NORTHUMBERLAND SENIOR CUP FINAL

PERCY PARK 25 – 11 MORPETH

Percy Park were looking to make it 3 senior cup wins in a row as both sides took to the field for the 120^th Northumberland Senior Cup Final. With both sides primed and ready, their match preparations done, the team of 3 officials poised for the off, the sizable crowd expectant for the 7pm kick off, then everyone realised there was no match ball! There then followed 10 minutes of farce as everyone looked around before eventually the 4^th official was despatched back to the changing rooms to bring a bag of balls and the game could begin.

 Park had made a couple of changes with Phil Morse coming in for the cup tied James Bird, and Liam Blackburn for the unavailable Howard Stock.

 Percy Park kicked off and immediately put their opponents under pressure, spending much of the first 5 minutes inside the Morpeth half, before Phil Morse broke down the left and took several defenders with him before setting up a ruck from which the ball was spun right with Michael Stephenson coming into the line at pace to score an unconverted try in the corner.

KENDAL 13 – 34 PERCY PARK

 On a day blighted yet again by snow and bad weather Park v Kendal was only one of 3 games played in National 3 North. Despite the A66 being closed due to snow, and the team bus not arriving at the allotted time, Park’s players and posse of supporters arrived via the A69 and M6 to Mint Bridge where the previous day’s snow had gone, but still covered the surrounding hills and mountains. The strong easterly wind made the chill factor well below freezing, but in spite of the cold both sides played their part in an entertaining game.

 Kendal kicked off with Park receiving, sporting white and red shirts to accommodate the home sides black strip, in this league the away team changes in the event of a colour clash. Inside 5 minutes Park were awarded a penalty which Ash Smith struck well and it appeared to be on target, but the swirling wind moved the ball off centre and it hit the post and bounced out. Kendal retrieved the ball and a clearance kick into the strong wind found full back Michael Stephenson, who ran the ball back. Kendal repelled the counter attack, but quick ball through the back line found flanker Jack Davidson who finished off a good try. Ash Smith made amends for the earlier missed penalty and Park led 7 – 0 after 8 minutes.

 In the run up to the try, James Bird had ploughed through several tackles, leaving injured players in his wake, and as a result, scrum half Dini Nayo was taken from the field on a stretcher with a serious knee injury which will probably keep him out for the remainder of the season.

CHESTER 18 – 13 PERCY PARK

 Having beaten Chester at Preston Avenue, Park were in with a chance of the double in this re-arranged league fixture, which had fallen foul of the weather on two previous occasions. The hosts were top of National 3 North going into the match with Harrogate hot on their heels for the automatic promotion spot. Last season Chester let their promotion chances slip in the final few games, but have led the league for most of this season.

 Percy Park fielded much the same team as last week against Burnage, with the exception of Brett Sylph and James Ponton who were unable to travel. The visitors had an early try chance disallowed for a forward pass, but it was Chester that scored first from a catch and drive with Gill going over following a penalty for a high tackle.

 Chester added to their lead with a penalty in front of the posts, then went further ahead when Craven finished off another driving maul for 13 – 0. Mackenzie scored for the home side after some sloppy Park tackling and at half time the Cheshire outfit were 18 – 0 to the good.

Percy Park 1st XV 11 – 14 Burnage

Morpeth Reivers 8 – 20 Percy Park Lions

Seghill Deputies 7 – 21 Percy Park Penguins

Percy Park Academy 17 – 7 Northern Colts

Percy Park Lions and Penguins booked places in their respective Northumberland Cup Finals, and the Academy beat local rivals Northern, but the 1st XV went down to a last minute try and conversion, bringing back the spectre of the play-off defeat against Burnage two seasons ago. 

A young Lions side won at Mitford Road to set up a final on Saturday 30th March 2013 against Corbridge Centurions who steam rollered Medical 2nd's 68 - 0 in the other semi- final. Park Lions will be looking to take back the cup which they lost last year in a nail biting final against Alnwick II having won the trophy in the 2 previous seasons.

The Penguins defending the trophy won last season, also make it to this year’s final and will meet Novos Centurions who ran out winners 20 - 12 against Tynedale Hadrian in a match that was hastily re-arranged at Corbridge due to the pitches at Sutherland Park being unplayable due to an overnight downpour. Sam Walton scored two tries for Park and Paul Cherry one, with Tony Turner converting all three.