Having lost all four of their away games so far this season, Percy Park appeared to be welcome opposition for York today. The four away defeats were all at strong teams though - Scarborough, Moortown, Bradford & Bingley and Kendal and they were also all close games. The North Shields team have had no problems scoring points at home or away.

York named an experienced team despite a few players missing. Evan Woodworth started at hooker with Luke Stockton and Cade Robinson in the second-row. Sam Forbes and Ben Dyson-Dent were the centres outside of fly-half, Declan Cusack. After a few days of consistent rain the pitch was very soft and wet but not muddy.

It was back and forth as both teams looked for weakness in the other. The Park line-out was accurate but York were on top at scrum time. Declan organised and orchestrated the York attack. After twenty minutes, the York front-row of John Aikman, Evan and Will Scholey pushed Park off their own defensive scrum-feed. After four or five tight phases, York won a penalty. Scrum-half, Toby Atkin, took it quickly and got over the line. Declan converted the try.

Percy Park were not downhearted though. Their number Eight, Andy Dunn, encouraged the team and they gained good field position to attack. Sam Forbes was offside at a ruck defending the York try-line and he picked up a yellow card. Ash Smith, the fly-half for Percy Park kicked the resulting penalty. Park looked dangerous but they were still experiencing problems in the scrum. Any knock-ons or crooked line-outs were giving York an advantage. The York pack won a penalty from a scrum but Declan missed it from long range. He did kick an easier one though a few minutes later to give York a 10-3 lead. York number Eight, Shane Goulding, made a clean break just before half-time. On a dry pitch he’d have run in but he was hauled down and the referee ended the first period.

The York lead didn’t last for long. Park winger, Ali Blair, cut through the York defence on a pacey out-to-in line to score. With Ash Smith converting, the scores were level. Liam Hessay, on for Declan at fly-half, missed a difficult penalty kick. Ominously, the Percy Park scrummage was getting better. The Park back-line was sound in defence and threatening in attack. Ash Smith kicked the visitors ahead with a penalty. York were steady; Liam connected with Sam Forbes who offloaded in contact to allow Ben Dyson-Dent to make some yards up-field. York won a penalty, an opportunity to level the scores but this one was wide too.

Jack Peter, the fullback for Percy Park, intercepted a pass and ran in to score in the corner. Though the conversion was missed it was now a two-score game with twenty minutes remaining. York had a chance when Park were reduced to fourteen men but the kick to touch was overcooked. Possession was returned to Percy Park, Ash Smith extended their lead with a penalty. York did give themselves hope. With five minutes to go, Rob Hodges received the ball in enough space on the wing to run it home. Despite the extra points being missed, York were within a converted try of winning the game. Percy Park scored two tries at the end of the match though to earn the victory together with a try-bonus point. Ash Smith showed good acceleration to get a try and after York lost their discipline the referee added a combined thirty metres to a Park penalty! The visiting forwards worked the final few metres to get their try. The Percy Park team were delighted.

They deservedly beat York 35-15.

Percy Park move up to seventh in the division, York drop to fifth. York have no game next week as their proposed opponents, Morley, will be playing a rearranged match with Bradford & Bingley. They travel to Huddersfield YMCA on Saturday 9th November.