Candy Division 2 North
Percy Park RFC Lions 60 v Gateshead RFC 2nds 5
Lions rally around and secure league points
Candy Cup
Percy Park RFC Lions 17 v Tynedale RFC Raiders 19
First and foremost, our thoughts are with Travis Boward who suffered a serious leg injury and is destined for an operation and plates in his leg on Friday, our thoughts are with him.
A call to arms in the morning brought some good club men together to support the Lions when it looked like they didn't have a full side. In stepped Sean Nairn, Ali Blair, Phil Morse and coach Dean Harrison , great support when both Lions and Pumas were stretched for numbers.
The Lions came out of the blocks with Paddy Hargreaves dancing through tackles after just five minutes and then crossing again on 14 , Lions looking god at 12 -0 , then the nasty injury which caused substantial delay but thanks to our Gateshead friends for lending a hand and also the Stockton first team coach who assisted.
When the game got going Gateshead were very much in the game and it wasn't until the 35th minute that a great team try took place after a burst through the defence by the much-improved Steve Dryden, debutant Tom Ashton crashed over 17 -0 to Park. We weren't done and up stepped Dean Harrison for his statutory try 24-0 at the break.
Some tactical changes at half time kept the tempo up and within a minute the try of the game, numerous unchecked passes saw Steve Turner go in un\der the posts 41-0. The impressive Cam Young had switched to wing at half time and on 45 minutes he hit the afterburners and crossed in the right corner 36-0 Park.
Park had their tails up and were running from everywhere, with Joey Cassidy finishing off another good team try .41-0.
Gateshead certainly had not given up but their morale had taken a battering and with Park prepared to run everything it was becoming a long afternoon for them. On 53 minutes Hargreaves completed his hattrick 46-0.
But fair play to Gateshead they rallied and came right back at Park picking up a consolation try, 46 - 5. Park responded in the best possible way, further tries from Mark Barry and the evergreen Ali Blair finished the job.60 to5. Park still unbeaten in the Candy League and looking forward to Novos next Saturday.
Our Lions had a close game v Tynedale in the Candy Cup losing a close fought game by a couple of points.
Andrew Walker scored a fabulous individual effort but despite great efforts from Sam Leeds and Phil Morse Tynedale deserved the victory keeping Park pinned in their own half for large periods of the second half. Some photos from the game:
Saturday proved to be a tough day for the Pumas who on Friday night had 19 players which by 2pm had thinned to 14. Our neighbours at North Shields had both their Artisans and Crusaders present so over 30 players. Anyway, valiant stuff saw them go down fighting and commendable 36 - 5. However, it has taken its toll and the Pumas have had to cry off their fixture with Novos this coming Saturday