Saturday 9 November 2024

Percy Park 21 York 22

Regional 1 North East

(HT: 14-8)

York RUFC were the visitors to Preston Avenue on Saturday last for a Regional 1 North East fixture and, down thirteen points with just ten minutes of the match remaining, they had the wherewithal and determination to score two late tries to win the game by a single point. Heartbreak for the home side. After a good start by the visitors, Park dominated for long periods, particularly in the third quarter, but a Park yellow card and a penalty kick that drifted agonisingly to the left of the posts seemed to change the game in favour of the visitors and York took their chance, piling the pressure on the home side to win the game late on and credit to them, they are a very good side. It was a game of fine margins, scrappy at times with both sides guilty of unforced errors and poor discipline but nonetheless it had an exciting climax with Park desperately hanging on to a slender lead but, alas, it was not to be.

There were a number of changes to the Park side from that which won at Selby last time out. While the back line was unchanged, Sean Nairn came into the front row in place of the unavailable Sam Digman, Leo Caulfield moved to the openside on the flank in place of Phil Crichton while Euan Smart debuted at blindside. The replacements were Louis Adamson, Tom Robinson and Oli Bartles-Smith. Sadly, the injury list remains lengthy.

On a dank, overcast day with drizzle in the air, York kicked off, Park immediately attempting to play out of their 22 but quickly spilling the ball but, at the resulting scrum, Park put the pressure on to win the penalty. A good break by centre Paul Spowart had Park in York territory only for the ball to be spilled again. A Park infringement for offside had York back into the home 22 and from the lineout on the left touchline, a series of York drives had prop Lewis Jackson barge over for the first score on 6 minutes. Standoff Harry Shackleton missed the conversion (0-5).

From the restart, the game became a bit stop-and-start, both sides committing handling errors and both unable to keep their discipline and penalised regularly by referee Yannick Debil. York began to dominate territory, using their big forwards to punch holes in the Park defence but a grubber kick to the left corner went dead and Park were able to clear their lines. As York came again, a high tackle on halfway was punished further when Park did not retreat 10 metres after scrum half Toby Atkin took a quick tap with Shackleton kicking the resultant penalty from the Park 10 metre line on 14 minutes (0-8).

Park now started to play and responded quickly after play resumed. York were penalised just inside their half (player off his feet) and the ball was kicked into the left corner. The catch and drive was held but the ball was moved right, second row Chris Reekie and No 8 Matthew French making huge dents in the York defence before York infringed again (player off his feet) and this time Park kicked to the right hand corner, A perfect catch and drive had Euan Smart peel off to score, Paul Spowart adding the conversion on 18 minutes (7-8).

As the game continued, Park were putting themselves under pressure with handling errors and although York had the territory, their own errors and lack of discipline halted any meaningful progress. Intermittent rain did not help ball handling and retention either. A scrum on the Park 10 metre line had the home pack going backwards at a rate of knots, but York could make nothing of the resultant penalty that was kicked into the Park 22. Around the 30-minute mark, Park began to make some headway and after winning a penalty on their own 10 metre line, kicked to the left touchline to get into the visitors half. However, the lineout was not straight handing possession straight back to York. From the scrum, the York No 8 peeled off the base but was brought down by a great tackle from his opposite number Matthew French and at the ensuing ruck young wing Jacob German (instantly christened the ‘Germanator’ by one wag in the crowd) in true Ritchie McCaw style turned the ball over, earning the home side a penalty which was kicked deep into the York 22. The catch and drive was held up but York were offside and a quick tap from scrum half Walker had the forwards camped on the York line. A clever pass left from Walker to second row Josh Hedley had the big man crash over on 35 minutes to the left of the posts. Spowart converted (14-8).

As the half ended there was no further score.

HT: Percy Park 14 York 8

Park kicked off the second half and were immediately on the attack, winning a quick scrum penalty on the York 10 metre line. The penalty was kicked into the visitors 22 on the left touchline but the catch and drive was held on the line, York winning the put in to a defensive scrum. York were under intense pressure in those early minutes with Park No 8 French carrying well. Park were keeping York pinned in their 22 and it was only an infringement as over eagerness caught a player off of his feet at a ruck that allowed York to relieve the pressure. Park stole the ensuing lineout and as the ball was moved left, a high tackle gave Park the chance to kick themselves back into the visiting 22. York were quickly penalized again (side entry) and although the resulting lineout was overthrown, the home side quickly regained possession and charged for the line. York managed to hold Park on their try line but the damn broke when scrum half Walker saw a gap in the defence to go over on 51 minutes. Spowart converted and Park now had a thirteen-point lead but referee Debil awarded York a penalty for a push by Spowart after the try had been scored (21-8).

York restarted with the penalty with Park knocking on and after the referee played advantage a kick ahead was superbly fielded by German who set off on a mazy run into the York half. He kicked ahead into the 22 but the ball was gathered by fullback George Davies who was then tackled high by Walker who was immediately shown a yellow card by referee Debil on 54 minutes. York were unable to escape the stranglehold, infringements and errors allowing Park the territory. On 59 minutes, a high tackle in midfield gave Spowart the chance to kick for goal but the penalty drifted to the left of the posts.

As the final quarter got underway, a poor Park kick in midfield allowed York to at last break out thanks to a clever kick from standoff Shackleton but they were immediately penalised and Park kicked into the York half on the right touchline. The throw was not straight, handing possession back to York and, sad to say, that seemed to be it from Park from an attacking perspective. Within seconds, Park skipper Howard Stock was tidying up a kick ahead on his own goal line. The visitors began to play, moving the ball left and right, stretching the Park defence. With 70 minutes played, York had a lineout on their left touchline just outside of the Park 22. They moved the ball right, their half backs Atkin and Shackleton increasingly effective, and Park were caught offside. Second row Sam Croft made ground with the referee playing advantage but when Park were again caught offside, York, sensing a score, elected a 5 metre scrum. The Park eight were pushed backwards with the ball being illegally kicked out and referee Debil had no hesitation in awarding the visitors a penalty try on 71 minutes (21-15).

As the game restarted, Park missed two kicks to touch that allowed York to attack and retain possession. Shackleton was able to kick into the Park 22 on the right touchline. As the home side attempted to hold on to the ball from the lineout they were penalised for being off of their feet at a ruck and from the lineout in the 22, York were camped on the Park line. Desperate defence kept them out and when the ball was moved quickly left the final pass to the left wing for a certain score was deemed forward. Park had the defensive scrum but York sensed victory and at the put in the Park eight were put under tremendous pressure. The home forwards could not get over the gain line and when replacement scrumhalf Tom Robinson attempted to clear his lines, the ball was charged down and there was hooker Ben Mills to gather and score on 78 minutes. An excellent conversion under pressure from Shackleton gave York a one point lead (21-22).

From the restart, Park did not seriously threaten, and indiscipline again gave possession back to the visitors who saw out the remaining couple of minutes to claim the win.

FT: Percy Park 21 York 22

An agonising defeat and it was a dejected Park side that left the field at the end of the match. Park seemed to have a stranglehold on the game in that third quarter but seemed to lose their mojo after the yellow card and it allowed York back into the game, the last ten minutes York dominating. They still had to score fourteen points in those ten minutes but, all credit to them, they did just that. After playing so well for so long, the result was a bitter pill for Park to swallow. Matthew French and Euan Smart excelled for the home side and for York, Toby Atkin and ex-rugby league player Harry Shackleton were outstanding.

In discussion after the game, coach James Ponton said: “It was a game of very fine margins and could have gone the other way. We took the wrong option on occasion, missed kicks to touch, made errors. On another day, we would have won. We cannot dwell on it, there is a game at Blaydon next week with a chance there to put things right”. The York President, Michael Negri, was gracious in victory saying that York had not played particularly well and had played their get-out-of-gaol card for the season.

Park, after eight matches played, have a won four lost four record and slip to seventh in the league table but gained a bonus point despite the defeat. York remain third. We thank them for a hard, fair game, wish them well for the remainder of the season and look forward to the return in February. Our grateful thanks, as always, to our referee from the Northumberland Society, Yannick Debil.

The Lions lost a high scoring league game 63-40 at Billingham with the Panthers having a rest weekend. Next Week, the 1^st XV make the short journey to Blaydon, our first senior game against them for many a long year, in a Regional 1 North East encounter, KO is at 2pm. If you are unable to travel or like your rugby closer to home, the Lions host Blaydon in a Candy League fixture at Preston Avenue, KO is also 2pm. The Colts travel to Blaydon on Friday evening, KO 7.15, but please check social media to confirm the fixture and the time. All support for our teams would be greatly appreciated. The Panthers again have a rest weekend.

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 Leo Caulfield; 6 Euan Smart; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Josh Hedley; 3 Sean Nairn; 2 Jonny Dubois; 1 Tristan Grant

Replacements: Louis Adamson; Tom Robinson; Oli Bartles-Smith

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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 2^nd’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

 

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Saturday 19 October 2024

Percy Park 7 Scunthorpe 62

Regional 1 North East

(HT: 7-24)

On a bright, sunny day with only a gentle breeze, Park welcomed Regional 1 North East league leaders Scunthorpe to Preston Avenue for the very first fixture between the clubs. For the visitors, the long trip from Lincolnshire was rewarded with a crushing victory to cement their position at the top of the table, for the hosts, a chastening afternoon which more than brought home the challenges posed by rugby at this level. Scunthorpe are the best team we have seen at Preston Avenue for some considerable time. They were fit, fast, dynamic, very physical and the hard truth is that for all but the opening moments, Park found it almost impossible to live with them, particularly in the second half when, with the home forwards tiring, it seemed that Scunthorpe could score at will. It was indeed a very tough day at the office for the home side.

There were several changes to the Park side after last weeks defeat at Sandal. Jordan Carey returned at fullback with Andrew Walker moving to the left wing. Nathan Newbound switched to the centre to partner Seb Reece with Dan Gallon, Frazer McGlashan and Phil Crichton coming into the forwards. 

Scunthorpe kicked off and Park were straight on the attack, taking the game to the league leaders with Seb Reece making a great break in the first minute to put the visitors under pressure. A Park scrum on the visitors 5 metre line had the ball moved quickly left but it was lost and the visitors were able to clear their lines. A Scunthorpe error led to a Park scrum on the visitors 10 metre line but from that, a kick into space was charged down and suddenly Scunthorpe were charging into Park territory. A penalty for a high tackle (there were many for the same offence throughout the match) in centre field gave Scunthorpe the opportunity to open the scoring which they duly did, standoff Ethan Taylor kicking the goal on 7 minutes (0-3).

After the home sides excellent start, the penalty seemed to galvanise the visitors who began to show their attacking prowess and physicality. Another Scunthorpe penalty was kicked into the left corner and although the catch and drive was held by the home forwards, another penalty saw Scunthorpe tap and go with hooker Matthew Mason crashing over wide out on the left for the opening try of the match on 12 minutes. Taylor kicked an excellent conversion (0-10). From the restart, Park were immediately penalised for a high tackle which enabled Scunthorpe to kick deep into the Park half. Yet another penalty for a high tackle gave the visitors the chance to kick for the left corner, the catch and drive resulting in a try for flanker Marcus Payne on 17 minutes. Taylor kicked another excellent conversion (0-17).

Scunthorpe were dominating possession and territory, but frequent infringements halted momentum with, eventually, both captains being spoken to by referee Jonny Cartwright regarding the penalties for high tackles. With Park under the cosh and the visiting eight beginning to get the upper hand Park suddenly found a way back into the game. A midfield break with captain Howard Stock running a great line had Park on the Scunthorpe 22 and, with possession retained, standoff Fergus Simpson found room to break through the defensive line to score just to the left of the posts on 34 minutes. Fullback Jordan Carey converted to give Park a lifeline back into the game (7-17).

The Park score was quickly cancelled out after a couple of minutes when a fantastic break by visiting centre Laurence Pearce (who caused Park problems throughout the game) along the right touchline had the home defence in all sorts of trouble, No 8 Ben Hyde evading a couple of tackles to score an excellent try to the right of the posts on 37 minutes. Taylor converted (7-24). As half time approached, Park were awarded a penalty midway in the Scunthorpe half but Carey was unable to convert.

HT: Percy Park 7 Scunthorpe 24

Park began the second half much as they did the first, a good break by centre Nathan Newbound along the left touchline leading to a Park penalty but a knock on in centre field gave possession back to the visitors and that was really that for the home side. Unforced errors littered the Park performance. After 48 minutes, Scunthorpe struck again after another strong break from Pearce, Payne scoring again for their bonus point try, Taylor converting (7-31). Park were under sustained pressure and two yellow cards within a few minutes of each other killed any real hope of a revival. Captain Howard Stock was the first, adjudged to have committed another high tackle, and on 61 minutes wing Andrew Walker followed. Park were defending a 5 metre scrum in centre field when the ball was moved quickly right. Walker managed to get his hand to the ball but the referee immediately signalled a penalty try, sending the Park player to the sin bin for a deliberate knock on (7-38).

With Park now reduced to 13 players, Scunthorpe capitalised. Yet another penalty was given away allowing the visitors to kick deep into the home 22. A well executed catch and drive had prop Jordan Beresford go over on 64 minutes, with Taylor kicking another excellent conversion (7-45). On 70 minutes, a period of brutal forward pressure had Beresford go over again from another smart catch and drive, converted by Taylor (7-52). Three minutes later, an excellent kick ahead was collected by wing Lewis Talbot who raced in for the try wide out, Taylor missing the difficult conversion (7-57). With the home forwards visibly tiring, Scunthorpe scored their final try almost as full time approached, flanker Will Harrison seeing a gap and cantering in from just outside of the Park 22. Taylor was unable to add the conversion (7-62).

FT: Percy Park 7 Scunthorpe 62

Post match, hooker Jonny Dubois tried to sum the game up: “That was tough. Scunthorpe were really, really good, very physical and very well drilled. The disappointing thing is that in the last couple of games we just haven’t been able to put the things we are doing in training into our play. It is so hard to understand. The effort we put in today just isn’t reflected in the score. Losing by over fifty points at home hurts so much but with a tough game next week we have to pick ourselves up and go again. Credit to the Scunthorpe lads, they were good and at the end of the season will be there or thereabouts. They are definitely the best side we have faced this season”.

Scunthorpe are an excellent side and thoroughly deserved their victory. Their back row was immense and in centre Laurence Pearce they have a real match winner. I would agree with Mr Dubois that they are the best side we have played this season. However, as far as the Park performance is concerned, there are mitigating factors. A lengthy injury list and unavailability are problematic but are not offered as an excuse; that would be unfair to Scunthorpe. We fielded an almost new back row and had to switch Nathan Newbound to inside centre. In the past two games, we have played the leagues top two sides and after six games, we are seventh in the table having won three of them. Conceding 119 points in two games is a concern as is our recent habit of starting games too slowly but as far as this scribe is concerned, there is still much to be positive about and to look forward to.

Our visitors were gracious in victory, and we hope that they enjoyed their first ever visit to Preston Avenue. We applaud their performance and wish them well for the rest of the season and look forward to the return in January. Our grateful thanks as always to the referee Jonny Cartwright from the Manchester Society.

The Lions suffered defeat at Sunderland 38-5, conceding five tries in the league encounter, but earlier today (Sunday), our Colts recorded their first league win of the season with a hard fought 19-17 win over Penrith while the Panthers continued their winning ways with a commanding victory over Gateshead, 44-5.

Next weekend, both the 1^st XV and the Lions travel to North Yorkshire to take on Selby in league encounters, both KO’s at 3pm. If you are unable to travel to Selby or fancy your rugby closer to home, on Sunday 27 October, the Colts take on Northern at Preston Avenue in the Northumberland Cup, KO at 1pm. The Panthers have a rest weekend. All support would be most welcome.

Percy Park: 15 Jordan Carey; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Nathan Newbound; 11 Andrew Walker; 10 Fergus Simpson; 9 Tom Robinson; 8 Leo Caulfield; 7 Phil Crichton; 6 Fraser McGlashan; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Dan Gallon; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Jonny Dubois; 1 Tristan Grant

Replacements: Marc Cook; Luke Foster; Paul Spowart

Referee: Jonny Cartwright from the Manchester and Districts referee society.

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Saturday 12 October 2024

Sandal 57 Percy Park 41

Regional 1 North East

(HT: 29-12)

As a clearly disappointed player/coach Ash Smith came off of the pitch after the full-time team talk, it took him several minutes to give his assessment of the game: “A really frustrating Saturday for us, we score forty-one points away from home and still lose. Sandal are a good side, no doubt about that, they ran hard but on reflection, we really let one go. We have talked repeatedly in recent times about our mentality in defence and the need to tackle and win the collisions. If we don’t, we ship fifty-seven points, if we do we put ourselves in a position to win games because we have talented strike runners in our side that can inflict real damage. Today was so, so disappointing”.

The hard truth was that the game was almost over after the opening 15 minutes, Sandal having scored three tries and opened up a twenty-two point lead. Park barely played, missing numerous tackles and allowing Sandal to almost score at will. Thereafter, it’s a case of what might have been. Park ‘won’ the remainder of the half 7-12 and the second half 28-29, scoring seven tries but the early Sandal points onslaught was simply too great for the visitors to overturn.

After resting several players for the Northumberland Cup game last weekend, Park had injury and unavailability issues with Ash Smith, Will Ponton, Jordan Carey, Dan Shuttleworth and Matthew French sidelined and Matt Atkinson unavailable. Sadly, wing Sol Kench was injured in the warmup, so replacement Paul Spowart moved into the centre with Seb Reece moving to the wing. On a bright, breezy day but with dark clouds not too far away, Sandal kicked off with the breeze at their backs. With the game barely 2 minutes old, a poor Park pass in midfield on halfway was gathered by Sandal flanker and captain Will Henshall who broke along the right touchline to give the scoring pass to wing Jake Adams who scored wide out. Fullback Tom Hodson missed the conversion (5-0).

Sandal attacked from the restart and from a poor Park defensive kick, a series of Sandal drives had No 8 Dec Thompson crash over just to the right of the posts on 9 minutes, Hodson converting (12-0). Almost from the restart, Park were penalized in possession on half way for not releasing in the tackle and Hodson kicked an excellent penalty from half way to extend the home sides lead on 12 minutes (15-0). Park just could not get into the game, with Hodson missing another penalty attempt when Park were again penalised for not releasing almost straight from the restart. But worse was to come when, on 15 minutes, No 8 Thompson, from halfway, evaded three or four would be tackles to score an excellent try just to the right of the posts converted by Hodson (22-0).

At last, from the restart, Park started to gain some possession and get into the game. With Sandal infringing twice in quick succession, Park were able to kick deep into the home 22 in the left corner. The catch and drive was illegally halted, the second wasn’t with ex-Sandal player Nathan Newbound touching down on 22 minutes. Paul Spowart missed the conversion (22-5). Four minutes later, Park scored again. An excellent 50/22 kick from fullback Andrew Walker gave Park a lineout just inside the home 22. Park drove forward and the ball was spun infield and Oli Bartles-Smith, running a superb line, powered over for Spowart to convert on 26 minutes (22-12).

The two quick tries from the visitors spurred the home side into action with No 8 Thompson almost over again after unforced errors and indiscipline had given Sandal possession and territory. The game then settled down with both sides having opportunities but both defences held firm. As the clock entered the red zone, Sandal intercepted a wayward pass on halfway but outside half Mihali Joannou appeared to pull up, when well clear of defenders,  with a hamstring problem and Park were able to snuff out the danger but almost on the half time whistle, Park lost concentration to allow centre Eden Kelly to ghost through the defence wide out and score the hosts bonus point try by the posts. Hodson converted to put Sandal back in control as the whistle went for half time (29-12).

HT: Sandal 29 Percy Park 12

Within two minutes of the second period getting underway, Park scored their third try. After securing possession from a line out on their own 22, they drove into home territory and a long pass out right (from Josh Hedley? My view was obscured) found Bartles-Smith who sprinted in for an excellent score. The conversion from wide out on the right was missed (29-17).

The Sandal response was instant; driving into the Park 22, with centre Eden Kelly prominent, they were held a metre short but the visitors were unable to stop replacement Cam Allen from crashing over with Hodson converting (36-17). Worse was to follow when, after desperate defence, prop Tristan Grant was shown a yellow card after a high tackle on 49 minutes. With driving rain and a strong breeze making life very difficult for both sides, the home side were putting intense pressure on Park, intent on taking advantage of their opponents being a man down and this they achieved on 58 minutes when after a great break by standoff Joannou wing Jack Handley went over for Hodson to convert (43-17).

An act of stupidity had a penalty decision reversed and the referee marching Park backwards for Sandal to put the kick into the left hand corner. An excellent catch and drive had second row Austen Thompson touch down. Hodson kicked an excellent conversion and with 65 minutes played, Sandal were effectively out of sight (50-17).

The last 10 minutes of the game produced five tries, four to one in favour of the visitors. If only this had been the first 10 minutes instead of the last! The first, after 70 minutes, had replacement Luke Foster scoring the bonus-point try after a series of pick and go’s close to the Sandal line, the conversion missed (50-22). The second had prop Sam Digman run in after a fantastic break from second row Chris Reekie, the try being converted by Paul Spowart (50-29). The restart saw Jonny Dubois gather and two side steps later Park were back on the attack only to be penalized. Again, a lack of concentration allowed Cam Allen to put in an excellent cross kick for Luke Adams to stroll in unopposed on 78 minutes with Hodson again adding the extras (57-29).

Park scored twice in the final two minutes with Nathan Newbound scoring his second after a good midfield break, the conversion missed, and as the final whistle approached Reekie scored in a final Park flourish, the try converted (57-41).

FT: Sandal 57 Percy Park 41

If the opening 15 minutes were not bad enough, there were other crucial parts of the game where Park did not help themselves. The Sandal try right on half time gave them a comfortable cushion but if Park could just not have conceded then the early second half try from Oli Bartles-Smith would have made it a 5 point game giving Park something to aim for. In addition, two lapses of concentration allowed Sandal to score 14 points and the yellow card did not help. That said, the lads never gave up and to score seven tries away from home at this level is no mean feat, particularly against a side who pride themselves on their defence, and so there were positives. Sandal were ruthless in that opening quarter and always had the wherewithal to stay far enough ahead in order that the Park revival never seriously threatened the result. A number of the Percy Park Panthers ladies were at the game supporting the men and I asked Panther’s skipper Steph Gicquel on her view of the game: “I don’t think anyone would argue that in the opening 20 minutes, we were asleep, not in the game at all. But I thought it was an awesome performance in the second half with some great tries scored. It was a game we could, perhaps should, have won but this league is tough, and you are going to have days like this. The lads will get over the result and kick on”.

For Sandal, No 8 Dec Thompson was outstanding up front as were centres Edan Kelly and Luke Adams behind the scrum.  Fullback Tom Hodson kicked some excellent goals. For Park, once they got into the game, Josh Hedley and Chris Reekie played well as did Oli Bartles-Smith in the backline. It was great to see both Howard Stock and Leo Caulfield back in competitive action. It was a tough day at the office. Sandal were magnanimous in victory and we thank them for their marvellous hospitality as we do to the referee for the match from the Yorkshire Society. We look forward to the return in January.

The Lions entertained Novocastrians in a friendly at Preston Avenue winning 10-7 in a tight game and on Sunday, the Panthers inflicted a comprehensive defeat on Consett away at Amethyst Park winning 10-64 in a highly impressive performance. Next Saturday, 19 October, the 1^st XV are at home to league leaders Scunthorpe in what I believe is the first ever competitive game between the two sides, KO at Preston Avenue is 3pm. The Lions are at Sunderland on Saturday, KO 3 pm in what is likely to be a tough fixture and on Sunday the Panthers entertain Gateshead at Preston Avenue, KO TBC.

Percy Park: 15 Andrew Walker; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Oli Bartles-Smith; 12 Paul Spowart; 11 Seb Reece; 10 Fergus Simpson; 9 Tom Robinson; 1 Tristan Grant; 2 Jonny Dubois; 3 Sam Digman; 4 Chris Reekie; 5 Josh Hedley; 6 Nathan Newbound; 7 Karl Thompson; 8 Leo Caulfield.

Replacements: Luke Foster; Aaron Smith;

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