National 3 North

Percy Park 30 – 40 Firwood Waterloo

Although leading 11 – 0 at half time, Percy Park only came away from this game with a bonus point as Waterloo scored 40 in the second half. The turning point was the sin binning of Park 8 James Ponton, and whilst he was in the cooler Loo scored 21.

 Park started well with 2 penalties from the boot of Phil Morse and Toby Davison, and Josh Hedley powered over the line for a try just before half time. This was an improved performance from the previous 2 weeks, helped by the return of Jimmy Ponton and Ali Blair, but defensive lapses, saw Waterloo notch six tries in the last 40 minutes giving them a bonus point win to start their campaign.

NORTHUMBERLAND SENIOR CUP QUARTER-FINAL

PERCY PARK 14 – 25 TEAM NORTHUMBRIA

Northumbria University ended Park’s hopes of winning the Senior Cup for a fourth consecutive season with their 25 – 14 victory at Preston Avenue. The last time the two sides met Park put 95 points on the students at Bullocksteads in their last season before quitting the RFU leagues to concentrate on their BUCS rugby in the top flight of University and College Rugby.

 Northumbria have been training hard for several weeks to hit the ground running, and this showed in the early exchanges in a fast paced game as they opened an early 8 point lead with a penalty and then a try on 8 minutes.

 Park came back with a Morse penalty before Team Northumbria scored their second try of the day which scrum half Wilson was unable to convert. Morse slotted a second penalty but just before the break the students went over again and led 18 – 6 at half –time.

PERCY PARK 12 – 24 CLECKHEATON

Cleckheaton edged this warm up game of four quarters by 4 tries to 2 with both clubs missing one or 2 key players. Park opened the scoring with a try on 1^st XV debut by Jamie Drysdale after fellow centre Guy Pike made a telling break through midfield. Cleck soon hit back through James Wilson just before the first break and with the conversion the visitors took the lead.

 In the second period, Cleckheaton scored twice again through Wilson and influential number 8 Richard Piper after some good driving mauls took them deep into Park territory.

 In the third spell the Yorkshire outfit scored right on the whistle when it appeared the scorer had been bundled into touch, but the try was given to the delight of the travelling support.

 In the last period Park scored through another debutant Ollie Walker, and the conversion by Phil Morse made the final score 12 – 24.

 Park were able to try out several newcomers and look forward the Cup encounter next Saturday at Preston Avenue against Northumbria University. KO 3pm.

PERCY PARK LIONS 35 -19 WESTOE II

Two late tries by Westoe made the score – line look a little closer than the true facts of the game. Churchill scored the first of two tries to open Park’s account. There were also tries from Williamson, Smith and newcomer Kinnel who showed his power scoring from long range. Skipper Smith led the side well and there were promising performances from debutants Berne, Kinnel and Jonny Birkett.

 Man of the match was Liam Scott at openside, showing no nerves in stepping up from the Academy to the seniors.

NORTHUMBERLAND SENIOR SHIELD

PERCY PARK LIONS 33 – 8 ALNWICK II

This was the fifth time in as many years Percy Park Lions had progressed to the final of the County No2 Competition, strangely but no doubt historically named the Senior Shield although the winners were presented with a fine silver cup.

Park had lost out in the previous 2 seasons at the hands of Corbridge Centurions and Alnwick II, who were both in the semi-final due to be played on the 15^th March 2014, with the Tynedale side conceding the tie to give Alnwick a place in the final.

The game took place at Whitley Bay Rockcliff ,  a happy hunting ground for Park in recent years, as it proved again with the Lions running out winners 33 – 8. Alnwick started well but it was Park who notched first with Michael Groves retrieving a chip through to go over for the score that Paul Spowart converted from an acute angle.

Both sides competed fiercely and it wasn’t until the 32^nd minute that that lock Josh Hedley using his 6’9” frame powered over to score with Spowart converting the extras. Stu Findlay scored wide out just before the break to take Park into the second half 19 – 0 ahead.