Vital Bonus Points Gained in Narrow Defeat at Middlesbrough
- Ken Bell
- Category: 1st XV Reports 23/24
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Saturday 16 March 2024
Middlesbrough 32 Percy Park 26
Regional 2 North
(HT: 27-19)
As the players left the field on Saturday, 20 minutes after the final whistle, flanker Jake Smith simply said: “Hard game. We lost, we’ve put it to bed, we go again next week” and that sentiment was echoed post match by his team mates. After defeat to Middlesbrough in a titanic physical battle there were surely thoughts of could have, should have, but Park did not leave empty handed; two vital bonus points were secured that still leave us six points clear at the summit of Regional 2 North with just two games left to play in this league season. In the final analysis, Middlesbrough just about deserved their victory and Park at times, particularly in the first half, contributed to their own downfall but when, late on, Middlesbrough threatened to run away with the game Park summoned the energy and fight to almost snatch victory. Their fantastic record of scoring a try bonus point in every league game played was maintained and another was gained by ending the game within seven points of the victors. Although not wishing to tempt fate, those points may be the difference in our bid to become league champions at the end of the campaign.
Park made several changes to the side that defeated Stockton a fortnight ago; both Fergus Simpson and James Black were unavailable, so player/coach Ash Smith moved to standoff with Ollie Bartles-Smith partnering Paul Spowart in the centre. In the back row, Joe Thompson replaced Black and Jake Smith came in as openside flanker with Jonny Dubois moving to No 8 to replace the injured Leo Caulfield. Matt Atkinson came into the front row with Tristan Grant dropping to the replacements bench where he was joined by Mikey Fisher and fit again former captain Seb Reece. It was great to see Seb back after a long injury lay off.
On a bright sunny afternoon with a slight breeze (that strengthened as the match progressed), a perfect day for rugby, ‘Boro kicked off and it was Park who started the brighter side in a frenetic opening 10 minutes. They were quickly into the ‘Boro 22 but were caught offside with the home side able to clear their lines but Park were able to return the ball with interest, a clever kick by No 8 Jonny Dubois was chased by scrum half Andrew Walker. The ball was taken over the line by a defender and touched down. As Park put the pressure on in the ensuing 5 metre scrum they were penalised by referee Liam Rogers to their obvious puzzlement and ‘Boro were able to clear the danger.
On 10 minutes, Park opened the scoring. As ‘Boro moved the ball left in midfield from a scrum the ball was dropped and pounced on by the alert Howard Stock who powered forward to be tackled just short of the line. The ball was moved swiftly left for Dubois to go over midway between the left touchline and the posts. Centre Paul Spowart converted (0-7).
The ’Boro response was almost immediate. From the kick off, they worked themselves into the game and when Park were penalised for offside on their 22, the ball was kicked into the left hand corner. The visitors were unable to stop the catch and drive with ‘Boro hooker Joe Sawdon scoring on 15 minutes. Wing Sean Moloney converted (7-7). Middlesbrough immediately struck again from the kick off and with Park unable to gather the ball the home side used their big forward ball carriers to drive forward. Several missed tackles, the first on Park’s 10 metre line, contributed to their progress but when they were finally stopped close to the try line the ball was moved right at speed for ‘Boro full back Matthew Marsay to evade two tackles to score wide out on the right on 18 minutes. Sean Moloney kicked an excellent conversion (14-7).
Park were again under immediate pressure from the restart but the home side were penalised for holding on to the ball in the tackle and Ash Smith was able to kick to halfway. From the lineout, Park began to put some phases together and exert some pressure of their own and when ‘Boro infringed again, midway in their own half, Smith kicked to the left hand corner. The home side managed to disrupt the resultant drive but in doing so infringed and Smith again kicked to the left hand corner. Middlesbrough managed to disrupt the drive again and just when it looked that the pressure would come to nothing Smith found a way to jink through the ‘Boro defence to score under the posts on 25 minutes. Spowart converted to tie the score (14-14).
Once again, immediately from the kick off, Park allowed the home side to reclaim the ball and centre Aidan Moloney was able to shrug off several tackles to go in under the posts allowing Sean Moloney an easy conversion on 27 minutes (21-14). In a game being played at a frenzied pace, back came the visitors with second row Chris Reekie storming into the ‘Boro 22 only for the ball to be knocked on at the breakdown. Two instances of indiscipline then enabled the home side to stretch their lead; firstly Park strayed offside just inside their own half and ‘Boro were able to kick into the 22. As the ball came infield from the lineout Park were again adjudged to have strayed offside and ‘Boro elected to kick for goal with Sean Moloney converting the penalty on 32 minutes (24-14).
The response from the league leaders came straight from the kick off. They regained possession and attacked along the left touchline, Reekie to the fore, and when the ball was moved at speed right along the line, replacement wing Seb Reece was able to go over 5 yards in from the right corner for an excellent try on 35 minutes. Paul Spowart was unable to kick the difficult conversion (24-19). Sadly, Park again conceded points immediately from the restart, this time penalised for not releasing in the tackle on their own 22. Sean Maloney gratefully kicked the resultant penalty on 38 minutes (27-19).
Park appeared to be determined to score before the half ended but indiscipline cost them in a frantic last few minutes. Park forced two attacking lineouts deep in the ‘Boro 22, an overthrow in the first resulted in a Park infringement allowing the home side to clear their lines and in the second, with the clock in the red, the ball was turned over again allowing ‘Boro to relieve the pressure and gain a further penalty on halfway. There was no further scoring before the half time whistle. A great half of rugby played at an unrelenting pace.
HT: Middlesbrough 27 Percy Park 19
If they had failed to score at the end of the first half, Park were even more determined to score early in the second and this time they were successful. Park kicked off and immediately had the home side under pressure. ‘Boro kicked long and the ball was fielded by Ross Young, who had moved to fullback after an early injury to Jamie Wrigley, and he brilliantly evaded a follow up tackle to move forward at pace. The ball was quickly in the hands of Reece, running a superb line, for the replacement to scythe through the home defence unopposed to score under the posts, the perfect start to the half on 42 minutes, the try bonus point secured. Paul Spowart converted to bring the visitors within a point (27-26).
However, the next few minutes were a horror story with Park putting themselves under unnecessary pressure due to indiscipline. The restart again caused problems with the visitors being penalised for not releasing on their own 10 metre line. ‘Boro elected to kick for goal but, in a let off, Sean Moloney missed the kick. Seconds later, Park scrum half Andrew Walker was shown a yellow card by referee Rogers for an off the ball tackle and again Moloney missed with the resultant penalty kick. The visitors gained some traction and a huge tackle from Chris Reekie and steal from replacement prop Tristan Grant gave Smith the opportunity to kick deep into the ‘Boro 22 but Park were unable to profit from an ensuing penalty when the ball was knocked-on. A kick through from Paul Spowart had No 8 Jonny Dubois chasing hard but the home side were eventually able to relieve the pressure.
The tide began to turn as the third quarter ended; a succession of Park infringements had ‘Boro deep into Park territory, with centres Aidan Moloney, Jack McPhillips and No 8 Adam Marron running and carrying well. The visitors were having to defend a series of ‘Boro drives along the left hand touchline but on 57 minutes flanker Rohan Brown broke free and cantered over in the left hand corner to score the home sides fourth try to earn the bonus point. In a change of place kicker, Aidan Moloney was unable to add the extras (32-26). Six points the difference going into the last 20 minutes.
Park were unable to sustain any meaningful response from the restart despite gaining possession and territory due to repeated knock on offences and this gave ‘Boro the platform to put the visitors under sustained pressure. On 67 minutes a ‘Boro penalty after Park had not released in the tackle had captain Howard Stock warned by referee Rogers and from the resultant penalty ‘Boro mauled into the Park 22 only to knock on with Park able to clear from the scrum. Park were struggling for possession and when they did get the ball it was knocked on or turned over. Park’s defence was excellent, but the penalty count was increasing and on 74 minutes, Stock was warned again by the referee to speak to his players but, after being under the cosh for some 15 minutes, this seemed to galvanise the visitors who summoned the energy and fight to go after the game to win it in an exciting last few minutes.
First possession, then territory and then a penalty kicked to the left hand corner. The catch and drive looked good until Park were adjudged to have knocked on as the try line beckoned. From the scrum, Park were penalised for engaging too early and then, again, knocked on from the resultant line out. As the clock entered the red, Park were awarded a penalty after a scrum close to the ‘Boro line in the left corner. The Park faithful were expecting a kick into the corner but Park chose a tap and go and after being held up on the line ‘Boro were awarded a penalty, and a fantastic game of rugby came to an end.
FT: Middlesbrough 32 Percy Park 26
For a neutral, this was an absorbing game of rugby between two excellent sides. For supporters of the two protagonists, it probably caused heart failure at one time or another. Both sides knew that they had been in a real battle, a hard physical contest that was not finally decided until the last second. For Middlesbrough, the result has all but confirmed a third place finish and continues their recent run of form, a sixth successive league victory. They have some explosive ball carriers and they are able to mix their game, equally adept at playing a tight forward game or putting the ball out wide. We congratulate them on their victory, thank them for their excellent hospitality and wish them well for the remainder of the season. A great club with great facilities.
For Park, a defeat but a steely determination to put things right next week. Post match, player/coach Ash Smith had this to say: “What was great, we put some really good shape into our attack and were a constant threat from the start and that shows by us claiming another four try bonus point. We had a few personnel changes and I think the lads who came back in really put their hands up. Joe Thompson came back into the side and put in a great shift at six and to have Seb Reece come back in after such a long time out was fantastic. It shows his quality that he can come on and score a brace. As for next week, it is all to play for. The lads understand our current situation and it is literally black and white (no pun intended Ash) what we now need to achieve next weekend against what is going to be a physical Aspatria side. What I am hoping to see next weekend is an increase in physicality and to show real resilience into sticking to who we are and how we play”.
The two points gained mean that a bonus point win next weekend in our penultimate game will see us win Regional 2 North. Northern, our nearest challengers, beat West Hartlepool 30-26 in a tight game but managed to gain a try bonus point to keep the pressure on. For the neutral, a title decider at McCracken Park in our final game would be a fantastic climax to the league season but for me, I would rather be celebrating next Saturday night and enjoy a meaningless final fixture!
The Lions also travelled to Acklam Park on Saturday and enjoyed a thumping win over Middlesbrough Wasps 24-55 and it was great to see scrum half Charlie Miller back in action.
Sadly, the Panthers suffered heartbreak on Sunday when they lost 19-33 at home to Blaydon in their final league game of the season and in the process lost top spot and the league title. In a close game, two late tries did the damage but many congratulations to our Panthers, players and coaching staff, for a fantastic league season. They have shown what they are capable of, and our clubs women’s section is going from strength to strength. The club could not be prouder of your efforts.
So, our penultimate game next week at Preston Avenue is against Aspatria who we defeated in Cumbria last month, KO at 3pm. The players have put everything into this season and fully deserve all our support so, if possible, please make every effort to attend the game and cheer on the lads to a win and league title.
Percy Park: 15 Jamie Wrigley; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Ollie Bartles-Smith; 12 Paul Spowart; 11 Ross Young; 10 Ash Smith; 9 Andrew Walker; 8 Jonny Dubois; 7 Jake Smith; 6 Joe Thompson; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Josh Hedley; 3 Matt Atkinson; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Sam Digman.
Replacements: Tristan Grant, Seb Reece, Mikey Fisher