Candy League 1

Gateshead II 12 = 24 Percy Park Lions

Question Number 5 . Which team , plays at Hedley Lawson Park ? Answers on a postcard to Christoper Mcdine ! The Lions travelled to the aforementioned ground to face hosts Gateshead , or Gateshead Fell as those with long enough memories will remember them as pre-merger . Question Number 6 . Who did Gateshead Fell merge with ? One thing for sure , Mcdine will never get that one !
Having played all of my mini rugby and most of my junior rugby at The Fell , it's always a nostalgic trip south of the river for me , but I didn't want the players to be anything other than focused on maintaining their good run of victories . Yet again C.O.R. Turnbull was pulling rabbits out of his hat for most of Friday night , with the 1st xv deprived of 5 of their previous weeks squad and the standard unavailabilities , only 12 of last weeks 21plus travelled to Low Fell .

'Mighty Jo' Wilkinson , Lenahan , Kidd , Nairn , Saint , Gerrard with the beard , Ben the colt , Henessey , Gilmore , Paul Daniels , Caulfield , Scott , Danil , Derek , Gould . Dryden , Micky Wright , Mark Whinfield and Ian .

There was a lot of hand shaking and introductions going on , as the group of individuals tried to get to know each other . A rallying cry from 'Chef Saint ', despite it being rather uncomplimentary about my old club , set down the marker in the dressing room huddle and out they went .

CANDY LEAGUE 1

PERCY PARK 29– 26 MORPETH REIVERS

With the pitches at Percy Park out of action due to frost following the incessant rain, the game was switched to Kingston Park. With Newcastle Falcons playing in Russia the facilities were block booked by Northumberland Rugby Union that allowed 3 games to go ahead, the starter being the North 1 East league game between Northern and West Hartlepool, before the main course between Park and Morpeth. For afters Ponteland Colts took on Wigton.

With a light covering of snow across many parts of the pitch, conditions were still fine for rugby albeit the biting cold and slippery condition did pose problems for handling for all sides. Park got off to a flying start almost from the kick off when left wing Leo Caulfield went over in the corner. A Park scrum near the Morpeth line saw the Northumbrian side napping as scrum half Olly Gilmore fed the ball on the blind side to put Caulfield in at the corner. Paul Spowart kicked the difficult conversion for an early 7 – 0 lead.

Morpeth struck back almost immediately when a loose pass in the Park half gifted an interception try to Marcus Ridley converted by Richard Flook to bring the scores level.

Morpeth then went ahead with a further try before Park again equalised through Leo Caulfield and again Spowart converted to level the scores once more at 14 -14.

PERCY PARK 26 – 15 NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY 2^ND XV

The Lions just had the edge in a close contest played under lights at Preston Avenue. For the last few seasons, Park Lions have played Northumbria University 2^nd XV in a friendly that is a welcome break from the Candy League, and also gives the students a taste of club rugby.

Northumbria were first on the scoreboard with a try before Park drew level with a pushover try with number 8 Liam Scott getting the important touch down. Paul Spowart then kicked the Lions in front with the conversion.

The sides traded tries again with Park’s score coming from the evergreen Davy Kay who dived through a group of players to score close to the posts.

In the second half Northumbria kept in touch with another unconverted try before Liam Scott powered over for his second try of the night and hooker Craig Smith scored his first Percy Park try to seal the win.

NORTHUMBERLAND UNDER 18 CUP FINAL

MORPETH U18 13 – 3 PERCY PARK U17

The Percy Park Under 17’s rounded off a great season with a gutsy display ay Blyth against Morpeth Under 18’s. Sadly the lads didn’t walk away with the cup but could be proud of their achievement in a very close game with only one try in the game.

On the way to the final the Under 17’s defeated Tynedale U18’s away from home 25 – 19 and then Berwick under 18’s 15 – 14.

Park opened the scoring with a penalty from the boot of skipper Ben Anderson, and although Morpeth came close to scoring on a couple of occasions, sterling defence kept them out, restricting them to only a penalty which came with the final play of the first half.

In the second half Morpeth stretched their lead with a second penalty before eventually crossing the Park line for a converted try with about ten minutes of the game remaining.

Despite throwing everything at them Park couldn’t claw their way back and the game finished 13 – 3 to Morpeth.

This rounded of a successful season winning the County 7’s and losing only 2 league games all season. Several of the lads also on reaching their 17^th birthday experienced senior rugby representing the Pumas and the Lions.