Saturday 22 February 2025

Percy Park 50 Sandal 9

Regional 1 North East

(HT: 12-9)

At long last! Park finally had a win to celebrate after a blistering second half performance dismantled visitors Sandal to give the team a huge lift and confidence boost ahead of this Saturday’s key game against local rivals Blaydon at Preston Avenue. After a tight first half that the home side just about shaded, a six try second half blitz racked up a commanding 50-9 victory that the lads thoroughly deserved. After recent agonising defeats at Scunthorpe and York, this was just what the team needed and the win takes them out of the relegation places with bottom club Blaydon visiting at the weekend.   

There were changes to the side that lost narrowly at York last week with both centres, Seb Reece and Oli Bartles-Smith, missing. In came the returning Fergus Simpson and, making his first start of the season after long term injury, Ross Young. Up front, Michael Birkett came in for Aaron Smith in the front row. Karl Thompson was originally selected but illness forced a reshuffle, Karl dropping to the replacements bench alongside Matthew French and Freddie Hara.

On a bright day with a brisk breeze, Sandal kicked off and within a minute had scored the opening points of the game. Park were penalised from the kick-off for holding on in the tackle and up stepped Sandal centre Thomas Hodson to kick the goal (0-3). From the restart Park quickly got into their stride, the ball moving swiftly right and when Sandal infringed at the breakdown, the resultant kick was put into the right corner. A text book catch and drive had flanker Jonny Dubois score on four minutes, fullback Paul Spowart missing the difficult conversion from wide out (5-3).

From the restart, Park put themselves under immediate pressure when they knocked on inside their own 22. The visitors attacked from the scrum and when Park strayed offside up stepped Hodson to put Sandal back in front on the scoreboard, nine minutes played (5-6). The game then seemed to settle down in midfield, one foray into the Sandal 22 spoiled by a poor attacking home lineout in the right corner. As the game entered the second quarter, a flare up and exchange of punches saw referee Cam Livingstone red card Sandal No 8 Declan Thompson followed immediately by the same for Park flanker Jonny Dubois. It looked fairly innocuous from my vantage point on the far side from where the incident occurred but the referee was right there and had no hesitation in sending both players off, Thompson for the initial punches, Dubois for retaliation.

The game settled into an attritional midfield slog, both sides seemingly finding it difficult to acclimatise to playing with fourteen men. This changed in an instant on thirty-three minutes when, after Sandal were penalised for a high tackle, a quick tap penalty and lightning pace from the returning Young had the Sandal defence at sixes and sevens and after the move broke down, there was scrumhalf Jacob German with a superb side-step and electric pace to score a fantastic try by the posts, Spowart converting (12-6).   

As the clock ticked down on the first half, Sandal had the hosts under pressure with a penalty kick on half way being missed but as Park attempted to play out of their own 22, a dropped pass gave Sandal the scrum and when the ball was moved Park were caught offside and with the last kick of the half, Hodson converted the penalty (12-9).

HT: Percy Park 12 Sandal 9

The second half began with Park winning the early exchanges but both sides were guilty of poor handling and indiscipline which hampered any meaningful progress. When Park were awarded a penalty midway in the Sandal half after the visitors were penalised for holding on in the tackle, uncharacteristic back chat from skipper Howard Stock had the decision reversed by referee Livingstone. Sandal failed to capitalize and back came the home side, winning another breakdown penalty inside the Sandal half. Quick thinking again by Ross Young with a quick tap and go had Park deep into the visitors 22 and when the ball was moved left the Park forwards were held up over the line by excellent Sandal defence but they had strayed offside and Park went for the left corner. The catch and drive was held but Sandal infringed again and with the penalty advantage a cross field kick came to nought and Park again kicked to the left corner. This time, a perfect catch and drive had hooker Dan Shuttleworth scoring in the left-hand corner on fifty-two minutes with Spowart kicking an excellent conversion from the left touchline (19-9).  

Two minutes later, Park scored the bonus point try. A clearance kick from the inside the Park 22 found space and when gathered by standoff Jordan Carey, the hosts were quickly into the Sandal 22. The ball was moved swiftly left with wing Sol Kench taking on the last defender on the outside and showing a clean pair of heels to run around for another excellent try to the left of the posts. Spowart converted (26-9).

Park had Sandal under pressure from the restart, with the visitors unable to move beyond their own 10 metre line but two quick penalties conceded by the home side could not be capitalized upon again as Sandal quickly knocked on from the second, a tap and go. Excellent kicking by Carey had Sandal again pinned in their own half and when they did try to play out wide from deep on the hour, there was the standoff to intercept a pass to canter in under the posts, Spowart converting to put the home side effectively out of sight (33-9).

Park scored again from the restart, the ball gathered and moved left. A fantastic break from Ross Young along the left touchline and two inside passes had scrumhalf Jacob German in under the posts on sixty-three minutes for Spowart to convert (40-9). Sandal refused to buckle and enjoyed a period of possession in the next few minutes but could not make progress beyond the Park 10 metre line until an overlong clearance kick gave them a scrum on the Park 22. Sandal were struggling to get over the gain line with repeated drives and when they changed tack with a cross field kick left Park quickly regained possession and a kick chase along the left touchline had Park back deep in Sandal territory. Winning a scrum in midfield, the ball was moved quickly right to wing Howard Stock who, with a quick side step was away, evading two tackles to score a great try in the right corner on seventy-three minutes. Spowart missed the difficult conversion (45-9).

The restart kick went straight into touch and from the scrum, quick hands appeared to have put fullback Paul Spowart in for a try but referee Livingstone had seen a forward pass in the build-up. Sandal quickly surrendered possession from the scrum with home No 8 Keith Laughlin putting in an excellent kick to the left corner and from the lineout Sandal were trapped on their own try line. When they did eventually escape, a great break from left wing Chris Atkinson, they knocked on in midfield and from the scrum, Park centre Fergus Simpson made the break, the ball was moved quickly left after he was tackled and there was standoff Jordan Carey to score his second try out wide on the left on 79 minutes. The conversion was missed (50-9).

FT: Percy Park 50 Sandal 9

There were smiles all round at the final whistle after a well deserved victory and relief that a long overdue win had been achieved. Keith Laughlin was again excellent up front for Park, half backs Carey and German controlled the game and Ross Young showed what the team have been missing all season with some excellent running. The only blemish on a great day’s rugby were the two red cards, but both sides had no issue with the referee’s decision. The loss of No 8 Thompson, who up to that point had been very influential, affected Sandal, particularly in the second half when their pack faded badly. To be fair, our visitors were not at full strength due to injury and unavailability but they are problems that we have faced all season and, credit to Sandal, they never gave up.

Not able to stay post-match, I was unable to speak to a player or coach for a view of the game but am sure that the players will have very much enjoyed their evening after the win. However, thoughts were probably already turning to the next game, at home to bottom club Blaydon this coming Saturday, KO at 3pm (It is March so we revert to a 3 o’clock kick off time). All support for this crucial game would be most welcome. The Lions entertain Northern on Saturday, KO is also at 3pm. The Panthers have a rest day but, on Sunday last, entertained Houghton in a hastily arranged friendly fixture, winning 31-14.

Percy Park: 15 Paul Spowart; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Ross Young; 12 Fergus Simpson; 11 Sol Kench; 10 Jordan Carey; 9 Jacob German; 8 Keith Laughlin; 7 Jonny Dubois; 6 Jake Smith; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Sam Digman; 3 Tristan Grant; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Michael Birkett

Replacements: Karl Thompson; Matthew French: Freddie Hara

Saturday 15 February 2025

York 22 Percy Park 20

Regional 1 North East

(HT: 10-13)

For the fourth time in five games since the new year, Park were on the road, making the trip to York on Saturday hoping to find that elusive win after nine straight losses. In a tight, tough but exciting encounter they so nearly pulled off the win, a home try just five minutes before the end ensuring an agonising two point defeat. It was an excellent performance that had the York faithful, post-match, wondering just how they had won the game. With both Selby and Blaydon winning their respective matches, Park slip into the two relegation places (subject of course to the vagaries of the RFU) but the journey home saw an upbeat side confident that a win is just around the corner with two successive home games next up.

As has been the case all season, there were changes to the side defeated at Alnwick last week due to injury and unavailability. Paul Spowart moved from centre to fullback, replacing Will Ponton who begins a sojourn to New Zealand to further his rugby career (we wish him well), with Oli Bartles-Smith partnering Seb Reece in midfield. Coach Keith Laughlin came into the back row to replace the injured Matthew French with Jake Smith making a welcome return on the flank. The versatile Sam Digman moved to the second row to partner Chris Reekie. On the replacements bench, Nathan Newbound made a welcome return to the 1^st XV squad alongside Michael Birkett and debutant Freddie Hara.

On a dull, murky, overcast day York kicked off with the floodlights already necessary for a 3 pm start. Park started well, an early Howard Stock run along the right touchline catching York offside as the ball was moved infield on the home 22. Fullback Paul Spowart was narrowly wide with the kick at goal after three minutes. Park attacked again after strong running from Spowart and half backs Jordan Carey and Jacob German but York were able to clear their lines after the visitors were penalised for not releasing the ball in the tackle. Back came Park, a kick and chase along the left touchline by wing Sol Kench, who was tackled just short of the York line, leading to a home infringement, the resulting penalty kick being put into the left corner. An excellent catch and drive had hooker Dan Shuttleworth touch down for the opening score on seven minutes. Spowart was unable to kick the difficult conversion (0-5).

York gained possession from the restart and a series of drives were well defended around the Park 10 metre line with only Park indiscipline gifting them a way into the visiting 22 and the home side took full advantage, strong running in midfield eventually allowing York fullback Liam Hessay the space to cross to the right of the posts on fifteen minutes. Centre Will Fordy converted (7-5).

From the restart, what appeared to everyone watching to be a hard but legitimate tackle from Chris Reekie earned the second row an immediate yellow card from referee Kristian Garland (for head on head contact) which did appear somewhat harsh. However, it spurred Park on with the visitors earning a penalty after a high tackle on the home 10 metre line. Spowart’s attempt at goal fell agonizingly short on twenty-one minutes. The visitors kept up the pressure, keeping possession and only denied by a knock-on almost on the York try line. A poor clearance from the resulting scrum again put the home side under pressure and another high tackle on the home 22 gave Spowart another opportunity to kick for goal but his kick was narrowly wide on the half hour.

The home side were penalised again from the restart, side entry to the ruck, with the penalty kicked deep into the York 22. The resultant catch and drive was stopped on the line but with the home side being repeatedly penalised, Park eventually elected to kick for goal in front of the posts, duly converted by Spowart to give the visitors a narrow lead on thirty-four minutes (7-8).

A strong attack along the left touchline was halted when Park knocked-on allowing a York scrum on the Park 10 metre line. From there, they quickly gained territory, Park straying offside just inside their own 22 which enabled Fordy to kick the penalty goal on 38 minutes (10-8). With little over a minute to play before the break, a great chase from the restart put pressure on the home side, a poor clearance kick enabling Park to win a penalty at the ruck with York over the top. The kick was put into the right corner and another excellent catch and drive had Shuttleworth scoring again. Spowart missed the conversion from the right touchline, the last action of the first half (10-13).

HT: York 10 Percy Park 13

Park kicked off the second half and again, started the better side. York conceded two relatively quick penalties allowing the visitors a lineout in the home 22 but the throw was deemed not straight and the advantage was lost. In those early exchanges York were struggling for momentum but a good kick and chase along the left touchline had Park scrambling in defence, scrumhalf Jacob German with an excellent clearance averting the danger. Both sides were now willing to attack when in possession but as the third quarter ended, two quick ruck penalties had the home side with a lineout in the left corner. The catch and drive was held after superb Park defence on their own line and it seemed that the ball had been turned over but Park were deemed to have knocked the ball forward giving the scrum to the home side in front of the Park posts. The ball was moved right with, eventually, Will Fordy exploiting a gap in the defensive line to score to the right of the posts on the hour which he converted (17-13).

York came again after the restart, Park quickly conceding a penalty after a high tackle on their own 10 metre line with Fordy electing to kick for goal but he was off target, much to the relief of the Park faithful. Replacement Nathan Newbound, with a great break into midfield, had York scrambling in defence but as the ball was moved left a pass was missed and the ball rolled into touch. Park took the York lineout and won a scrum penalty shortly afterwards to put the home side under sustained pressure, repeated ruck infringements eventually leading to a York yellow card. A kick to the right corner, another good catch and drive had Park scoring again through Dan Shuttleworth on seventy minutes, Spowart kicking an excellent conversion from the right touchline (17-20).

With time running out, Park gifted York possession and territory after conceding two quick penalties through indiscipline, York with a lineout in the visiting 22 on the left touchline. The ball came infield and good Park defence seemed to have contained the threat but when Park moved up too quickly, York fullback Hessay saw the gap to go over to the right of the posts to put the home side ahead on seventy-five minutes (22-20).

In the remaining few minutes, Park conceded penalties which gave York the opportunity to see out the game which they did to take the win.

FT: York 22 Percy Park 20

One of our best performances of the season, even in defeat, and it was a game we really should and could have won. There was no sense of despondency after the game with the team sensing that there is that elusive win just around the corner, a sentiment echoed by skipper Howard Stock post-match: “I thought we played really well and deserved to win, as we did at Scunthorpe a few weeks ago. Our forwards were outstanding and I could not have asked for more and we gave them problems out wide as well. In truth, their tries all should have been stopped, they were defensive errors more than anything else. I didn’t understand some of the referee’s decisions and, to be fair, I thought they should have had a card for persistent penalties in the first half but it is what it is. Against Selby we were poor, our only bad performance since Christmas in our only home game, but there is a performance in the team and with two home games coming up, what better time to deliver it”.

For Park, Keith Laughlin was outstanding as was Sam Digman up front with Jordan Carey and Jacob German playing well at halfback. It was good to see Jake Smith back and he played well, as of course did hat trick hero Dan Shuttleworth. The backs offered threat whenever they had the ball but, credit to York, they took their opportunities to win the game. Congratulations to York prop Ed Westaby on his 100^th appearance for the club, he played well. It was a good, hard encounter and we thank York for the game and their hospitality and wish them well for the rest of the season. We also thank referee Kristian Garland.

Saturday’s results mean that Park have slipped to second bottom, just one point above local rivals Blaydon, but with successive home games to come (including Blaydon on 1 March), there is much still to play for and, as captain Howard Stock alluded to, there is a win just around the corner.

The Lions travelled to Northern on Saturday losing a close game 31-24 and the Panthers arranged a home friendly with Houghton Hornets winning 31-14. Next Saturday see the 1^st XV take on Sandal in a league game at Preston Avenue, KO 2pm. There are no fixtures scheduled for either the Lions or the Panthers but keep up to date on social media for any fixture updates.

Percy Park: 15 Paul Spowart; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Oli Bartles-Smith; 11 Sol Kench; 10 Jordan Carey; 9 Jacob German; 8 Keith Laughlin; 7 Jonny Dubois; 6 Jake Smith; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Sam Digman; 3 Tristan Grant; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Aaron Smith

Replacements: Nathan Newbound, Michael Birkett; Freddie Hara

Saturday 8 February 2025

Alnwick 41 Percy Park 10

Regional 1 North East

(HT: 17-3)

Park travelled the (relatively) short distance north to take on our old friends and rivals Alnwick and, in an attritional, dour encounter, suffered a heavy defeat, their nineth in succession. It was an improved performance after the defeat at home to Selby last week but with a side weakened by injury and unavailability, the hosts proved just too strong although the final score was a little flattering to the home side.

There were changes to the side that took to the field against Selby, which has been the case so often this season, with Seb Reece moving into the centre to replace the injured Ash Smith, Sol Kench taking his place on the left wing. Jordan Carey replaced the injured Fergus Simpson at standoff and in the forwards, Dan Shuttleworth returned as hooker, Sam Digman reverted to prop to replace the injured Tristan Grant, Chris Reekie replaced Josh Hedley in the second row and Karl Thompson returned on the flank. Oli Bartles-Smith made a welcome return to the replacements bench alongside Otis Collingbourne and Michael Birkett.

On a cold overcast day with a heavy pitch, Alnwick kicked off and a break by the home outside centre Alex Robson had Alnwick in the visitors 22, gaining a scrum after the visitors knocked on. As the Park eight were moved ominously backward, the ball was moved left only for the Alnwick standoff and captain Callum Burn to wrong foot the Park defence with a scything arc right from the 22 to score to the right if the posts with barely a hand laid on him. Scrumhalf James Blackett kicked the conversion, just three minutes played (7-0).

From the restart, Park lost their own lineout in the Alnwick 22, regaining possession from a box kick that failed to find touch but as the ball was moved left a fierce counter ruck at the breakdown had Alnwick hacking on with Park scrambling to touch the ball down in goal. From the goal line drop out Alnwick knocked on, as they did again shortly afterwards which allowed the visitors to scrum in home territory, midfield. A break from the scrum was stopped by a high tackle with Park electing to kick for goal and up stepped centre Paul Spowart to kick the penalty on nine minutes (7-3).

The game seemed to then settle into a game of kick tennis with the most significant factor being that Park had lost almost every lineout, three of which were on their own throw. As the first quarter ended, Alnwick were using their big forwards to drive into the visiting 22 but excellent Park defence won a penalty and the visitors were able to clear their lines Despite struggling in the lineout, Park began to gain possession and territory with the Alnwick penalty count increasing but they could not find the necessary cutting edge and when Park were penalised for tackling an Alnwick player without the ball it gave the home side the opportunity to attack from the resultant lineout midway in the Park half on the left touchline. As Park infringed again on their 22 (not rolling away) the penalty was kicked into the right corner and the catch and drive had hooker Duncan Smith (on his 200^th appearance for the club) scoring the try on 28 minutes, Blackett kicking an excellent conversion from wide out (14-3).

Again, perhaps because of the very heavy pitch, both sides reverted to the kicking game with Park gaining plenty of possession but unable to get beyond the Alnwick 22. The home side were able to relieve the pressure due to Park indiscipline or handling errors and when they did have the ball, Alnwick were content to use their forwards as a battering ram. As the clock moved into the red at the end of the half, the visitors conceded a penalty on their own 10 metre line in midfield (side entry into the ruck) and with the last kick of the opening forty minutes, Blackett kicked the goal (17-3).

HT: Alnwick 17 Percy Park 3

The visitors kicked off the second half, but the home side were quickly into their stride, again using their forwards to gain ground through the midfield. Park were quickly penalised for not rolling away after the tackle and Blackett kicked the penalty after forty-two minutes (20-3).

Park were quickly penalised again for a no arms tackle which allowed Alnwick to get back into the visiting half and this was followed, perhaps because of the energy sapping conditions, by another bout of kick tennis. Park did start to attempt to put the ball wide but mistakes gifted possession back to the home side. A Park scrum in midfield had, for the first time, the Alnwick eight retreating but the resulting penalty kick to touch was missed, giving hard won possession straight back to the hosts. A period of Park possession in and around the Alnwick 22 yielded no reward as tenacious Alnwick defence prevented any breach of the gain line.

After holding their own for the opening fifteen minutes of the half, Park conceded a lineout on the visiting 22 on the right. A series of drives had the home forwards on the Park tryline with only desperate defence keeping them out but, eventually, with no cover left, standoff Callum Burn was able to jink his way over the line to score under the posts on fifty-seven minutes. Blackett kicked the conversion (27-3).

From the restart Alnwick were immediately on the attack, two quick penalties gifting them territory that put the visitors under huge pressure. Excellent defence was rewarded when Alnwick knocked on, danger averted. Park were able to gain some momentum and a lineout just inside the home 22. Sam Digman drove into the home defence but as the move broke down, Park No 8 Matthew French suffered a serious looking knee injury that held up play for several minutes. Park attempted to play wide from a scrum when the game restarted but the ball quickly went to ground again gifting the home side possession. Park were still struggling in the lineout and another lost throw on halfway enabled Alnwick to put pressure on the visitors in and around their 22. Some hard defending saw second row Chris Reekie suffer a nasty facial injury that required him to leave the field.

Alnwick conceded a penalty shortly thereafter which allowed the visitors to relieve the pressure, but Park again lost the lineout on their own throw and Alnwick attacked midfield through their forwards, No 8 Ben Gothorp, with a quick change of direction, wrong footing the defence to score to the right of the posts on seventy-three minutes. Blackett converted (34-3). Alnwick were quickly into the visiting half, their forwards rampaging to the 22 but as the ball was moved left standoff Jordan Carey intercepted the move and kicked downfield to win a 50/22 lineout which was quickly taken by quick thinking scrumhalf Jacob German, completely catching the home defence cold, Sol Kench able to score under the posts, Spowart converting on seventy-seven minutes (34-10).

There was still time for the home side to add to their score. From the restart, Park lost the ball attempting to play out of their 22 enabling Alnwick to turn the screw. They were held up over the line but forced a 5 metre lineout in the right corner. The catch and drive was finished by (I think) hooker Duncan Smith, Blackett converting with the last kick of the game (41-10).

FT: Alnwick 41 Percy Park 10

Another tough day at the office for Park with more injury problems as both Matthew French and Chris Reekie were forced to leave the field. All credit to Alnwick, their forwards were mostly dominant and in the main, they kept it tight, using their big ball carriers to good effect and they deserved the victory. Park struggled with their lineout and their kicking game was not always accurate, but they stayed in the fight and the last two Alnwick tries were scored only after the loss of influential forwards French and Reekie. We thank Alnwick for a hard but fair match and for their hospitality. We also thank our referee for the day Cam Livingstone.

There is no let up for the lads as this coming Saturday they travel to high flying York in a league encounter, KO is 3pm. Closer to home, the Lions travel to Northern, KO 2pm while the Panthers, after a hard fought 14-17 win at Gateshead, have a rest weekend. All support would be welcome.

Percy Park: 15 Will Ponton; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Paul Spowart; 11 Sol Kench; 10 Jordan Carey; 9 Jacob German; 8 Matthew French; 7 Jonny Dubois; Karl Thompson; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Sean Nairn; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Aaron Smith

Replacements: Oli Bartles-Smith, Otis Collingbourne; Michael Birkett

Saturday 1 February 2025

Percy Park 13 Selby 29

Regional 1 North East

(HT: 10-5)

On Saturday, Percy Park hosted bottom side Selby, both teams looking to gain vital league points to ensure Regional 1 North East survival but it was the visitors, with a commanding second half performance, who took the spoils, gaining a precious try bonus point into the bargain. On the hour, Park had a slender 13-12 lead, but two late tries in a ten minute period had Selby in an unassailable lead to easily see out the match for what was, in the end, a comfortable win in a very disappointing game for the home side who slipped to their eighth successive league defeat.

As has been the norm this season, injury and unavailability saw changes from the side defeated at Huddersfield last time out. In the forwards, the injured Dan Shuttleworth was replaced by Otis Collingbourne, Sean Nairn came into the second row in place of the injured Chris Reekie, and in the back row, Sam Digman moved to blindside flanker from the front row, Jonny Dubois moved from No 8 to openside in place of the unavailable Karl Thompson with Matthew French returning at No 8. In the backs, Ash Smith returned to the centre with Seb Reece moving to the left wing. Jacob German continued as scrumhalf in place of the injured Tom Robinson. Jordan Carey made a welcome return to the side on the replacements bench alongside Sol Kench and Fraser McGlashan.

On a bright sunny afternoon with just a slight breeze, ideal conditions, Selby kicked off and, in the early exchanges, it was the home side who showed their attacking intent, quickly gaining a penalty that was kicked into the Selby 22 but the throw was lost and the visitors were able to clear their lines. Selby began to get into the game but some excellent defence, Sam Digman and Aaron Smith prominent, kept them in midfield but when the home side strayed offside on their own 10 metre line, Selby were able to kick deep into the Park 22. The catch and drive was halted, but the Selby forwards had their tails up and repeated drives had them on the Park line but excellent defence secured a defensive scrum as Selby knocked on.

The boot was on the other foot in a matter of seconds as Park profited from a visiting knock on in midfield to gain a lineout in the visiting 22. The catch and drive was stopped and this time it was Park gifting the defensive scrum to Selby. On fourteen minutes, Park fullback Will Ponton was shown a yellow card by referee Yannick Debil for a deliberate knock on as Selby attacked through their backline and the visitors took full advantage, kicking the penalty into the left corner. The catch and drive was perfect with hooker Jamie Dentith scoring the try. Standoff Henry Wright missed the conversion (0-5).

The next few minutes had both sides committing errors, hampering any meaningful progress but when Park moved the ball quickly from a scrum on the Selby 22, the visitors were caught offside enabling a kick to the left corner. The catch and drive was stopped but the home side continued to press the visiting line with a series of pick and go’s with, again, Selby straying offside. Park elected to take the points with centre Paul Spowart kicking the penalty on twenty-five minutes (3-5).

From the restart, Park gained possession and had Selby pinned in and around their own 22 but a knock on halted progress and Selby were quickly back into Park territory but a kick to touch went out on the full, gifting the home side a lineout on their own 10 metre line. Scrumhalf Jacob German with a half break got the ball moving right but when the move broke down, clever link play between German and No 8 Matthew French had the ball in the hands of the returning Will Ponton who scythed through the Selby defence. A brilliant sidestep by the fullback and two passes later, via Seb Reece, had replacement Jordan Carey scoring behind the posts for a brilliant try on thirty-five minutes, Spowart adding the conversion (10-5).

Park were straight on the attack as the game resumed, forwards to the fore, and when Selby infringed at a ruck on their own 10 metre line (in at the side), Park elected the kick at goal with Spowart’s attempt falling agonisingly short. Selby played out well and when Park were penalised for a high tackle, the home side were put under huge pressure on their own line as the clocked ticked down to end the half. With Josh Hedley off the field with injury, it was a monumental effort to keep the visitors from scoring but this they did and there was no further scoring as the half ended.

HT: Percy Park 10 Selby 5  

Park kicked off the second half and a great carry by French had them in the Selby half, the visitors quickly infringing at a ruck, with the resultant penalty kicked to the left corner. The catch and drive was easily contained, Park eventually knocking on in midfield, the chance lost. As the first half had ended, the warning signs had been there, the visiting eight beginning to exert real pressure on the home forwards, the injury to Hedley forcing a reshuffle with centre Ash Smith moving into the back row. When the Park eight splintered at a scrum in Selby territory, the visitors gained a penalty and from the resulting lineout, they launched a series of forward drives that had them deep in the home 22. Park were defending desperately but when they strayed offside in midfield almost in front of the posts, Selby sensed their opportunity and kicked to the right corner. A textbook catch and drive had replacement Joey Reid score, Wright kicking an excellent conversion on 52 minutes (10-12).

The home side were penalised almost straight from the restart which gave the visiting forwards the platform to mount a series of drives into the home 22 but a knock on halted their progress. As Park attempted to play out from their 22, Selby were penalised twice in quick succession, the second gifting territory to the home side which eventually led to another penalty, midway in the Selby half, after a visiting forward was off his feet at a ruck. Park elected the kick at goal which was duly converted by Spowart giving the home side a slender one point advantage on the hour (13-12).

From the restart, Park committed suicide. They attempted to play the ball out from deep in their 22 but the ball was turned over by the now voracious Selby forwards and a series of drives had the home defence stretched to the limit on their own line and when the ball was moved left, wing Joe Scholfield was able to stroll in for their third try on sixty-four minutes. Henry Wright kicked an excellent conversion (13-19). Park could not respond and when they lost a lineout on halfway, the Selby forwards drove into the Park 22, only to be stopped when the ball was knocked forwards. Park attempted to shore up the scrum, flanker Jonny Dubois moving to hooker with Fraser McGlashan coming into the back row, but it was moved backwards at a rate of knots conceding the penalty which was kicked by Wright on seventy minutes to move Selby two scores ahead (13-22).

The next few minutes demonstrated the visitors second half dominance. From the restart, Selby conceded a penalty that was kicked to the right touchline and into the Selby 22. The catch and drive had no momentum, Selby winning the scrum. The Park eight were marched backwards, out of the visitors 22, conceding a penalty with the referee allowing Selby to play the advantage. The ball was kicked right towards the touchline only to be taken superbly by the chasing Selby right wing and an inside pass to fullback Charles Bramley had him score an almost length of the field try by the posts on seventy-four minutes to seal the win. A great try converted by Wright (13-29).

The last few minutes saw Park in the Selby 22 but the home defence held firm, and the final whistle was greeted by delighted cheers from the Selby faithful.

FT: Percy Park 13 Selby 29

A hugely disappointing day but credit to Selby who really dominated the second half to gain a well deserved victory. The home forwards, with Josh Hedley going off early and missing key personnel, faded in the second half and the visitors took full advantage. The Selby forwards were excellent throughout as was their midfield defence and their back three were always posing questions with ball in hand. For Park, Matthew French and Sam Digman were excellent in a losing cause, both tackling themselves to a standstill and, in the first half particularly, getting the team on the front foot. Both Seb Reece and Will Ponton were always looking to attack and combined brilliantly for the home try.

Post match, flanker turned hooker Jonny Dubois had this to say: “We just seemed flat, from the start to be honest and I just don’t know why. Selby deserved it, they bossed the second half to be sure, but after the last two performances I thought we would play a whole lot better than we did. Hard to say why. Losing Josh and having Tankie (Chris Reekie) injured was massive. We will look at it in the week and go again on Saturday”. As a result of their win, Selby move off of the bottom of the league to be replaced by Blaydon who lost 24-12 at Heath. Our visitors are now just two points behind us but have played one game more as have Blaydon, a further three points adrift. Congratulations to Selby on the win and we thank them for an excellent game and their company and wish them well for the remainder of the season. Our thanks as always to referee Yannick Debil without whom there is no game.

Next Saturday, the 1^st XV travel to Alnwick for the rearranged league game postponed in early January, KO 2pm, but if you are unable to travel, the Lions host Tynedale, KO 2pm. The following day, Sunday 9 February, the Panthers get their 2025 under way when they travel to Gateshead in a league encounter, KO 2pm. ALL SUPPORT FOR THESE GAMES WOULD BE MOST WELCOME.

A date for your diary, Park host Driffield on Saturday, 12 April 2025 in the first round of the Papa John’s Community Cup Regional 1 Plate, KO 3pm. The Plate is a straight knock-out competition so progress will be determined by the result of the game.

Percy Park: 15 Will Ponton; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Ash Smith; 12 Paul Spowart; 11 Seb Reece; 10 Fergus Simpson; 9 Jacob German; 8 Matthew French; 7 Jonny Dubois; Sam Digman; 5 Josh Hedley; 4 Sean Nairn; 3 Tristan Grant; 2 Otis Collingbourne; 1 Aaron Smith

Replacements: Sol Kench; Jordan Carey; Fraser McGlashan