FIRST TEAM
PERCY PARK 7 – SCUNTHORPE 62
Scunthorpe Rugby visited Preston Avenue for the first time and continued their rich vein of form with a resounding victory at newly promoted Percy Park with the emphatic scoreline of 7 pts to 62 maintaining the Greens place at the top of the league table. Scunthorpe were without the services of influential back row James Dyson and Jack Brunt was on work duty. However, the replacements did not lessen the quality of player on show, including a very strong bench. Ethan Taylor returned to the 10 spot and made his mark with the boot.
It was Percy Park that started the livelier with their slick backs asking questions of the visitors defence. After seven minutes Taylor kicked a long 45 metre penalty and then three minutes later Matty Mason scored the first of his three almost identical tries. Percy Park got the wrong side of the referee and gave away numerous penalties. Taylor launched the ball to corner, the catch and drive did not come to fruition however the home side were penalised again, and the Greens played the ‘Bridlington’ card successfully, Taylor converted – 0-10.
Scunthorpe worked their way back up the touchline with some inventive play from Will Harrison at the line out and the gift of penalties from the North Shields outfit. Matty Mason claimed his second try from the back for the maul, this time the catch and drive worked to perfection and Ethan Taylor converted another great touchline kick, at 0-17 the greens were on fire. Dylan Martin replaced Cam Christie on the half hour. Two minutes later Scunthorpe’s only lack of concentration resulted in well take try from ‘Parks’ number 10 Fergus Simpson with full back Jordan Carey converting, 7-17.
As the half time break approached the Greens were on the hunt again. From a scrum the ball was moved wide swiftly, and Laurence Pearce took it on directly, as his is style. The ball retention was excellent, and Ben Hyde found himself 20 metres from the line with defenders in front of him. The ‘Green Giant’ powered his way through, brushing off would be tacklers like pesky flies to score a great try. Taylor scored the extra two points and half time the score read Percy Park 7 Scunthorpe 24 – very ominous.
The promising Elliot Saltmarsh replaced Will Harrison on the flank and Tim Robinson’s men picked up where they left off with another try seven minutes into the half. It was blind side and man of the match Marcus Payne this time. The opportunity came from a Percy Park line out in the Scunthorpe half which was fumbled. Scunthorpe kicked through and Joey Mowbray collected the ball, made it available for Marcus who galloped half the length of the pitch to score a great counter attacking try which Ethan Taylor converted, 7-31.
Unfortunately, a hamstring injury to Dylan Martin ended his contribution and Cam Christie was called back into action. The Greens had a quiet period for ten minutes and then the talismanic Ben Hyde also had to leave the arena with an injury. Unlike in previous, leaner years, the replacement, Alfie Oldridge, did not weaken the Scunthorpe pack and they continued to put ‘Park’ to the sword. The referee awarded Scunthorpe a penalty try for a deliberate knock-on and the subsequent yellow card was Park’s second, so they were down to 13 men. Scunthorpe were now dominant and from a high tackle on Lewis Talbot, Taylor hoofed the ball deep, from the line out the greens kept their patience and eventually the ball came to Jordan Beresford in space. The prop forward showed some deft footwork as he stepped the defender to flop over the line. Ethan Taylor converted again to maintain his 100% record so far. The home side were now dead and buried as the score crept to 7-45 with ten minutes to go.
One of the many reasons for this season’s turnaround is the fitness of the Scunthorpe boys and they showed it again today keeping going right to the end. It was from a Percy Park line out that Scunthorpe scored again. It came form another penalty and green line out. This time the ball was lost, and the defender cleared the lines. However, from the ensuing Scunthorpe line out the catch and drive worked perfectly as Matty Mason scored his hattrick try, Taylor converted, 7-52.
Lewis Talbot scored a carbon copy try of his effort last week. This time Ethan Taylor saw acres of space in the opposition half and chipped the ball perfectly for Talbot to collect and score a lovely try. Amazingly the fly half missed the conversion. The final act of a pulsating game was a well earned try for Will Harrison. The utility player was now playing scrum half and pounced on another Park error at the line out. The long throw missed everyone so Harrison, alert as ever, collected the ball and scampered 40 metres touchdown. Ethan Taylor missed the conversion, and the referee blew for time. This was another resounding victory for the Greens and was witnessed by many supporters who made the long trek up north to encourage the team.
Next week sees Scunthorpe host Sandal at Heslam Park, Sandal are sitting second in the table so this will be an exciting encounter between the top two teams in Regional 1 North East.
Match report written by Steve Williams
Players Player of the Match – Will Harrison, Committee’s Player of the Match – Marcus Payne
Match report written by Steve Williams, Photos below credited to Percy Park (with permission from their photographer). More here 1st XV v Scunthorpe RUFC 19/10/24 | Flickr
WOMEN’S TEAM
SCUNTHORPE – SHEFFIELD TIGERS
Photo Credit to Debz Thompson & Paul McDonald
THIRD TEAM
SCUNTHORPE 10 – POCKLINGTON 7
Match Report Pending
DEVELOPMENT TEAM
SCUNTHORPE 30 – POCKLINGTON 8
The Devs welcomed Pocklington 2nds to Heslam park this afternoon, with a squad bursting with both youth and experience and everything in-between, the day looks to promise some exciting rugby.
The game started with an opening 10 mins of both teams feeling each other out but the Devs seemed to have Pock beat around the breakdown managing to secure a few turnovers, great defence from Dylan Gosling and Alfie Taylor and then use that advantage to gain territory.
The first score came through Henry Dawson with the devs camped in Pocks 22, the fly half managed to spot a gap in the defence line and jink his way through and dot the ball down, the conversion was successful.
The second Devs score came from a great work penalty move, the forwards setup a 5m tap and go driving maul and the script was written for Guy Mychajluk getting an arm chair ride over place the ball over. Unfortunately the conversation was drilled against the post.
Pocklington then managed to work the ball out wide with some great hands and found there way down the touch line and scored in the corner. 12-5 the score.
Just before the half Pock had great field position and managed to get a penalty in the Devs 22, some good forward play some Pocks hooker held up over the line, a simple goal line clearance to into the half, Henry Dawson had others idea drilling the ball at Pocks wingers shins but Cole Gosling secured the ball and the whistle for half time went.
The Second half started with the Devs bringing some experience to steady the ship and it showed as the intensity in defence intensified, I great goal line stance showed that the devs weren’t a team to be taken lighting but a few offsides lead to Pock kicking over a penalty. 12-8.
It was now the Devs turn to supply the pressure on Pock and great scrum for the Devs pack meant that Scunthorpe were able to knock knock over a simple 3 point. 15-8. Not long after and some more great defence and pressure on Pocks 22 and Karl Hull got hit hands on the ball and a penalty for holding on. Another easy kick leading to The devs now being 2 scores ahead. 18-8.
Now the devs were two scores ahead and this meant they were able to play abit more running rugby, Charlie turner secured a loss kick and managed to step-hand off-bounce multiple Pocks players leading to great field position, with some more great hands from the devs back line, leading to Tom Stephens scoring in the corner. Conv missed. 23-8.
With the game coming to a close and devs putting on a strong performance, there was time for one more score, The devs had a scrum in Pocks 22, a solid scrum laid the platform for Karl Hull to pick up from 8 and offload like a prime Sonny Bill-Williams to Charlie tuner who broke the ankles of the pock winger and scored under the posts, C.Turner converting his own try.
Final Score 30-8.
Match Report written by Jack Rowbotham
Photo credit to Debz Thompson
