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West Hartlepool RFC Stags 7 v Percy Park RFC 80

Lion attack at Brinkburn.

Percy Park RFC Lions put in a dominant forward display at West Hartlepool on Saturday. Although Park had another makeshift pack the size and strength of the ‘8’ completely dominated the opposition. The platform was set and with slick scrum half play from the experienced number 9 Robin Houghton the omens for a comprehensive victory were good.

After only four minutes Nathan Henderson at playing at centre bounced through a series of tackles before linking with the returning Jacob Dunsdon before notching a well worked try. Inspector Morse had his kicking boots on and slotted the conversion (Phil converted 10 out of 12 on the day) 0-7 to the visiting team.

Five minutes later the forwards made good ground and a hard line from Andrew Clyde saw him smash over. Kick goes. 0-14.

We had to wait another 10 minutes for a score but the pack were totally dominant and our half backs were spreading the home defence all over the grass. Two tries in two minutes from Jacob Dunsdon, both well executed from distance (I don’t think he’s run that far for two Years.) increased the lead.21 minutes gone 0-28.

More good work in both scrum and line out brought Andrew Steinberg a brace before half time and at the break we were well on top

The second half started in the same vein as the first, the pack totally dominant. On 42 Robin Houghton picked up from the base of the scrum, scorched the defence on the blind side to cross from 22 metres. 0-47.

The Stags did not capitulate. Despite having very little ball they kept playing and following a series of penalties they got their reward and crossed the whitewash. 7 points to 49. 

Percy Park responded in the best possible way. The opposition having been thoroughly routed in the scrum went uncontested but five further tries from Travis Bowart, Steiners (hat trick), Dan Jackson and Ben Butler caused the ref to blow up early. A thoroughly good day at the office.

Next week sees us away at Morpeth for a top of the table clash

Representing Percy Park RFC:

From 8: Andrew Clyde, Travis Bowart, James Finn, Steven Dryden, Ben Butler,, Joe Wilkinson, Peter Basara and Andrew Steinberg

From 15: Dan Jackson, Phil Harrison, Nathan Henderson, Jacob Dunsdon, Oli Ellis, Phil Morse and Robin Houghton

Finishers: Mark Winfield, Phil Vardey and Dan Simpson

 Candy Saucer Cup

Northern RFC Wanderers 18 v Percy Park RFC Lions 29

Nearly a Cracker at McCracker Park

 Percy Park Lions faced stiff opposition in the shape of an experienced Northern Wanderers side, coming on top in a gritty and entertaining encounter at McCracken Park. As usual the Lions were slow to start and Northern dominated the opening minutes. Park were pinged for a high tackle in front of the posts which was duly converted 3-0 to the home side.

From the kick off Percy Park’s shape was poor; what good ball the Lions had was kicked away with limited chase. The poor tactical kicking gave the opposition clean ball. Northern used the ‘gift’ to run wide to the outside channel. A tactic that had Percy Park scrambling. And in that early showing lay the answer to winning the game. Aware of Northern’s strength the call came from the bench to play direct and the ship steadied. And in the doing the contest came alive.

Percy Park went to the forwards and hit up the pitch before releasing the back line. Territory was gained and the game was played in the Northern half. On 20 minutes the Northern defence got sucked in and Matty Atkinson taking an aggressive line barged through to score. Using ‘the long reach’ the player was able to touch down over the line. 3-5 Lions.

With the game in the forwards Northern were on the back foot then a speculative kick through caught out right wing Ollie Ellis and the opposition winger gratefully scooped up the ball and crossed 8-5 Northern. Aggrieved Percy Park responded as Leo Caulfield (on for Richie Berne who injured an aging knee) created space for Andrew Walker to cross in the left hand corner. 8-10 to Park.

The half ticked away. When Percy Park went direct and went through the phases they looked good. Park won a penalty in front of the posts, the decision was to go for the corner and after a couple of plays Josh Hedley twisted and turned and crossed the line, converted by Paul Spowart. 8-17 to Park.

On 45 minutes enforced changes saw Steve Turner drop into the fly half spot as Andrew Walker took an unfortunate dead in contact. It was a shame for the player. Assisted by Howard Stock to his outside Percy Park looked to be in control. The bench did not need to worry for as soon as the change had been made Steven Turner hit the afterburners and glided through the Northern defence. A great try.

Paul Spowart converted. Score 8-24 to Percy Park, surely game over?  Not yet! 

For the next 9 or 10 minutes saw Percy Park implode. Park for some reason stopped playing direct and started to play a loose game and in the doing allowed Northern back into the contest. With the ball away from the forwards Northern went to the outside channel. They gained territory and as a consequence scored two quick tries which put the game ‘right in the balance’. At 18-24 Northern on top this could have gone either way. The tension was as thick as the week’s earlier fog!

Harsh words under the posts did the trick. With Captain Jonny Dubois leading from the front, Percy Park put in some big hitsand back to the 'direct'. The impetus swung back to the visitors as attack and defence connected. The game remained in the trenches and it was an interesting watch. Our scrum was good. Ground was contested and yards stolen.

Finally on the 70 mark, skipper for the day, Jonny Dubois crossed the line in a great team effort that saw the ball moved from inside the Percy Park half to pressure on the line. An area of the field the Park forwards enjoyed. 'The Saint' revelled in the leaping contests  18-29 and that's how it ended. 

Whilst never at their ‘connected’ best the Lions were really tested by Northern in every department and came out the other side. Another big win which sees only one defeat pre Xmas.  Whilst the team changes every week through availability, the solidarity remains strong with a group of players who will give their all for the ‘black and white’. A special mention and best wishes to all who found themselves unable to travel due to feeling ‘under the weather’. We know it’s difficult to pick up that phone and you will feel as if you have let people down however, in ‘this’ time, it really is better for all to be safe to fight another day.

Representing Percy Park RFC:

From 15:Dan Jackson, Ollie Ellis, Richard Berne,Howard Stock,Alan Clayton,Andrew Walker and Steven Turner.

From 8: Eddie Saint,Pete Basara, Alex Lamb, Jordan Sturgess, Mark Sanderson, Sean Nairn, Jonny Dubois and matty Atkinson.

Finishers: Leo Caulfield, Josh Hedley, Ben Morris, Joe Cassidy and Paul Vardey.

Candy League Two

Percy Park RFC Lions 57 v Whitley Bay Rockcliff RFC Vikings 7

Rockcliff defeated in dominant Lions display

Percy Park Lions had another resounding victory in Candy II in a messy and sometimes feisty affair with their local and dearest rivals Whitley Bay Rockcliff. The 21 man squad on Friday night became 16 by the time kick off came with a mixture of illness, incident and injury. Andrew Clyde tweaking an aging calf!

Faced with resolute defence from the visitors the reshuffled team took almost 20 minutes to find some rhythm. The pack looked solid with the returning Matty Atkinson, Jonny Dubois and Connor Rogerson (described as the bald bloke with the headband by Knox jnr!) marshalled by the impressive Davey Kay. Their presence dominated the set piece and significantly upped the performance levels from the previous couple of games.

On 19 minutes Matty Atkinson went over for the first of three tries (second time this year), five minutes later he was over again. Reward for his support play and lines of running. The conversion was good. 12-0 on 24 minutes.

The Lions started to hit their straps with 31 minutes gone with Alex Lamb crossing for a bulldozing score. The try converted and three minutes later a solo effort from Jonny Dubois complete with the kick saw Park 26-0 up on 34 minutes. Three minutes later more good play by the pack saw Rockcliff taken from one side of the pitch to the other. Taking the outside channel Connor Rogerson was held up but Phil Harrison in support gratefully took the offload for his first try of the year. Then Matty Atkinson again to secure the jug, 40 -0 at HT.

Rockcliff’s inspirational chats behind the post were of an industrial nature and of the man up variety. Their afternoon was not going the way they wanted.

The second half was more of a struggle. The game got feisty with some borderline and bruising contact but fortunately the contest did not spill over. The scrappy nature meant that Percy Park never really got going again as the game stopped and started. The feisty nature hampered the home team more than the opposition. The back line failing to ignite and bring others into the game. It was frustrating as opportunities came and went. Mid-way through the half a yellow card and a red (later rescinded) meant we played about 8 minutes with 13 players. In that time we defended four WBR 5m scrums without conceding. A steal from Davey Kay and a rip and blitz from Connor Rogerson were pleasing to see.

Further tries from Connor Rogerson (the bald bloke) and Liam Walker cemented the victory. Credit must go to Rockcliff  who never gave up and on 65 minutes kicked through , Simpson had come into the line so we were caught napping with no one at home and the opposition flanker won the foot chase to touch down. Final score 57-7 maximum points again.

A big Percy Park thank you to Liam for coming along even when some disreputable soul had taken property belonging from his van and Jaxson for getting stuck in when asked to play well out of position. Well done you have our thanks.

We await to see how Whitley Bay Rockcliff will seek to line up on Boxing Day to ensure we can have a competitive festive match for supporters from both clubs to enjoy.

Next week Horden and Peterlee at home 

Representing Percy Park RFC

From 8; Jonny Dubois, Connor Rogerson,Alex Lamb,Jamie Guthrie,Jackson Hind,Sean Nairn, Ben Morris and Matty atkinson

From 15: Danny Simpson,Ollie Ellis, Kieran Sutherland,Nathan Henderson, Phil Harrison, Dan Jackson and Davey Kay

Finishers: Liam Walker and Matthew Knox

Candy Cup

Percy Park RFC Lions 7 v Alnwick RFC 2nds 17

Alnwick progress at Park’s expense.

The Lions faced their toughest opposition this year and will learn from this defeat. Alnwick started at breakneck speed, clearly well drilled and used to each other’s patterns of play they were slick and caused Park to defend for extensive periods of the first half. The Lions with no subs (due to the Pumas game and Pete Basara getting stuck on the M1) had to call Steve Dryden off the Pumas pitch when Ben Morris went down with cramps. What ball Park did get we tended to stay quite narrow which probably suited Alnwick more than ourselves.

With 15 minutes gone the pressure told and Alnwick broke down the left and went under the posts 0-7. The game went into a bit of a stalemate, the attacking Park moves just weren't coming off with a combination of mis-timed runs and handling errors.  It was not a great surprise when Alnwick crossed the whitewash again to go 12-0 up with half an hour gone.

Percy Park came within a whisker of scoring following some good attacking play by the backs down the right but Alnwick held on and we went into the break 12-0 down. 

With Ben Morris fit again Stevie Dryden went back over to help the Pumas despatch North Shields 12-7(great win) so the fighting 15 battled on.

The second half was so much better. Park moved the ball wider quicker and were more mobile. Joe Cassidy swapped back to 9 and Steve Turner to 15 and the switch benefited both players on the day. On 60 minutes a series of infringements by the visitors led to Karl Thompson taking the initiative and driving over from 5 yards, converted by Andrew Walker 7-12 . Percy Park were back in it. As the clock ticked Park needed to throw caution to the wind, however trying to run out of the 22 was their undoing, the ball was dropped in the centres scooped up by Alnwick and over they went 7-17.

That was it really Park rallied again but time just ran out. We can take some solace from having edged the second half.

Before the game we said this game would benchmark where we were at as a team. The fact that the players came away feeling that actually that game could have been won shows the potential and desire of this team going forward. Hats off to Alnwick though, the best team we have seen this year, we wish them well for the rest of their cup run.

Berwick home next week in Candy League.

Representing Percy Park RFC:

From 15: Joe Cassidy, Dan Jackson, Nathan Henderson, Josh Dixon, Ollie Ellis, Andrew Walker and Steven Turner

From 8: Adam Harvey, Karl Thompson, Jordan Sturgess, Andrew Clyde, James Ponton, Mark Sanderson,Ben Morris,Andrew Steinberg