Park continued their pre-season preparations with two workmanlike displays against Tynedale Raiders and Whitley Bay Rockcliff.

The 1st XV squad travelled to Corbridge to take on a lively Raiders side, and drew first blood when skipper John Scott intercepted a pass and broke away down the right hand flank hugging the touchline to go over for a try which was unconverted after 15 minutes had been played. Park should have scored a second soon after with Howard Stock down the same wing in space but the final pass went well behind him with the line beckoning. Tynedale retrieved the loose ball and set off up field. Stock made a tremendous covering tackle to deny the hosts, but the ball was recycled to the Tynedale full back who scored under the posts and with the easy conversion by Borthwick, Tynedale took the lead.

PERCY PARK 43 – 36 JED FOREST

With summer ebbing away, rugby was back on the agenda, as Park entertained RBS Premier Division 2 side Jed Forest, for a pre-season training game before league rugby begins in September. The 1^st XV pitch has never looked better, as the recent spell of rain added the finishing touches to all the hard work maintaining the ground during the close season, and the hard work off the pitches by the players was about to be put to the test.

Jed travelled with a squad of about 25 players, whereas Coach James Ponton was looking to give all his training squad a run out, with some 35 players stretching their legs at some point during the afternoon.

PERCY PARK LIONS 47 – 7 MORPETH REIVERS

Park Lions finished off 2011 with an emphatic win over the Reivers in a great second half display which included 5 tries. The conditions were cold and bracing although many supporters braved the elements to watch a thoroughly entertaining game which keeps the Lions in second spot in Candy Division 1.

It was Morpeth who had the better of the early exchanges with Andy Whitfield failing to convert a penalty, and then after some sloppy tackling full back Carl Parkinson broke through the Park back line to score after 4 minutes with Whitfield converting for the 7 – 0 lead. Despite Morpeth having a good deal of the possession throughout the game this was to be their last score of the match.

Park thought they had scored when Simon Greatham drove over the line but referee Mick Donkin judged there to be a double movement, and then some back chat cost Park a further 10 metres as the visitors cleared their lines.

It took the Lions some time to hit back but after 20 minutes Paul Spowart playing fly half saw the Morpeth defence was up flat and chipped through for ex Novos wing Jonny Ward to collect the ball and surge past two Morpeth defenders to score. Spowart then levelled the scores with the conversion.

CANDY LEAGUE DIVISION 1

PERCY PARK LIONS 31 – 17 WEST HARTLEPOOL STAGS

A fine display by the Lions means they leapfrog West in the league and move up to second behind high flyers Tynedale Raiders. With no 1^st XV fixtures, this was the top club game in Northumberland, and it proved to be a fast and exciting game with both sides playing their part in a free flowing match which entertained the spectators who braved the gale force winds.