Percy Park 36 - 26 Tynedale Raiders

Park's 1st XV and Lions squad took on Tynedale Raiders last evening in a training game to warm up for the season proper which begins on 4th September 2010. Park scored three tries in the opening session two from Martin Potts at number eight. Martin aged 25 has returned to the club after several years away from rugby, but the former North of England Colt looked very promising at the back of the scrum.

Both teams used all of their large squads, with Park having nearly 40 players available, which did not include the 25 Academy players who were training on the 1st XV pitch.

Percy Park Lions 15 – 7 Alnwick II

With a break in the league for 1^st XV rugby, all eyes were on the up and coming players of the second XV; well not all eyes, as there was an international on TV between England and some touring team, so some found it difficult to prise themselves from the comfy seats. For those who ventured outdoors, there was some promising rugby on display from both sides, with Park holding out winners to advance their position in the Candy League Division 2.

So far Alnwick were unbeaten in the league with six from six, and Park had won all but their encounter against Gateshead II, so the match up between last years Northumberland No2 Cup finalists was likely to be a close affair.

Percy Park Penguins 33 - 15 Seghill Deputies

Well , even though the bodies are aching today the pain is worth it . The Penguins defeated Seghill Deputies 33-15 to progress to the final on April 2 . The scoreline suggests a comfortable victory but that is not the case . Seghill tore into Park from the start , it was evident that they were the side playing more often with the Penguins expecting a comfortable afternoon like they had experienced in their comeback game against West End , so it was no surprise that the Hill then took an early lead with a penalty under the posts as Park struggled to come to terms with their opponents physical start .The Penguins gradually started to find their feet as Hill seemed to run out of puff from their energetic start . Park were starting to put together a few phases forcing Hill into conceding penalties , this allowed Park a few breathers as they kicked into the opposition half . The Penguins were now nicely warmed up and were starting to dominate . Support play was remarkably the key . Unfortunately though our bodies cant do what our mind wants us to do , Giles was shot by the snipper and off he hobbled to the balcony . Park reshuffled but still dominated . Thorpe and Helme (x2) crossed the line and Park led 19-6 at the break .

SSE NORTH DIVISION PLAY – OFF

PERCY PARK RFC (North 1 East) v Liverpool St.Helens FC (North 1 West)

Percy Park will start the 2012/13 season in the National Leagues after winning a nail biting promotion play off 18 – 12 against a spirited Liverpool St.Helens side. It could have been a case of history repeating itself, when Park were defending a 6 points lead with only minutes to go, having been under the cosh for a sustained period at the end of the game. LSH broke down the right hand side and had the pass to Neil Hull gone to hand, the visitors would have had a kick at goal to steal the game by a single point at the death. Fortunately for Park the ball was spilled five metres from the line, and a certain try went begging.

Park made a few last minute changes to the bench prior to the game, with influential lock Craig Fidler failing a late fitness test. Sean Williamson came in and was soon in action as Michael Langlands had to leave the field on 8 minutes after a nasty cut resulting from an accidental clash of heads left him requiring 21 stitches. Ali Blair was nursing a tight hamstring, so coach, James Ponton made the decision to bring in a second back replacement rather than go with 3 forwards. Alun Barlow was the lucky recipient although he didn’t actually get on the pitch. Johnny Dubois was the replacement unlucky to miss out.

The North 1 East runners up opened the scoring with two Phil Morse penalties in the first half in a game so well managed by the officials that there were only 9 penalties conceded in the whole game. Park elected to take the wind advantage in the first half, and Ash Smith kept the Liverpool side playing in their own half with some good positional kicking.