead as the cover came across, but as the Durham full back attempted a relieving kick to touchl, replacement wing Ross Young charged the ball down, regathered, and scored in the left corner for a great opportunist try on 56 minutes. The conversion was missed but the try bonus point had been secured (24-7).
Four minutes later Park scored again. From the kick off the hosts secured possession and a surging run from Reekie set them off. Great support play saw Park almost to the 22 before Durham infringed (not rolling away after the tackle) and the resultant kick was put into the visitors 22 on the left touchline. The throw went directly to Park flanker James Black who saw the space in front of him open up and he galloped over for the score which was converted by Paul Spowart (31-7).
Park retained possession from the kick off, keeping the ball in hand, creating space and forcing Durham on the defensive. Ross Young powered into the Durham half off of his wing but lost his footing but possession was retained and quick ball into the hands of Wrigley had the fullback racing up to the 22 where his outside pass to right wing Howard Stock had the captain over in the corner for another superb score on 65 minutes. Paul Spowart kicked an excellent conversion (38-7).
A storming run from replacement prop Tristan Grant straight from the restart had Park back on the front foot and when, eventually, a Durham defensive lineout on their own 10 metre line was turned over Chris Reekie was on hand to crash over for try number seven on 70 minutes to the left of the posts. The conversion was missed (43-7).
Durham had become a bit ragged during the Park onslaught but to their credit regrouped in search of a late score but resolute Park defence kept them at bay. On 75 minutes, Park second row Hedley was adjudged by referee Lowery to have tackled a City player dangerously and was shown a yellow card, a fair call by the official. This seemed to galvanise the home side once again and the last few minutes saw Park camped in the visitors 22 but they were unable to add to the score.
FT: Percy Park 43 Durham City 7
This was a cracker of a game that certainly showed the very best of this Park squad of players. Awesome defence was required in the first half but even so, they found a way to score two tries. In the second half, when Durham scored early and the pressure was on, Park found a way to hit top gear and simply blow the visitors away. Seven tries to one tells its own story perhaps but Durham played their part in what was an enthralling contest.
Jake Smith had this to say post match: “A really hard game. First half we were under pressure but our defence was rock solid. In the second, we were able to really turn the screw and I thought Durham crumbled a bit if I’m honest, no disrespect to them. We aren’t talking about winning the league, we’re not allowed to! It’s one game at a time as the saying goes”. The lads are obviously not getting ahead of themselves.
Josh Hedley was our man-of-the-match and, in truth, he was immense and seems to get better and better each week although he would probably agree that every Park player contributed to what was in the end a comprehensive victory. It was great to see both captain Howard Stock and Ross Young return to action and both scored tries. For Durham, No 8 Peter Dent was outstanding and in the backs, right wing Ben Speight was eager for work, particularly in the first half. We thank them for a real physical battle, played in the right spirit, and wish them well for the remainder of the season, particularly their home game against Northern in their penultimate league game. We apologise for the cold showers - problem with the boilers! Our grateful thanks also to referee Anthony Lowery without whom there is no game and to our match sponsors Marine Safety Supplies whose continued support is so greatly appreciated.
Park maintain their nine point lead over Northern at the top of Regional 2 North with four games to go. Northern had a big win over Morpeth at McCracken Park, 50-10. Durham slip to fourth in the table after this defeat with Middlesbrough, who we meet on Teeside next month, moving into third after a 29-5 home victory over West Hartlepool.
The Lions also had a good win at home to West Hartlepool Stags. The First XV are next in action in two weeks time when they travel to Stockton in the league on Saturday 3 March, KO is at 3pm. However, if you need your regular fix next weekend, the Lions are at home to Blaydon on Saturday 24 February and the Panthers continue their quest to win NC3 North (North) on Sunday 25 February when they take on Rockcliff at Hillheads. All support for our teams would be most welcome.
Percy Park: 15 Jamie Wrigley; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Ash Smith; 12 Paul Spowart; 11 Josh Sho-Perring; 10 Fergus Simpson; 9 Andrew Walker; 8 Leo Caulfield ©; 7 Jonny Dubois; 6 James Black; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Josh Hedley; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Aaron Smith
Replacements: Tristan Grant; Jake Smith; Ross Young