Category: 1st XV Reports 11/12
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PERCY PARK 45 – 18 OLD CROSSLEYANS

Joe WaferFor the second week in a row, Percy Park took on opposition from Halifax, this time at home to Old Crossleyans who won their first game of the season last week against Gateshead. Park were more than a little disappointed at their second half performance away to Old Brodleians last week and had a chance to make amends. The weather, perfect for June or July, was a bit hot for the participants on the field, but fantastic for the supporters who watched in shirt sleeve order.

Park made a couple of changes to last week with Andy Dunn returning to start at hooker, and Olly Gilmore playing at scrum half allowed Ash Smith to move back to full back and David Griffiths to the centre. Old Crossleyans had a couple of enforced late changes with player coach Chris Jones not travelling with the team for family reasons and influential number eight Mansoor Riaz also out.

Old Crossleyans kicked off with the sun at their backs and for the first ten or so minutes saw Park with almost all the possession. Simon Greatham who kicked well last week, retained the kicking duties although he was off target with a penalty chance on 3 minutes.

The home side took play deep into the visitors half and a series of rucks was finished off with a charge to the try line by Michael Langlands who scored the touchdown, and Simon Greatham kicked the conversion after 10 minutes had elapsed in the game. Old Crocs came back with a penalty by full back Thomas Leigh.

Category: 1st XV Reports 11/12
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OLD BRODLEIANS 25 – 23 PERCY PARK

To quote an Old Brods supporter, post match “the best side lost”, and Park were instrumental in their own down fall. It took an 87th minute penalty by Brods skipper Dan Wood to take the points which keeps the Woodhead side top of North One East, and the only side in the league with a 100% record.

Both sides were forced to make changes from week 3 of the league campaign, with the home side changing 4 out of last week’s front 5 due to injury. Park made a few changes in the back division with John Scott being out of contention, Ash Smith moved in to scrum half from full back, Dave Griffiths moved from centre to fill this place and a new centre pairing of Zak Appleby Rutter and Simon Greatham took the field with Craig Firth out due to a rib injury.

Category: 1st XV Reports 11/12
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WEST HARTLEPOOL STAGS 24 – 31 PERCY PARK LIONS

Park’s 2nd XV win overshadowed the 1st XV victory over near neighbours Northern, only by virtue of the fact that to the non-partisan observer, it could have been considered a shock result. The Lions were promoted to the Candy League Division 1 after winning Division 2 in style last season. The Stags won Division 1 in the same season without losing a game.

The Candy Leagues, so named because the aim was to attract sides from Cumbria, Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire, is now mainly contested by Durham and Northumberland sides, but the single league has grown to two with club second XV’s taking part.

Park had lost both previous Candy games so far this season by only a single point, to Billingham Lions and Morpeth Reivers, and after they had conceded 19 quick unanswered points against the Stags realised the task ahead of them. The Park players dug deep and came back to level the scores at half time 19 – 19.

In the second period Park took the lead in a game which was eventually won with a bonus point 31 – 24, with tries coming from Matthew Ovington (2), Adam Fidler (2) and Kai Downey Stevenson. Conversions were by Paul Spowart (2) and Simon Greatham. There were also strong performances by Thomas Turnbull who captained the side, Jack Davidson, and Andy Dunn who played out of position at prop.  

Category: 1st XV Reports 11/12
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Morpeth 28 – 13 Percy Park

george
Try Scorer - George Purdy
Supporters, coaches and if they are honest, the players themselves would agree that this was arguably the worst team performance of the 1st XV under the tenure of Coach James Ponton. Having played well last week in the opening league win against Billingham, most of the squad boarded a plane for Ibiza for Tony Dunn’s stag do, not returning until Thursday evening, and the haze under which they touched down at Newcastle was carried into the game on Saturday at Mitford Road.

 

The signs of under preparation were there for all to see as Park took to the field not in the accustomed black and white but in magenta strips, borrowed from the home side as the shirts had been left at Preston Avenue. The strips didn’t turn up until half time, some would say neither did the team.

Category: 1st XV Reports 11/12
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Percy Park 23 – 17 Billingham

There couldn’t be a sterner test than to start a league campaign against a side having come down from the National Leagues, but that was Park’s fate, and they came through with flying colours after the visitors struck first inside the third minute.

In recent seasons, encounters between the two sides have been close, with Park generally dominating the forward battle and the Teesiders coming out ahead in the back division. However Park’s resurgence in the three quarters over the last couple of seasons promised a keener contest.

Park were without the influential Martin Shaw who has moved to Monaco to embark upon a new career, and Andy Dunn made himself unavailable so Jonny Dubois came in at hooker for his league debut.


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