Durham and Northumberland 1
Percy Park RFC 56 v Ponteland RFC 5
Friendly
Percy Park Lions 61 v Seghill 1st XV 21
Plenty of Fizz at the start.
On the opening game of the 2021/22 season Percy Park laid down a real statement of intent. A return to North One Rugby is key and with plenty of fizz Percy Park went about their business with ruthless flair. The game seemed to lose its gas in the second but the contribution to the lack of bubbles came from a referee who never would have thought that their first game back after such a long lay off would be as quick and a few senior players who with a wheeze, a gasp, an audible hiss and part croak wished they hadn't consumed as much during lock down. Not only were Percy Park in the main a young fit and agile side so were Ponteland and as a consequence that ball fizzed about the pitch. In the first half the decisions for both sides were near enough there, in the second, well let’s just say there was one or two guesses.....alongside taking of the knee! And as a by-product the spectacle lost a bit of momentum. Having said the result was never effected… although/perhaps the score line was.
Ash Smith kicked the season into launch with a towering boot into the Ponteland 22. A communication mix up caused the knock on and from the scrum Park went wide with pace. The pattern had been set. Tempo was the shout and as the ball went right to left, deft hands gave full back Jamie Wrigley the space to burn the grass and cross for the first score of the day. The try converted by Paul Spowart, who went on to enjoy an impressive afternoon with the boot converting with a 100% record. And on an aside in typical ‘Spow’ fashion he let everybody know… even if you weren’t listening.
A smart break from the back of a line out from scrum half Steven ‘Young Bunsen’ Turner (returning to his home club from Leeds Beckett University) created the momentum for Josh Hedley to touch down. Ponteland sparked into life showing that they too could move the ball at pace and with an edge. Park responded with a kick and a bounce. The ball was being played that quickly that one or two knocks on were creeping into the fray. Following one such occurrence Ash Smith chipped over followed and received a lovely bounce into his arms and from that receive went on to pass to a supporting Leo Caulfield off the back of a maroon shirt. 21 nil Park and it didn’t stop there.
A series of Ponteland mistakes were capitalized on. A forward move shoved Jake Smith over. Strength was followed by finesse as Smith’s try was quickly followed by Jamie Wrigley’s quick feet dancing through the Pont defence.35-0. The score was in the corner and what followed was a cracking conversion out wide by Paul Spowart…and yes he let everybody know about that particular one as well!
Ponteland remained steadfast and were quick. A Josh Hedley mistake in the midfield was quickly seized on and smart hands put the Ponteland wing over in the corner. Albeit the try was not converted, Park were given a sharp lesson…they could not afford to switch off. There followed a ‘purple’ patch from the away side. They were at the game. Perhaps Ponteland relaxed knowing the ‘game was up’ and started to play with a rhythm they knew and believed in. For the first time Park were under pressure and wing Ross Young received the first yellow card of the season. Percy Park held out to the half, minus one boot. 35 to 5 the score plus one Bunsen spat.
The second half commenced with Park a player down. The half collective gathered thoughts and Ponteland never really got out of their half. The time whittled away and Park came back to full strength. And that extra number counted as Park slipped Jake Smith over for a score. From their half Park propelled a lighting attack that had the referee wheezing as he tried to catch up. As Ross Young touched down the ref followed with legs that looked as if they were full of lead. If you have played the game before you know what a strength sapping run that can be. He had our sympathy.
A great scrum from the Park eight pushing Ponteland back enabled another score. Ball taken and Ross Young went at full pelt through the Pont defence before some great support play saw Howard Stock over. In a ‘blink of an eye’ Park went from their half and over the line. Pass Pace Precision. Just don’t mention the other P….that being a piercing owned by Michael Langlands…apparently it’s just a scratch!
Final Score 56 points to 5.
Representing Percy Park:
From 15 Jamie Wrigley, Ross Young, Thomas Moore, Ash Smith, Howard Stock, Paul Spowart and Steven Turner.
From 8…Leo Caulfield, Jake Smith, Andy Dunn, Josh Hedley, Mark Barry, Marc Cook, Adam Hay and Michael Birkett.
Finishers: Matty Atkinson, Robin Houghton and Andrew Clyde.
For the Statisticians and romantics amongst us Robin Houghton was the only player not to have played as a junior at Percy Park.
Friendly
Percy Park Lions 61 v Seghill 1st XV 21
After many months away from rugby the Lions kicked off their season at Preston Avenue and were rewarded with a resounding win over a well-disciplined Seghill 1st XV. Not surprisingly ex Park man and Seghill Coach George Purdy fielded a well drilled team mixing a blend of youth and experience.
From the start the Park pack displayed an eagerness and intensity that caught Seghill on the hop. Close forward play on the line saw Connor Rogerson go over after 2 minutes and Chris the ‘Tank’ Reekie after 8. 14-0.
Percy Park continued to dominate and Jonny ‘Dubes’ Dubois finished off another good forward's passage of play after 17 minutes .As Travis Bowart went over on 20 minutes the Park support thought it was all over .Seghill had different ideas. Some elusive running from their standoff floored the home sides 10, 12 and 13 enabling the Seghill back line to go over for a score. 28-7.
Park responded immediately and went straight back up the other end when Tank got his second try. There followed a complete rerun of the first Seghill try. Their 10 opened Park up again.
35-14 at half time.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Seghill never faltered but four more tries from Percy Park Lions by Nathan Coxon, Reekie again (hat trick), another for Dubois and the best try of the day from skipper Joey Cassidy cemented a solid victory. Hats off to Seghill though ,a last minute break away from their stand-off (once more) finished the game with a well-deserved try .
Final score 61-21.