Saturday 3 February 2024
West Hartlepool 33 Percy Park 37
Regional 2 North
(HT: 19-12)
The First XV made the journey south along the coast for a Regional 2 North encounter with West Hartlepool RFC with the aim of maintaining their position at the top of the league table with Northern only 3 points behind in second place. Brinkburn is a fantastic community facility and it is a credit to the West Hartlepool Club after all of the trials and tribulations since their halcyon days in the Premiership, so it was fitting, on the day of a visit by the President of the Durham RFU, that West President Dave Laycock made presentations to several ‘unsung heroes’ which were warmly applauded by the representatives of both clubs. The hosts were expecting a hard game as their programme notes made clear; “Welcome to our only home game in February - and it couldn’t be tougher as our old rivals and friends Percy Park arrive in top spot”. However, in the Clubhouse prior to the game there was a quiet air of optimism from our opponents and boy, was that optimism justified! In a roller coaster of a match, Park just about survived a white knuckle ride to edge out the hosts by 4 points, claiming a try bonus point in the process.
Park were forced into several changes; in the backs, with Jamie Wrigley, Ross Young, captain Howard Stock and Oli Bartles-Smith all injured, Lucas Rowell continued at fullback, Max Bailey replaced Stock on the right wing, Ash Smith returned to partner Paul Spowart in the centre with Toby Davison replacing Sam McDonald on the left wing. In the forwards, Sam Digman came in as loose head prop in place of the unavailable Aaron Smith and in the second row, Joe Thompson replaced the unavailable Josh Hedley. Luke Foster came onto the replacements bench together with Tristan Grant and Robin Houghton. Flanker Jonny Dubois captained the side.
On a sunny, dry day it was the visitors who kicked off towards the Clubhouse into a stiff breeze. Park showed their intent, putting the ball out wide but an early knock-on was a sign of things to come. In contrast, it was a nervy start by West who conceded a scrum and then a penalty deep in their 22 in the opening exchanges. The penalty was kicked into the left hand corner and although the catch and drive faltered, flanker James Black found a way to the try line for the opening score of the match on 4 minutes. There was a suspicion of a knock-on in the build up but referee Simon Barker awarded the score. Paul Spowart was unable to convert the difficult kick from the left touchline (0-5).
If West had a sense of injustice about the Park try, it did not show as from the kick off they gifted Park possession but as the visitors again began to move the ball with confidence, Spowart was penalised for straying offside at a breakdown and this was the catalyst for West to get into the game. From the resulting lineout on the left just inside the Park half, West mauled with real intent, releasing the ball and moving it wide. After infringing at a breakdown, Park were marched back 10 yards for knocking the ball away with the resulting kick into the left corner. For several minutes, West laid siege to the Park try line with Black and prop Sam Digman leading the defensive effort but after 14 minutes West had their reward when prop Adam Hutchinson burrowed his way to the line for the score to the left of the posts. The try was unconverted (5-5). Park certainly knew they were in a game.
The next 10 minutes saw Park gain the ascendancy in terms of possession and territory but repeated knock-ons and infringements halted any meaningful progress. One kick ahead by stand off Fergus Simpson after West had spilled the ball had the hosts scrambling in defence but the ball was eventually safely touched down. From a scrum on their own 10 metre line after Park had again knocked-on, West scrum half and skipper Ryan Painter exploded along the right touchline and his infield pass found stand off Ollie Connolly in support. Connolly evaded two attempted tackles to score an outstanding try behind the posts on 24 minutes which he then converted to turn the game on its head (12-5).
From the kick off, Park were immediately on the offensive with full back Lucas Rowell injecting real pace but several promising phases which appeared to involve every Park player were eventually stopped by yet another knock-on. However, referee Barker had seen a West Infringement and the resulting kick was put into the right hand corner. A perfectly executed catch and drive had hooker Dan Shuttleworth touch down on 28 minutes. Spowart kicked an excellent conversion from wide on the right to tie the scores (12-12).
As the half entered the final 12 minutes, West began to apply real pressure, constantly probing the Park defence in the visitors 22. After 35 minutes, West got their reward when, after the hosts turned over possession, Park attempted to play out of their 22 as they often do but knocked on yet again. From the scrum, West moved the ball at speed out to the left for wing Max Tennant to score wideout. Connolly kicked an excellent conversion (19-12).
Seemingly shocked by the score, Park attacked from the kick off, earning a penalty that was kicked into the right hand corner. Frustratingly, as Park drove for the line the ball was somehow knocked-on and the chance was lost.
HT: West Hartlepool 19 Percy Park 12
If Park lacked accuracy in the first half they certainly did in the opening exchanges of the second, knocking-on three times in the first few minutes. Firstly, from the kick off, great play involving Rowell and skipper Jonny Dubois split the West defence only for the ball to be spilled as the try line beckoned. Moments later, as the Park 8 splintered the opposing pack, the ball was knocked on and seconds later, when West turned over possession, the ball was spilled in the tackle in midfield. West sensed an opportunity and when Park conceded a penalty and then a scrum in quick succession, they took it, with West skipper Painter scoring his second try of the match, jinking through the Park defence from a scrum in the visitors 22 on 46 minutes. Connolly converted the bonus point try to open up a commanding 14 point lead (26-12).
Although they were penalised on the West 22 almost immediately from the kick off, Park began to gain some useful possession and keep hold of the ball, probing the West defence. An attack along the left was halted illegally with the resulting penalty kick being put into the left hand corner. As the catch and drive stalled, and the West defence sucked in to stop it, hooker Dan Shuttleworth peeled off to score his second try of the match on 54 minutes but Spowart was unable to convert (26-17).
As the game entered the final quarter, Park were still trailing by 9 points and yet another knock on gifted possession to the hosts. But in the space of 3 minutes, Park miraculously reduced the deficit to just one point. On 62 minutes, West were penalised midway in their own half for a not releasing offence and up stepped Paul Spowart to kick the penalty (26-20).
Two minutes later, Park scored a fabulous try. From a lineout on the West 10 metre line, the Park forwards mauled the ball deep into the West 22, it was released at speed right along the line for full back Lucas Rowell to score in the right hand corner. Spowart was unable to convert (26-25). Park had their bonus point try.
As the game was entering the final 10 minutes, West were still leading and sensed an upset, storming into the Park 22 searching for the clinching score. Park were penalised three times in quick succession for offside and for not releasing in the tackle and as a consequence, No 8 Leo Caulfield was shown a yellow card on 70 minutes. It was not too clear for which offence he was sanctioned. Behind on the scoreboard and down to fourteen men, Park seemingly had a mountain to climb but were not to be denied. West elected a scrum on the left hand side with Park a man down and they moved the ball at speed right but the move broke down with the ball ending up in the hands of left wing Toby Davison who sprinted almost the entire length of the field, As he tired and was about to be tackled, he passed infield to the speeding Lucas Rowell who in turn passed infield to the supporting Andrew Walker who scored a breathtaking try under the posts on 73 minutes for Paul Spowart to convert (26-32).
Two minutes later Park scored again, another scintillating try from full back Rowell on 75 minutes. From the kick off, Park moved the ball right, stand off Fergus Simpson injected pace, shredding the West defence, and gave the scoring pass to Rowell who sprinted in wide on the right. Spowart was unable to convert (26-37). There was still time for another score as the clock ticked down to the end of the match. As Park moved the ball in midfield the ball was spilled in the tackle and the ball was hacked on. The Park defence was unable to deal with the ball on the floor and as it squirmed out of reach it was hacked on again by West centre Will Hilditch who scored wide out on the left for Connolly to convert on 77 minutes (33-37). That was no more than West deserved but there was insufficient time for any further scoring in a breathless match.
FT: West Hartlepool 33 Percy Park 37
“What a game! I enjoyed that!” was the verdict of the Cumbria Referees Society assessor sitting behind me in the stand and I cannot disagree. The game ebbed and flowed with the hosts taking the game to the league leaders and with just 10 minutes to go they surely fancied their chances after the Caulfield yellow card and still holding the lead, albeit by a point. But my word, did Park show resilience and a real desire to win, an outstanding effort that shows the character of this team. Yes, there was a frustrating lack of accuracy at times but as player/coach Ash Smith reflected post game “Last season, we would have lost that game but we have developed the ability to deal with pressure and crucially to score points when we have to. It wasn't the greatest performance today, far too many mistakes, but with the changes it was difficult but we found a way to win. Credit to West Hartlepool, they made it tough!”. West were magnanimous in defeat, proud to have run Park so close and more than happy with two bonus points in their quest for a mid table finish. For Park, Lucas Rowell and Dan Shuttleworth were standout performers, with the West half backs Ryan Painter and Ollie Connolly playing extremely well.
Northern won 12-19 at Upper Eden but with Park gaining the bonus point we now extend our lead over the City side in second to four points with a game in hand. West remain in eighth place on 34 points, the same number as Stockton in seventh, but with a game in hand. We thank them for their generous hospitality and wish them well for the remainder of the season. Our thanks, as always, to referee Simon Barker without whom there would be no game.
The Lions also travelled to West and, with several Colts in the side, triumphed over West Hartlepool Stags to make it a Park win double.
Next Saturday, 10 February, Park travel to Aspatria for our rearranged league game, KO at 2pm. All support would be welcome. If you are unable to make the trip to Cumbria, the Lions are at home to high flying Sunderland Shipwrights in what should be an excellent game and the Panthers are also in action next weekend when they are away to take on Blaydon hoping to cement their place at the summit of NC3 North (North) on Sunday, 11 February. Again, all support would be welcome.
Percy Park: 15 Lucas Rowell; 14 Max Bailey; 13 Ash Smith; 12 Paul Spowart; 11 Max Bailey; 10 Fergus Simpson; 9 Andrew Walker; 8 Leo Caulfield; 7 Jonny Dubois ©; 6 James Black; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Joe Thompson; 3 Matt Atkinson; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Sam Digman.
Replacements: Tristan Grant; Luke Foster; Robin Houghton.