NORTHUMBERLAND SENIOR CUP

ALNWICK 21 – 26 PERCY PARK

Percy Park are through to the semi finals of the Northumberland Senior Cup after a 26 – 21 win over fellow Northumbrians Alnwick, and will meet either Morpeth, Team Northumbria of Tynedale Raiders.

In a well-matched evenly contested game, Park always seemed to have the edge, with a strong platform provided by the pack. After a scrappy start with both sides finding their feet it was the visitors who opened the scoring with a penalty from fly half Alex Richards, although this was matched minutes later by Callum Burn and the score was level at 3 – 3 after the first quarter of the match had been played.

The game was halted momentarily after a clash of heads saw a player from each side leave the field, and although the Alnwick player seemed to have come off worst in the collision, it was Marc Cook for Park who was unable to return to the game with a gash requiring further treatment.

Percy Park then came close to scoring the first try of the game after a break by centre Ricky Hasnip who linked with fullback Michael Groves. Olly Gilmore received the final pass but was denied by a try saving tackle close to the Alnwick line.

Parks Lion Cubs and Puma Cubs travelled together on the party bus to Greensfield Alnwick . The meet was early but there was an excited spirit in the air with the colts , accompanied by their equally excited coaches , who at long last had a bus trip to look forward to.

On arrival at Alnwick , COR Turnbull divided the 31 players into two sides . Of the 31 , 19 were colts . Without them , we would be in a bit of a pickle . With them , we are competing with the stronger sides in Candy League 1 and exposing our talented youngsters to senior rugby . In the last 5 games the lions have played DMP , Blaydon 2s and 3s (but it was really the 2s both times ) Boro and Alnwick . That's a tough schedule for a senior side , never mind a side where the majority have been colts . Don't get me wrong here they are brilliant , they're an absolute pleasure to be be around and they are playing fantastically well . However I feel like the senior players are letting these kids down with their complete apathy to playing at the moment , whether it's injuries (genuine or not ) , unavailability and training . On Saturday there were more seniors in the Pumas , but as the seniors are not training and the colts are , then selection favours those that are trying to improve thrmselves . So seniors , it's time to stand up and be counted . 

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.