CARLISLE 12 – 43 PERCY PARK

Park travelled to Warwick Road to take on Carlisle in their second pre-season friendly in the run up to the league campaign which starts on 6^th September 2014. A bare squad travelled across the A69 with a Lions squad also playing against Medicals at Preston Avenue.

The home side made the better start with territorial advantage as Park soaked up the pressure finding difficulty breaking out of their own half until somewhat against the run of play Ali Blair scored a good individual try chasing down a kick out of defence. The ball would not sit up for the Park centre to pick up and race to the Carlisle line, but 3 fly hacks did the job as he beat the defence to the touch down and Ash Smith converted to give the visitors a 7 – 0 lead after 11 minutes.

Although the home side had the edge in the early scrummages, Park’s pack settled down and the Cumbrian side had no real threat out wide.

CLECKHEATON 17 - 39 PERCY PARK

Park have played Cleckheaton in a pre-season warm up game for the last few years and this season it was their turn to travel to Yorkshire for a game played over 4 quarters. Park started slowly as National 3 new boys Cleckheaton went into a 12 - 3 lead.

A squad of 24 players made the journey as Park welcomed back Ash Smith and John Scott, both who were missing all of last season. Ash scored 2 tries and along with scores by Ali Blair, Alex Tilley and Toby Davison saw Park run away with the final quarter taking the score from 17 - 17 at the end of the third session to the final score of 39 - 17.

Next Saturday Park travel to North 1 West side Carlisle KO 3pm.

NORTHUMBERLAND SENIOR SHIELD

PERCY PARK 32 – 17 ALNWICK

Percy Park Lions lifted the No2 County Cup at North Shields with a 32 – 17 win over Alnwick II, having come back from a 5 – 12 deficit at half time. The Lions made the final for the sixth season in succession and were favourites being the current cup holders and by virtue of having beaten Alnwick convincingly the previous week 70 – 15 in the first leg of the Candy Plate at Preston Avenue.

Park kicked off into the teeth of a gale that was blowing down the pitch and the ball ballooned back over their heads. Alnwick were alert to the confusion this caused and retrieved the bouncing ball to score with only seconds on the clock. The conversion was kicked as Northumbrians took the lead 7 – 0.

With such a strong wind against them in the 1^st half Park quite rightly kept the ball in hand and as in the final last year which was also against Alnwick, Michael Groves opened Park’s account showing his pace to finish off a move which saw a long miss pass from Phil Morse finding the full back in space. Todd Harrison was close with the conversion attempt that hit the left post and bounced out.

On 24 minutes the Alnwick scrum half scored a fine individual try, running half the length of the pitch and eventually scored in the left hand corner. The Park supporters thought that the Alnwick player had been bundled into touch as the assistant referee put up his flag, which he quickly put down remembering that on the day he was the touch judge and didn’t need to put up his arm to award the try.

UBS Candy Plate Semi - Final

Gateshead II 16 – 21 Percy Park Lions

This semi-final win away to Gateshead sets up a final against Alnwick II which will be played over 2 legs. Gateshead who are run away winners of the Candy League 2 led 13 – 6 at half time with Park’s score coming from 2 Todd Harrison penalties.

In the second period the home side went further ahead with a penalty before Steve Lenehan hit back with a try for Park converted by Harrison. Todd then scored a second try for Park and kicked the conversion for the 16 – 21 win.

Although the Lions have already played Alnwick II twice in the league, they are now set for another 3 encounters in 4 weeks, as both sides have also reached the final of the Northumberland Cup.

The 1^st leg of the Candy Plate will be at Park on Saturday 21^st March 2015, with the date  for the second leg at Alnwick still to be ageed . Sandwiched in between, the sides meet on 28^th March 2015. The venue has noe been announced as North Shields and the kick off time changed to 4pm.