Scarborough RUFC grab bonus-point win in 12-try thriller at Silver Royd

JORDAN WAKEHAM (2nd left) and DREW GOVIER (2nd right) in action against PERCY PARK  PICTURE: ANDY STANDING

RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION (RFU) NORTHERN DIVISION – NORTH ONE EAST

SCARBOROUGH 48 PERCY PARK 31

By Dave Campbell

Scarborough continued their impressive start to the season with the 48-31 bonus-point defeat of visitors Percy Park at Silver Royd yesterday.

In warm sunny conditions the Seasiders grabbed an early lead when skipper Drew Govier broke into the Percy Park half; the young flanker was stopped illegally in the visitors 22 and scrum-half Jordy Wakeham up in support releasedwing Joe Marshall who powered over on the blindside; Wakeham converted for a 7-0 lead in the 2^nd minute.

The North Shields-based visitors were impressive with ball in hand breaking from mid-way and it was no surprise when they broke down their left flank and levelled the scores with a converted try in the in the 9^th minute.

The Seasiders nudged ahead with tries from No8 Ben Martin and flanker Euan Govier, Wakeham converting one for a 19-5 lead. Winger Paul Robinson pulled a score back for the visitors with a converted try to reduce the arrears to 19-12.

Stand-in fly-half Phil Stewart increased the Scarborough lead to 22-12 with a long distance penalty before Ben Martin Stretched the lead to 29-12 at half-time with his second try of the game.

A try by Prop Matty Jones converted by Wakeham five minutes into the second half stretched the lead to 36-12. However their penetrative running and pace saw the Geordies touch down twice and convert to reduce the arrears to 26-36; and it was game on!

However Scarborough dominated the forward exchanges and their mobile back five sucked the visitors in at the breakdown. And when Wakeham powered into the ‘Park’ half on the hour, a slick pass to Aaron Wilson on his shoulder, saw the inside centre power over; Wakeham added the extras for 41-26.

And the Seasiders continued to pile on the pressure when a lightning break from Wilson released winger Jonty Holloway to surge over and Wakeham converted for 48-26. A try two minutes from the end from a turnover saw the Geordies wind Scarborough in at 48-31 but it was much too little too late.

Percy Park earned a deserved bonus-point in a hugely entertaining game; however Scarborough bossed the forward exchanges and their live wire scrum half Jordi Wakeham and their breakaway forwards, Drew Govier, his brother Euan and Ben Martin were the creative difference between the teams.

READ CHARLIE HOPPER’S FULL REPORT IN THURSDAY’S SCARBOROUGH NEWS