PLAYER OF THE SEASON AWARDS 

 The end of season player awards were given out at Percy Park on Friday, when club captain Greg Dixon gave an impassioned speech reviewing a successful season at Park. The 1st XV had finished 3rd in Durham & Northumberland 1, had won the Rockcliff 10’s tournament and ended the season with an entertaining tour to Liverpool.  The Pumas had won the Northumberland 3rd XV Cup and the Under 17 Colts won the U18 “A” League and finished runners up in the Northumberland Under 18 Colts Cup. The Players of the Season were:- 

Marauders         Gary Clewes

Pumas              “Titch”

Lions                Olly Gilmore

1st XV                Michael Langlands 

Brett Sylph was presented with his 1st XV tie for playing over 20 1st XV games in the season, as was Alan Blakey, and Brett was also awarded the Players Player of the Season trophy. 

Ollie Steadman was presented with the President’s Award, for an outstanding season in the Park Under 17’s, Northumberland, North of England, and playing 4 games for England Under 18’s scoring a try on his debut against Scotland.  

The Percy Park Clubman of the year 2007/8 went to Chris Mcdine, who had helped coach the 1st XV squad and also the Under 16’s, and was instrumental in arranging several fund raising events and the club tour

Percy Park travelled to Ponteland for this final game of the 2007/2008 season with the home side already destined for rugby in Durham and Northumberland 2 in September, and the visitors unable to improve on their third place slot. Both sides had pride to play for however, and this was abundantly clear when Pont opened the scoring with only minutes on the clock.

PERCY PARK 13 – 20 NORTHERN 

Northern won this game by three tries to one, but were gifted two of their scores by the home side. The game was played in sticky, heavy conditions which didn’t really suit either team, who both prefer a firmer surface.

Northumberland 3rdXV Cup Final     :      Percy Park 15 – 3 Tynedale 

Park Pumas and Tynedale Grasshoppers met again in a repeat of last year’s final, with Percy Park hoping to avenge the defeat. Park had been finalists for the last 3 consecutive years, aiming to repeat their cup final victory of 2006.The game took place at Whitley Bay Rockcliff, and Tyne were favourites to retain the cup, and opened the scoring with an early penalty kick. 

Both sides played open rugby and Park scored their first try with Vickers cutting through Tynedale defence to score, although Gary Davy couldn’t make good the conversion attempt, and Park led 5 – 3. The Park skipper did make amends later with a penalty kick in the second half to stretch the lead.  

Tynedale threw everything at the Park side, but the defence was solid, with Nick Shepherd at flyhalf making more tackles than a back row forward, and Mark Carr in the centre organising the back line in his unusual unassuming and quiet manner.  

Percy Park’s more experienced (older!) side were too much on the day for a youthful Tynedale team, and eventually sealed the win with rampaging run and try from prop James (pie) McFarlane, who had carried the ball well all day. Gary Davy converted, and Park had regained the cup.