It is with the greatest sadness that the club announces the passing of one of our oldest former players, Neville Bavidge. Neville joined the club in the early 1960’s and played until he moved, with his family, to York in 1977. He was a contemporary of such club luminaries as Bill Shepherd and the late Peter Spencer and, as a doctor at a local hospital, would often help out with running repairs to injured players. Neville’s son Tony attended King’s School for a short while and also played junior rugby at Park. The club sends its sincerest condolences to Neville’s family and friends at this very sad time.

As the new league season gets underway, with the men’s 1st XV and the Lions playing their first competitive games this weekend and the Panthers getting underway on 15 September, we take a look at how preseason has shaped up for our senior squads.

The men’s senior squad have had a mixed bag, with availability and teams pulling out of fixtures making life difficult for the coaches. The preseason games themselves have been challenging. The senior squad had a great run out against Berwick in early August where the coaching staff got to see a lot of players. The result, a 17 all draw, was secondary to being able to have a good look at the players. With Ashington pulling out of a scheduled preseason game the following week, an in-house fixture was arranged which was great test to see the players front up against each other. Two matches were then arranged with one squad travelling north of the border to play Scottish Premiership side Hawick and another making the short journey to Seghill. With over 20 players unavailable for the weekend, it was very much a youthful side that made the journey to face the Scottish Cup holders and although the game was lost, 71-0, the performance in no way reflected the scoreline. The game was halted for an hour after a horrific injury to Hawick second row/flanker Stuart Graham who suffered a dislocation and break of the left ankle.  The game at Seghill resulted in a good win. The final preseason game was at Morpeth last week where an experienced squad of players came away with a fine 0-47 win. After a tight and edgy first half, the team hit the accelerator against very tough local opposition who until recently were playing at Level 5. It was a successful evening and the coaches were able to try a number of different combinations in readiness for the league season ahead.

Player/Coach Ash Smith had this to say on preseason: “It's been a great preseason but I'm glad it's over as it's felt full on!! We have had new coaches join myself and Keith - James Ponton, Cameron Neild and Alex Hearle. All 3 of them are in the Newcastle Falcons environment and have all brought an extra bit of detail to the sessions on the grass. We do have some really talented new arrivals to look out for although we are still awaiting on quite a few to arrive. Those that have taken part in our preseason games are:

Jordan Carey - A rangey back with some lovely skills on him.

Dan Woodcock - A young falcons academy lad from Cockermouth who has been lightning in open space.

Euan Smart - The Scottish back rower has been very physical since he arrived but picked up a shoulder knock at Hawick.

Harry Paul - Harry has been very energetic since arriving, so much so he pulled his hamstring in training which has held him back from pulling on the shirt.

John Grey - One of our Rugby League converts. Can play multiple positions and is handy on the ball

Louis Adamson - A very mobile front rower who has impressed during his time with us.

Matthew French - A number 8 who has just finished his time at Newcastle University. Gets through a lot of work.

Tom Czerwinke - The University prop has been a blessing with his versatility. Can play across the front row and back row.

But it's not just the new arrivals, we have had some our colts step up and they have been fantastic to have around. The likes of William Ponton, Archie Graham and Jacob German have been adding a bit of zip to our back line. Roman Love and Zak Johnston have both shown great accounts of themselves in the senior set up and both have a very exciting future in senior rugby. As for goals that we are in the season now, we want to be top half of the table, which will give us the opportunity to push on further next season. I won't lie, we also want a cup run in the Papa John’s Community Cup, but we have to do the hard graft in the league to ensure we deserve the opportunity to be in a position to compete in the highest competition possible”.

The Panthers have enjoyed a highly successful preseason this summer, with both games and team bonding activities strengthening the team both on and off the field.

Preseason kicked off in early August with a home game against Peterlee & Horden Ladies. Although the fixture was lost 5-51, a very challenging start, the resilience displayed by the Panthers was commendable. Throughout the match, the team maintained their morale, showcasing the fitness and communication skills that they have worked so hard on in training. This improvement was a significant takeaway from the game, reflecting that hard work and commitment. On 18 August, the Panthers hosted a joint training session with the Houghton Hornets at Preston Avenue. The session included live scrums, lineouts, and contact work, culminating in a mixed-team touch game. Both teams found the experience enjoyable and beneficial, leaving with a lot of positives to build on. The final preseason game took the Panthers to Skipton Roses, where a very competitive yet very enjoyable match was played. The final score was 37–14 in favour of Skipton, but Captain, Steph Gicquel, made a notable impact by scoring two tries, while Caitlin Ward and Dom Hepples successfully converted. The standout element was the noticeable improvement in our game play and fitness compared to our first pre-season encounter.

Mandy Wood summed up the approaching league season: “As we gear up for the league to start, the excitement is palpable. With the strong bonds we’ve built and the improvements we’ve made, we are confident that the 2024/25 5 season will be an exciting journey for the Panthers! Coaches and players alike are feeling energized and ready for the tests to come. We are also excited to announce our participation in the Papa John’s Community Cup this season, with our first match scheduled at home against Novos 2nd team. This tournament presents a fantastic opportunity for the Panthers, and we eagerly anticipate getting it underway. In addition to our matches, the Panthers have embraced a September Challenge, aiming to run, bike, swim, and walk a combined total of 2000 miles. This initiative aims to raise funds for Maggies Centres Newcastle, our strip sponsor, as well as for Percy Park RFC. Each player and coach have committed to this challenge, showcasing our competitive spirit and dedication to our community”.

It would appear that our senior sides are more than ready for their respective league campaigns to get underway. A reminder of those first fixtures:

Saturday 7 September:  Park vs Driffield (Regional 1 North East) KO 3pm

Saturday 7 September: Lions vs Driffield (Candy League) KO 3pm

Sunday 15 September: Penrith vs Panthers (NC 3 North (North)) KO 2pm

Peter sadly passed away recently and his funeral arrangements were a small family affair. Peter was a huge presence at Park and we felt his life should be celebrated in some way, so it has been decided that at the first league game on Saturday 7th September 2024 we will hold a minutes applause before the game. The game is sponsored by the Committee, Past Presidents and Life Members and as Peter had a foot in all 3 camps during his time at the club, we would like to invite all who knew Peter to join us from 1pm for food and a few jars to remember Peter and his time at Percy Park.

August has arrived and that means that preseason preparations are well under way at Percy Park with the senior sides beginning their league campaigns in early September. I have received updates from both Ash Smith and Mandy Wood as to how things are shaping up going into what will be an eagerly awaited league season for both the men’s and women’s senior sides.

In respect of the men, 21 new players have been recruited over the summer which has given preseason a fantastic buzz. There will be great competition for places. As well as new players, James Ponton has joined the coaching staff. As a player, James played at the very highest level in English Club Rugby (as well as playing for Park) and he has coached at Newcastle Falcons as well as with England at U18 level. There is no doubt as to his quality and his experience and he is already extremely popular with the players.

This coming weekend, the whole squad will be involved when Park welcome Berwick to Preston Avenue so as to give as many players as possible some game time. The same approach will be taken the following weekend when Ashington are the visitors. After those first two games, two sides will be fielded on 24 August with the 1^st XV travelling to Hawick to take on the Scottish Cup and Border League winners. Hawick also came agonisingly close to retaining their league title, losing a close came against Currie in the final so a tough encounter is expected. The Lions head along the road to Seghill. Our final preseason fixture is a midweek one up at Mitford Road against Morpeth.  

Ash says: “We are all looking forward to this season and feel that we have a very strong side to more than hold our own in Regional 1 North. The squad have bonded really well, and everyone is looking forward to Saturday and seeing exactly where we are”.

The Percy Park Panthers are well into preseason preparations which began on 1 July. The team is buzzing with enthusiasm with a fresh new team logo that aligns perfectly with the rest of the club, along with a new first-team kit proudly sponsored by Maggies Centres, Newcastle. After just missing out on promotion last season, there is a determination to achieve that goal this time around.

With preseason friendlies already arranged, the Panthers have hit the ground running at training, focusing on team fitness and cohesion. The dedication and hard work have already begun to pay off, as evidenced by the match on 4 August against Peterlee & Horden at Preston Avenue. Although the score didn't reflect the team’s effort, the definite improvement in team fitness was a highlight and the coaches were extremely pleased with what they saw as significant progress.

Looking ahead, the Panthers have more preseason matches scheduled, starting with a home match against Houghton on 18 August followed by a trip to Skipton to face their Roses. Our league campaign will commence on 15 September, away to Penrith.

Mandy says: “In addition to our training and matches, the camaraderie within the team is stronger than ever. Many of our Panthers will be attending the club BBQ to support the men’s team on Saturday, August 10. We also have a fun night at the beach planned, complete with pizzas for the ladies, allowing us to unwind and bond before the season kicks off. As we look forward to the upcoming season, we feel a renewed sense of strength and unity. The family-like bond among our players creates a safe and supportive environment for everyone to train and play rugby. Here’s to a fantastic season ahead for the Percy Park Panthers!”

Both of the senior sections appear to be in good shape, are full of enthusiasm and both are raring to go! There is every reason to be confident regarding the upcoming season. A quick reminder of the preseason matches:

Men

10 August         Park vs Berwick            Home                  Squad Game                 

17 August         Park vs Ashington       Home                  Squad Game

24 August         Hawick vs Park             Away

24 August         Seghill vs Lions             Away

TBC                      Morpeth vs Park           Away

Please check Park Social Media platforms for KO times and confirmation of the Morpeth fixture.

There will be a BBQ for the Berwick game with the hope that the day will be very much family orientated

Women

18 August         Panthers vs Houghton             Home

TBC                      Skipton vs Panthers                   Away

Please check Park Social Media platforms for KO times and confirmation of the Skipton fixture.

ALL SUPPORT WOULD BE MOST WELCOME