Regional Two North

Percy Park RFC 39 v Northern RFC 12

Park provide all the colour in a dominant display.

With barely a scudding cloud in the sky Percy Park took to the manicured lawns of Preston Avenue (I understand there is a petition going around to rename Preston Avenue as Sanderson Lawns) in bright but unforgiving sunshine. The bustling and eager faithful were adorned in flat caps and knotted handkerchiefs on what was a glorious day by the coast. Our Northern colleagues joined the growing festival feeling by decorating the ground in their colourful deck chair blazers and straw hats whilst supping large glasses of iced gin from bulbous glasses. You certainly have to admire a ‘city boys’ standout style of elan and panache when mixed with the industrial working tones of real Tyneside folk. That colourful plume was replicated as the teams stepped onto the hallowed turf. Northern decked in red white and blue with Percy Park striped in gritty black and white. As the game unfolded the colour of the shirt told the lie as Percy Park provided all the colour with a free flowing game of rugby, earned by a hardworking and aggressive pack, that most definitely put Northern to the sword.

Pre-match, there had been much discussion in the Clubhouse regarding the new tackle laws and their possible negative effect but to the great credit of the players (from both sides), the coaches and, it must be said, the excellent refereeing by Mr Michael Harris, they were not a major issue. Yes, there were high tackles and yes, players were penalised but in a physical and highly competitive game played in the right spirit, no cards were required by the referee.

Northern kicked off and for most of the first quarter dominated the early exchanges with their No 8 and Captain McCullough together with Centre Vuna running strongly but early momentum was stalled twice by players knocking on. Although Park were working hard in defence, Northern were steadily gaining ground, backs and forwards combining well but yet another knock on gave Park some respite. This did not last long as a Park infringement (for a high tackle) gave possession back to the visitors. From the resulting lineout, Northern came again. A sweeping move right and then back left across the field committed too many Park bodies to the tackle and when the cover ran out, McCullough was able to power over by the far touch line to score on 8 minutes. An excellent try but with the conversion missed.. Percy Park 0 Northern 5.

The restart saw Park gain possession and a strong run by wing Howard Stock gave the home side a rare foray into opposition territory. Stock was stopped by a high tackle, ‘top of the seat belt’ according to referee Harris. A kick to the corner saw the Park forwards exert pressure from the lineout forcing another penalty; a similar move from the lineout was halted by a Park handling error but Northern made a mess of the engagement and from the resultant free kick, Centre Cooper Vuna strayed off side and Ash Smith made no mistake with a penalty from in front of the posts on 17 minutes. Percy Park 3 Northern 5

Northern, perhaps feeling that their ascendancy had merited more points on the scoreboard, came powering forward again, the No 8, both centres and both second rows carrying well. Several strong carries finally looked to have put Northern second row Cotton In under the posts but a brave try saving tackle from Park fullback Jamie Wrigley saved the day. A penalty awarded to Northern immediately afterwards for a player being off his feet at the resultant ruck saw a dangerous opposition crossfield kick over hit. This appeared to galvanise the home side and within moments, thanks to a great kick from outside half Smith, Park were contesting a line out close to the Northern line. The resultant advantage looked to have been lost after a Park forward knocked on but now came a real statement of intent from the Percy Park forwards from the resulting scrum. Despite having the put in, Northern had no answer to the power of the Park eight who powered forward with debutant No. 8 Jake Black scoring the try, much to the delight of his new teammates. 30 minutes played. The conversion was missed. Percy Park 8 Northern 3.

Park began to play with confidence after the restart, Josh Hedley and debutants Black and centre Ollie Bartle-Smith carrying aggressively.

A clever kick into space by Park scrum-half Andrew Walker (a tactic used throughout the game) forced a Northern knock on only for a Park infringement a few moments later to halt momentum, made worse by a comment that had Mr Harris marching Park 10 yards back. As the half progressed, Northern were feeling the pressure, the Park forwards gaining ground with second row Chris Reekie to the fore. Another good kick from Walker put play into the Northern 22 and an overthrow from the Northern hooker saw his opposite number Jonny Dubois pounce and charge toward the try line. Tackled just short, the ball was recycled with Chris ‘Tank’ Reekie eventually crashing over for Park’s second try on 35 minutes. Ash Smith converted. Percy Park 15 Northern 5.

As the first half came to a close, strong running from the Park three-quarters, notably Jamie Wrigley and Ross Young, together with stand-off Smith again put Park on the front foot and into the opposition 22 but the half ended sadly with a Park infringement.

HT: Percy Park 15 Northern 5

Park kicked off the second half with their early play hampered by indiscipline (a player off his feet, offside) with Northern forcing a defensive scrum within a couple of minutes under the Park posts. Defence became instant offence; Black initially carried, Walker put in a clearing kick to the left touchline which was brilliantly gathered by Ross Young on the 22, an inside pass to the alert and flying Jamie Wrigley took out the full back and he was able to sprint to the try line, easily outpacing the covering Dockey, the Northern left wing, for a scintillating score on 44 minutes. Converted by Ash Smith. 

The body language from the Northern players was noticeable, a little shell shocked from that early second half try but worse was quickly to follow. From the restart Northern were unable to put together any meaningful phases despite some possession and soon turned over the ball. Another good kick from Walker forced a clearing kick into touch from the Northern defence and from the resulting line out, midway in the Northern half, Ash Smith burst through the first line of defence, chipped the ball over the advancing full back only to be finally brought down a few metres short of the try line. Momentum was carried on by Chris Reekie and after several carries in centre field, Parkt prop Matty Atkinson went over under the posts for the bonus point try on 46 minutes. Converted by Ash Smith. Percy Park 29 Northern 5

With Park on the front foot, backs and forwards combining well, and with the visitors trapped in their own 22, they were feeling the pressure. After defending several lineouts Northern did manage to temporarily clear their lines from a defensive scrum but from the resultant line out, midway in the Northern half, Park engineered arguably the try of the match. The ball was quickly moved into midfield where both Park second rows provided forward momentum with strong carries. Wonderful interplay between forwards and backs at pace, with scrum half Walker always providing the link, tore through the Northern defence, Ash Smith providing the scoring pass to Sam Digman on his right shoulder. To a cry of ‘go on Diggers son’, he duly obliged, diving in just to the left of the posts on the hour. Converted by Ash Smith. Percy Park 36  Northern 5

As the game entered the last quarter, Northern managed to gain some possession forcing the home side to defend two lineouts in their 22 only for a forward to be penalised for not releasing. Smith was able to relieve the danger with the resultant penalty kick. Back came Park, swift passing at pace putting them into the opposition 22 only for a knock-on to halt their progress. However, at the resultant scrum, another mighty shove sent the Northern 8 backwards and the penalty was conceded, Ash Smith landing the kick on 71 minutes.

To their great credit, and having been on the back foot for most of the second half, Northern came on strongly in the last 10 minutes, keeping possession and forcing Park to defend deep in their 22. Three swift penalties were awarded for Park infringements as the home side desperately defended their line, with referee Harris playing the advantage. With Park given a warning by the referee over the repeated penalties, Northern finally got their reward with replacement Kyle Blackmore going over for the try on 77 minutes which was converted. Percy Park 39 Northern 12

In the final few minutes, Northern pressed again but were unable to convert their pressure into further points.

FT: Percy Park 39-12 Northern

An excellent win, against a good Northern side, will hopefully give the team confidence for tough tests ahead. Northern, who finished a credible third in the league table last season, will undoubtedly be there or thereabouts come the end of this season and we look forward to the return at McCracken Park. Our thanks go to them for a great game and of course to today's referee, Michael Harris.

Next Saturday, 9 September, Park travel to West Cumbria to play Cockermouth, KO 3pm.

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