Saturday 22March 2025
Percy Park 14 Huddersfield 60
Regional 1 North East
(HT: 7-18)
After an excellent victory at Cleckheaton last time out, the Park faithful came into this game hopeful that the hosts could take something from this match against high flying Huddersfield. It was not only the game at Cleck but our performance at Huddersfield back in January where, with just ten minutes to go the game was tied 21-21 and although the match was lost, Park gained a valuable bonus point. Alas, Huddersfield, chasing the league championship and promotion to the National Leagues had other ideas and in a ruthless second half display demonstrated their class leaving Park, with one remaining league game, staring into the relegation abyss. Huddersfield scored eight tries, five in the final fifteen minutes, as Park collapsed and our only consolation was that both of our relegation ‘rivals’, Blaydon and Selby, both lost although Selby did gain a losing bonus point.
There were minimal changes to the side from that which took the field at Cleckheaton. Ross Young replaced Paul Spowart in the centre with Michael Birkett coming in to the front row to replace Louis Adamson who dropped to the replacements bench alongside Spowart and Jake Smith.
On a dull, dank day with rain in the air, Huddersfield kicked off and showed their intent immediately, Park having to defend a driving maul close to their own try line. When Park failed to find touch from a clearance kick in their own 22, Huddersfield attacked right and a break by fullback Lewis Workman eventually led to a try in the right corner by wing Fin Stewart on four minutes. Standoff Wilf Milner kicked an excellent conversion from the right touchline (0-7).
Park began to get into the game, despite the ariel ping pong, but the visitors proved resolute in defence and when they did break out, a deliberate knock on gave Milner the chance to extend their lead which he did on twelve minutes (0-10). As the first quarter ended, Huddersfield scored again when excellent interplay between brothers Kian Stewart on the left wing and Fin Stewart on the right wing gave the latter his second try in the right corner. Milner missed the difficult conversion which was to be his only unsuccessful attempt of the day (0-15). The hosts, who incidentally were not playing badly, had to respond and respond they did on twenty-seven minutes. From a penalty awarded in front of the posts after a high tackle from the Huddersfield No 8, Park elected to kick to the left corner. From the catch and drive, flanker Matthew French was held up on the line but the ball was recycled quickly for No 8 Keith Laughlin to score to the left of the posts. Centre Ash Smith converted (7-15).
From the restart, the game seemed to get bogged down in midfield until a stunning break by Huddersfield No 8 Billy Hammond should have led to a try but his final pass went to ground although, at the ensuing breakdown, Park infringed by not rolling away after the tackle and, from almost in front of the posts, Milner kicked the penalty on thirty-three minutes (7-18). That completed the first half scoring but ‘Field lost hooker Ethan Myers who was sent to the sin bin by referee Josh Bate after a high tackle just before the break.
HT: Percy Park 7 Huddersfield 18
After a fairly evenly contested first period, albeit with Huddersfield holding an eleven-point lead, few present at the match could imagine what would happen in the second half. Huddersfield were quickly out of the blocks, successive Park infringements gifting them some fifty metres in territory and from the second lineout it was Hammond who scored from the catch and drive on forty-two minutes, Milner again kicking an excellent conversion (7-25).
When the restart failed to go the required ten metres, Huddersfield decimated the home eight with a ferocious drive but Park responded, gradually gaining some possession and territory. When Huddersfield were penalised in midfield, a kick to the left corner gave the hosts an attacking lineout. When the drive was held on the line, the ball was moved smartly to the blindside for fullback Jordan Carey to score on the corner. Smith kicked an excellent conversion on fifty-one minutes (14-25).
Sadly, that was it as far as the home side were concerned, with Huddersfield taking complete control of the match thereafter. As the third quarter ended, Huddersfield were in the ascendancy in terms of possession with both Hammond and replacement Max Horsfall to the fore but Park were defending well in and around halfway but, after some brilliant footwork from Fin Stewart on the right wing, managing to stay infield and rolling out of several tackles, he set up centre Ed Barber for the visitors bonus point try on sixty-five minutes, Milner converting (14-32).
The floodgates then opened, with ’Field scoring a further four tries in the last fifteen minutes, their backs particularly running riot. Barber scored his second try soon after his first when the home side were turned over and hooker Myers (back on the field of play) running strongly, gave the scoring pass. Milner converted (14-39). Kian Stewart and Barbour then both combined for tries six and seven. Firstly, a touchline sprint form Stewart, after excellent work from Barber, had the wing in to score with Stewart returning the favour a few minutes later when another scorching run and a great final pass had Barber in for his hat trick score. Milner converted both tries (14-53). As the clock moved into the red, lock Joe Christian rounded off another great attack featuring Barber and Horsfall to score Huddersfield’s eighth and final try, Milner converting to give the visitors a resounding victory.
FT: Percy Park 14 Huddersfield 60
Huddersfield more than deserved their victory and showed what a great side they are. For their part, Park competed for sixty-five minutes but the last quarter was a horror show, the side completely capitulating as the visiting side ran riot. As they left the field, the home side looked shell-shocked as well they might. Most were too upset to speak but immediate past President Keith Atkinson commented: “The match was very much like our season, I think. We played well in parts, got to within striking distance and then fell away. Those last few minutes were embarrassing but I take nothing away from Huddersfield, they were excellent and their backs ran us ragged in the last fifteen minutes. Now its all down to our game at Driffield in a fortnight but we will have to play much, much better if we are to get a result”.
We thank Huddersfield for a hard-fought game, played in the right spirit, and hope very much that they enjoyed our hospitality. We wish them well as they seek the title and promotion. We also thank our match day referee Josh Bate without whom there is no game. Huddersfield face Sandal at home in their final game while Scunthorpe visit Cleckheaton and so it will be a nail-biting climax at the top of the table as it will at the bottom. On Saturday, 5 April we visit Driffield (KO 3pm) where nothing less than a bonus point win will do. Blaydon entertain Selby in a relegation derby, with ourselves and Blaydon on thirty-six points, Selby on thirty-seven. ALL SUPPORT AT DRIFFIELD WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!
Elsewhere, the Lions had an excellent victory at home to Sunderland 34-17 and the Panthers continued their promotion push with a resounding 0-28 win at Ponteland.
Percy Park: 15 Jordan Carey; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Ross Young; 12 Ash Smith; 11 Seb Reece; 10 Fergus Simpson; 9 Jacob German; 8 Keith Laughlin; 7 Leo Caulfield; 6 Matthew French; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Karl Thompson; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Michael Birkett
Replacements: Louis Adamson; Pasul Spowart; Jake Smith