PARK AT THE DOUBLE IN FESTIVE TRY FEST
Tuesday 26 December 2023
Whitley Bay Rockcliff 17 Percy Park 71
Festive Friendly
(HT: 10-31)
Percy Park prevailed in our annual festive fixture against our great rivals (and close friends) Whitley Bay Rockcliff on what was a very special Boxing Day at Lovaine Avenue. It was a day to remember and celebrate the life of our late, great past President and stalwart of both clubs, the legend that was Albi Duhrin. The inaugural Albi Duhrin Cup, to be played for annually by our respective Colts sides as a curtain raiser to the senior fixture, was won in a very entertaining game 22-31 by Percy Park Colts (5 tries to 3) and the trophy was presented to the winning Captain James Midgley by Albi’s son Dan. The trophy will ensure that Albi will always be a part of both clubs, ensuring a legacy that champions youth rugby, something that was always extremely close to his heart. Our grateful thanks go to both club Presidents, Scott Carruthers and our own Keith Atkinson, for their work in inaugurating the trophy and the fixture and long may it continue.
After the Rockcliff victory at Preston Avenue 12 months ago, there was a steely determination (revenge is not a word to use to old friends!) to win back the Moore Cup this time around and Park were at full strength (with a replacement’s bench to match) for the game against our DN1 opposition. Conditions on a cold Boxing Day afternoon were perfect, dry with a low sun and a slight breeze that began to strengthen as the game progressed.
Park kicked off toward the clubhouse with the breeze at their backs but it was Rockliff who started the better side, putting Park under immediate pressure. With only 2 minutes on the clock, Park strayed offside at a breakdown on their 22 and referee Paul Minto immediately awarded the home side a penalty. Rockliff outside half Michael Hanson kicked for goal but as his kick drifted just to the right of the posts, Park were unable to deal with the ball which was somehow regathered by the home side. It was moved quickly to the right for left wing Kohki Nakajima to touch down wide out. The try was converted by Hansen for a great start by the Hillheads side (7-0)
The response by the Regional 2 North side was immediate; from the kick off, left wing Ross Young gathered and his pass inside found second row Chris Reekie who crashed over on 5 minutes. Centre Paul Spowart was unable to convert (7-5). Six minutes later, Park took the lead which they were never to relinquish. A scrum on the Rockliff 10 metre line had the home eight concede a penalty which eventually led to a 5 metre lineout in the right hand corner. A classic catch and drive saw flanker Jonny Dubois score which was converted by Spowart from wide out (7-12). After 14 minutes, Rockliff were awarded a penalty on the right of the visitors 22 after a Park infringement which was duly dispatched by Hansen ending a tight first quarter (10-12).
The game was getting feisty, with just about an acceptable amount of ‘needle’, as the visiting pack began to dominate but several promising positions were lost due to indiscipline. Chris Reekie was making his presence felt up front and Ross Young was making metres out wide. On 26 minutes, the Rockliff dam was breached; Paul Spowart took a loose pass, Matt Atkinson made ground and as the ball went left second row Josh Hedley was able to give the scoring pass to prop Aaron Smith who powered over to the left of the posts. Spowart converted (10-19). Three minutes later, Park scored their fourth try; Ross Young at speed along the left touchline with an inside pass to flying fullback Jamie Wrigley who sidestepped two attempted tackles to score to the left of the posts for an excellent try which was converted by Paul Spowart (10-26).
On 33 minutes Park scored again; Wrigley gained possession and set off along the left touchline. He was unable to get his pass away to wing Ross Young on his left before being tackled. The ball was quickly recycled right where Jonny Dubois was able to evade two would-be tackles to score wideout on the right. The try was unconverted (10-31). As the first half drew to a close, there was no further scoring.
HT: Whitley Bay Rockcliff 10 Percy Park 31
Rockcliff started the second half brightly but despite some possession and field position they were unable to put points on the board and it was Park who struck first; the ball was recycled several times in the Rockcliff 22 before replacement Toby Davison saw a gap and scampered over to the left of the posts, the try being converted by Spowart (10-38). Rockclff were struggling for any meaningful possession with the Park forwards dominant and that dominance was more than evident on 52 minutes when they scored a pushover try, No 8 Leo Caulfield getting the score wideout on the left. The try was unconverted (10-43).
Rockcliff may have been living off of scraps possession wise but when they could retain the ball they showed what a good side they are. On 56 minutes they forced an attacking lineout on the Park 22. As the ball came infield, Hansen set off on a scorching run to deliver an inside pass to wing Nakajima who ran a superb line to score an exhilarating try which Hansen was able to convert (17-43).
Park responded almost immediately; sustained pressure in the Rockcliff 22 saw Caulfield score his second try on the hour 10 metres infield on the right which was converted by Paul Spowart (17-50). With Rockcliff unable to get a foothold in the game it was only a matter of time before the visitors scored again which they did on 73 minutes, stand off Fergus Simpson, who had switched to scrum half, receiving an excellent Kieran Sutherland off load to score wideout on the right, a try converted by Spowart (17-57). Replacement Sam McDonald had played very well on the left wing with some nice touches and strong tackling and he reaped his reward when he received a long pass from second row Josh Hedley that left him in acres of space and he scorched over by the posts on 76 minutes for Spowart to convert (17-64). As the clock ticked down to the end of the match there was still time for replacement Sam Digman to add a final try, again following sustained pressure in the Rockcliff 22. A final Spowart conversion completed a comprehensive victory (17-71).
Despite the scoreline, this was an excellent game played in front of a packed Hillheads which shows that there is still an appetite for this traditional fixture despite the demands of league rugby and again, long may it continue. Both Chris Reekie and Jonny Dubois had good games up front for Park, Ross Young and Jamie Wrigley were full of running in the back line and Fergus Simpson excelled both as stand off in the first half and as scrum half in the second. All of the replacements came on; Sam McDonald shows huge promise and it was great to see Kieren Sutherland back in the first team. For Rockcliff, stand off Michael Hansen excelled, as did wing Kohki Nakajima with No 8 Phil Ballantyne playing well in a struggling pack.
A huge thank you to Scott and all at Rockcliff for their hospitality and for making the day so special; there is a strong bond between the clubs as was evident in the clubhouse and around the ground (some of the banter was excellent!) and we look forward to reciprocating in 12 months time. Our grateful thanks also to the players from both sides who willingly give up part of their festive break to play and make all of this possible and to referees Paul Minto and Jock Gill, without whom there are no games. We wish Rockcliff every success for the remainder of the season.
We resume our Regional 2 North league campaign on 6 January when we host Cumbrian side Upper Eden RUFC at Preston Avenue, KO at 2 pm.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
Percy Park: 15 Jamie Wrigley; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Paul Spowart; 12 Ash Smith; 11 Ross Young; 10 Fergus Simpson; 9 Andrew Walker, 8 Leo Caulfield; 7 Jake Smith; 6 Jonny Dubois; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Josh Hedley; 3 Matt Atkinson; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Aaron Smith
Replacements: Marc Cook; Tristan Grant; Sam Digman; Mikey Fisher; Toby Davison; Kieren Sutherland; Sam McDonald
