Saturday 26 October 2024
Selby 28 Percy Park 41
Regional 1 North East
(HT: 0-17)
One week after the heavy home defeat to league leaders Scunthorpe, Park travelled to North Yorkshire to take on Selby RUFC, determined to give a much improved performance and the hoped for response to what was a chastening loss last time out. They certainly delivered, scoring five tries to take the bonus point in a comprehensive victory with Selby scoring three times in the final few minutes to give the score some respectability. The match was played in the august presence of Selby’s guest of honour, the President of the Yorkshire Rugby Union, Mr David Francis.
There were several changes to the Park side from that which took the field last weekend. In the threequarters, Paul Spowart came into the centre to partner Seb Reece with Nathan Newbound dropping to the replacements bench. Young Jacob German came onto the left wing replacing Andrew Walker who moved to scrum half to replace the unavailable Tom Robinson. In the pack, Matthew French returned at No 8 with Leo Caulfield moving to blindside flanker to replace Fraser McGlashan. Josh Hedley returned to the second row, after missing last week’s game, to replace Dan Gallon. Adam Hay and Sean Nairn joined Newbound on the bench.
On a bright sunny day (at least to start the match) with a strengthening breeze, Selby kicked off but it was Park who had the better of the early exchanges, being rewarded with an excellent early try after 5 minutes. Two early Selby infringements, both for not releasing in the tackle, had a Park lineout deep in the Selby 22 on the left touchline. The line out was untidy, eventually tidied up by flanker Phil Crichton and the ball was moved at speed right for fullback Jordan Carey to join the line and score wide out. Paul Spowart kicked an excellent conversion (0-7).
Selby attempted to respond immediately, this time Park conceding penalties to give the home side a 5 metre lineout on the right hand touchline, but Park stole the ball and were able to clear their lines. The next few minutes had Selby pressing the visitors in their 22 but excellent Park defence, including one great tackle from Jacob German, kept the home side at bay. After weathering the Selby pressure, Park went further ahead when a high tackle gave Spowart the opportunity to kick for goal which he did superbly on 25 minutes (0-10). The Selby restart went straight into touch and for the next 10 minutes, Park comfortably held Selby who were unable to really make territorial gains despite having the majority of possession. From a Selby kick into the Park 22, an excellent counter attack nearly brought a try but the final pass from Carey to German went to ground and into touch. However, Park did not have to wait much longer before scoring again. A Selby lineout was stolen, and the ball was moved right. Right wing and captain Howard Stock jinked infield from the right touchline to flat foot the Selby defence and score an excellent try on 39 minutes. Paul Spowart kicked another great conversion from the 22 (0-17). As the clock ticked down, a Chris Reekie turnover ensured Park did not concede before the break.
HT: Selby 0 Percy Park 17
Park kicked off the second half and it was Selby who applied the early pressure. Park conceded a scrum penalty, and the resulting kick was put deep into the Park 22 on the left touchline. The ball was moved right and Selby, keeping possession well, were able to work standoff Ben Poskitt over for their first try on 44 minutes. Replacement Henry Wright kicked an excellent conversion (7-17). From the restart, Park attacked and when Selby infringed in midfield, up stepped Spowart to kick the penalty on 48 minutes (7-20).
The next few minutes saw both sides penalised for infringements and when Selby were penalised for a high tackle on the Park 10 metre line, the visitors attacked at speed. Selby held them up on the line but second row Josh Hedley had the strength to crash over on 53 minutes, Spowart converting (7-27). From the restart, Park were penalised for crossing on their 22 with the home side electing a scrum. When they were penalised, back chat had referee Tom Doig marching them backwards and standoff Fergus Simpson was able to put the visitors into home territory just over halfway. From the lineout, Park moved the ball into midfield where a high tackle from home captain Alex Webster was punished with a yellow card. Simpson kicked the penalty into the Selby 22 on the left touchline and the catch and drive had No 8 Matthew French touch down for the bonus point try on 58 minutes. Spowart again converted (7-34).
The visitors then proceeded to somewhat lose their discipline with firstly standoff Simpson receiving a yellow card for a deliberate knock on as Park defended on their 10 metre line and a short time later centre Seb Reece joining him after a high tackle. Playing with 13 men did not halt the visitor’s momentum and on 64 minutes they scored the try of the afternoon. A Jordan Carey interception had Park up field in an instant for replacement Nathan Newbound to score. Spowart converted and Park were effectively out of sight (7-41).
To their great credit, Selby refused to buckle and in the remaining minutes they fashioned three tries as Park, perhaps, took their foot off of the accelerator. The first on 67 minutes saw fullback Charlie Bramley score after a clever cross kick caught out the Park defence, Wright converting (14-41). On 75 minutes, Selby wing Adam Infante escaped along the left touchline to score, Wright kicking an excellent conversion (21-41). Selby were rewarded for their never-say-die attitude when, as the clock entered the red zone, second row Paul Townend scored their bonus point try, Wright converting (28-41).
FT: Selby 28 Percy Park 41
Post match, injured player/coach Ash Smith was a satisfied man: “We had players returning which helped but I thought we played really well. The last few minutes were disappointing but with stoppages the second half actually lasted some fifty minutes so perhaps we need to work on our time management! This was the way we hoped we would deal with the defeat last week and credit to the players, they have remained positive despite the two recent losses. With a break next week we will be hoping more of the injured players will be able to return in a fortnight against York”.
For Park, Paul Spowart was outstanding in the backline as was Phil Crichton in the forwards. Paul also contributed 16 points from the boot in a faultless display from the tee. Their defence, until the last few minutes, was robust and they scored some excellent tries. The tackle of the game was made in the second half by Chris ‘Tank’ Reekie, the collision being heard back on Tyneside! The poor Selby recipient will probably come to his senses around Christmas time, ouch!
Selby never gave up and their play at the end of the game was testament to their attitude. We thank them for a great game, played in a good spirit, and for their wonderful hospitality which we look forward to reciprocating in February. Our thanks, as always, to referee Tom Doig without whom there is no game. We hope to see him at Preston Avenue in the not-too-distant future.
As a result of the win, Park move up to sixth in the league table with Selby remaining in eleventh place, a point above Alnwick who gained their first win of the season beating Huddersfield 32-16 at Greensfield. Scunthorpe continue to set the pace, winning their seventh successive match 39-31 against second placed Sandal to open up a nine point lead at the top of the table.
The Lions also made the trip to North Yorkshire losing an entertaining encounter to Selby 2nd’s 31-24. On Sunday, the Colts lost their Northumberland Cup match against Northern 42-63 at Preston Avenue.
Both the first XV and the Panthers have a rest week next weekend but on Friday evening, the Colts take on Houghton at home under lights, KO 7pm and on Saturday, the Lions travel to Tynedale to take on the Raiders in the Northumberland Cup, KO 2pm. Support for both teams would be much appreciated.
Percy Park: 15 Jordan Carey; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Paul Spowart; 11 Jacob German; 10 Fergus Simpson; 9 Andrew Walker; 8 Matthew French; 7 Phil Crichton; 6 Leo Caulfield; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Josh Hedley; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Jonny Dubois; 1 Tristan Grant
Replacements: Adam Hay; Sean Nairn; Nathan Newbound