NORTH 1 EAST

PERCY PARK 16 - 15 WHEATLEY HILLS

Although both sides are in the bottom half of the league at the present time, a win for Wheatley would have helped ease their relegation chances, and with 3 minutes remaining it looked as though the visitors had pulled off an unlikely win at Preston Avenue.

Once again the Park side were reshuffled with no fewer than five changes of personnel in the squad. Jonny Dubois came into the side for the injured Andy Dunn, Rich Berne moved into the centre for the unavailable Guy Pike, Leo Caulfield and Kieran Sutherland filled the wing positions and Toby Davison moved to fullback for the injured Michael Grove. Jonathan Kidd came back into the front row for Marc Cooke and the man who has had more come-back’s than Frank Sinatra – veteran prop George Purdy filled the front row replacement spot.

The conditions were wet which didn’t help with handling and the game was officiated once again by Northumberland’s Greg Dawson.

Wheatley Hills are renowned for their strong forward pack, and they earned a penalty try in the 23^rd minute as Park’s scrum was under pressure as the scrummage collapse inches short of the try line. The conversion by Owen Gillvray took the visitors into a 7 – 0 lead.

NORTHUMBERLAND SENIOR CUP FINAL 

PERCY PARK 3 – 21 MORPETH

For the second consecutive year Park were to taste disappointment in the final of the Northumberland Senior Cup Final. Last year Park lost to Northumbria University at Morpeth and this year succumbed to Morpeth with the game played at McCracken Park.

There was a good Easter Saturday crowd at the home of Northern FC for the 1pm KO, and thankfully for all present the heralded storm Katie delayed her arrival.

A late change to the Park side saw the withdrawal of Phil Morse with a chest infection, so Paul Spowart came in fly half. Mark Cook was back into the front row for Jonathan Kidd, Ricki Hasnip for Sam Jobson and Toby Davison for Lome Fa’atau who dropped to the bench.

Park started well but it was Morpeth who drew first blood with a well worked try finished off by scrum half Jack Elliot on six minutes. James Phillips converted for a 7 – 0 lead.

NORTH 1 EAST

DONCASTER PHOENIX 39 – 36 PERCY PARK

Phoenix snatched the game from Park in the final furlong, denying the visitors  an improbable double given the respective league positions of the two sides. Percy Park are the only team to have beaten the league leaders in almost 2 years, and for large spells of the game Park were on top.

There were a couple of changes to the squad that won through to the Northumberland Senior Cup last weekend with a win over Tynedale Raiders. Johnny Kidd came into the front row for the injured Mark Cook, Lome Fa’atau for the unavailable Toby Davison and Sam Jobson in the centre for Ricki Hasnip.

Park got off to a dream start with a typical scrum half try by Davy Kay. The hosts had a scrum on their 5 metre line after Park had pressured for the first couple of minutes. The ball was won by Doncaster but quick reactions by Kay saw him pick the pocket of his opposite number and brush aside the full back for an early try.

Donny replied on eight minutes when influential 8 Adam Kettle cantered through the Park defence to score and Jamie Lennard converted to take by a short head 7 – 5.

NORTHUMBERLAND SENIOR CUP

TYNEDALE RAIDERS 10 – 29 PERCY PARK

Percy Park progressed to the final of the Northumberland Senior Cup and will meet Morpeth at 1pm on Easter Saturday at McCracken Park the home of Northern FC.

Park had the luxury of keeping almost the same squad as last week with the same back line that now seems to be starting to click. Michael Grove opened the Park account with a 4^th minute penalty as Tynedale were punished for coming in at the side of a ruck.

All the early pressure came from Percy Park although the hosts, playing at Druid Park today with their own facilities still out of action due to the winter flooding at Corbridge, drew level with a penalty on 17 minutes.

Percy Park responded with a fine try from Toby Davison following a good kick return down the left hand flank. A deft pass from skipper Andy Dunn put fullback Michael Grove into space and he then passed back inside to Davison in support. The Park wing scored under the posts and Michael Grove slotted the conversion to give Park a 10 – 3 lead.