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.

PERCY PARK 8 - 6 HUDDERSFIELD YMCA

What a glorious day for a game of rugby , but not if you are a winger ! Grey sky , strong biting wind blowing straight up the pitch from the golf course , persistent drizzle with intermittent sleet , I still feel cold writing this ! 

The visitors , Huddersfield YMCA , I believe we're making a first visit to Preston Avenue . They arrived on the back of a win at Guisborough , determined to make it two consecutive away wins in the scramble to avoid the dreaded bottom three position . Park , despite being better placed in the league , are also in this group of teams where only a handful of points seperates position 6 to 12 . 

Park , once again , named a much changed side . So much so , that it meant that with the colts due to be playing we were unable to fulfil a second xv league fixture at Tynedale ! The following young men were the chosen ones ; Cook , Dubois , Birkett , Hedley , Saint , Williamson , Wilson , Langlands , Baldwin , Grove , Caulfield (not sponsored by his dad unlike his pal Grove)Davison , Pike , Sutherland , Fa'atau . Thompson , Phillips , Blackburn . 

Park started the game playing with the wind and attacking up toward the gym end of the clubhouse . A delay in my lift meant that I missed an early try from Park . A strange occurrence in recent years , as more often than not it is normally us on the receiving end of an early score . So I will have to take the word of our resident photographer Paul 'chicken-wing' Jackson , who describe it as a catch and drive thingy by the forwards ! 5-0 . 

Percy Park 32 - 28 Durham City

North One East

The full version of the video can be seen here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhtwDHH7wEM

North 1 East

Percy Park 48 - 12 Wheatley Hills

Wheatley Hills were the visitors to Preston Avenue on a fine December day, mild and dry conditions with no wind to speak of made perfect conditions for running rugby and the supporters weren’t disappointed.

As is the custom, there were several changes to the team, George Purdy moved up from the bench to the starting fifteen. In the forwards, Josh Headley and Austin Phillips came into the second row while Sean Williamson joined the back row and in the backs, Park welcomed back Ricki Hasnip in the centres, with Dan Chambers moving to fullback.  Park were also glad to see the return of John Scott to scrum half after 4 weeks out due to injury or the cold weather as some rumours would suggest.

It was Wheatley Hills to kick off, and with the kick not making the 10 meters, Park were awarded a scrum back on half way. A dart from Scott then a couple of passes plus some missed tackles and Ethan Wilson found himself under the posts making it a perfect start for Park, although Michael Grove surprisingly missed the easy conversion.