A combined second/third team entertained Prudhoe and Stocksfield and came from 5-14 behind towin19-14, a match in which Park failed to convert territory and possession into a comfortable win. Well done try-scorers Andrew Dunn, Captain Craig Bartle and Nick Vickers.
A new season dawned this month, but for Percy Park the swathe of injuries that almost brought relegation last term it must have seemed that the summer break had not occurred. The weakened home side entertained a Middlesbrough side fresh from a successful recruiting campaign and the disparity in the available playing resources was there for all to see. From the kick off, the writing was on the wall. Struggling to find any worthwhile first phase possession, Park were repeatedly put on the back foot and it was only five minutes before the visitors won clean line-out possession from which they set up three efficient rucks. With the host's defence stretched, Boro moved the ball wide and Micklewright crossed for a fine try. This set the tone of the game. Park's lack of possession was compounded by an ineffective defence that found itself tackling on the back foot, so it came as no surprise when Boro scored after 15 minutes with a nifty offload by lock Webb following a line out deep in Park's half. When Michael Conn was sin-binned for obstruction the floodgates opened. Three more tries followed, all stemming from pick-ups from the base of the scrum by Boro No.8 Barker. At half time the score stood at 0-31.Barker was at it again just after the interval. His pick-up and blindside break set up Scrum half Wright for a converted try. Further tries followed, but Park brought on Fidler to contest the lineout and Purdy at tight head to shore up the scrum. Park now had some ball to play with and despite conceding another score notched a try of their own. After a passage of incisive play Park set up an attack close to the visitor's line where captain Greg Dixon forced his way over. Boro had the last word with a good winger's try scored by O'Farrall. Playing against a strong side experienced at a higher level than our league, Park's youngsters were overwhelmed 7-67. Yet there were periods of skill and threat that suggest that Park may be competitive at Morpeth next week if returning players can produce useable possession