The Lion Cubs entertained Middlesborough Wasps in a Candy League Division 1 fixture . The heavy early morning frost had disappeared in the morning sunshine  , and with no wind , conditions were perfect for rugby . The only thing need was two teams . The Wasps had been stuck in traffic , so kick off was put back to 2.45 . In addition , the visitors had decided to leave their scrum half behind , but with Park having a healthy surplus of players and three scrum halves in the squad , two of them played a half each for the visitors . 

Park lined up as follows ; Gould , Josh , Berne , Zak , Thomas , Ben , James , Williamson (c) , Ross , Hennesey , Dryden , Aaron , Kidd , Pollock , Ward . Hence the Lion Cubs , with 9 seniors and 6 colts . 
Park kicked off , attacking towards the Square Field . Early exchanges were frenetic . Errors were high as was the penalty count . But both sides , to their credit , were trying to throw the ball around . Park looked the more dangerous side , but the Wasps were not without a sting ! With 30 minutes gone , neither side had managed to get Arthur on his feet to change the scoreboard . But he was about to have a busy 10 minutes . Park , having defended their line resolutely , advanced down the field to the visitors 10m . At the line out , Boro pounced on a loose ball , raced up the touch line all the way to the line and scored in the corner , 0-5 . Park struck straight back . Stung by being behind , Park attacked forcing the opposition to commit a penalty . A quick tap and two passes to veteran Gould , who hit the line at pace jinked inside the drift d and scored under the posts . 7-5 HT .

West Hartlepool Stags 33 - 26 Percy Park Lions

The 29th October saw the Lions return to action with a friendly fixture away at West Hartlepool . I say Lions , Cubs would have been more appropriate , with the squad boosted with 8 of the colts . Emperor Ishida picking up the fixture when West played the 1st xv at Preston Avenue , the Hartlepool side keen to pick up a competitive fixture having decided to play in the Candy League Division 2 this season . 

So we lined up like this ; Gould , Sim , Sutherland Jnr , Danil , Thomas , Ben , GIlmore , Hennessey , Tristan , Jake , Sanderson , Phillips , Nairn , Kidd , Birkett , subs , James , Josh , Liam , Jacob , Gurling and Whitfield . 

As the players met at Preston Avenue on another beautiful Saturday afternoon , there was disbelief all round. They were shocked with the news that last weeks hero , had been omitted from the match-day squad . I know , I can imagine anybody reading this article will be aghast , mouth open at reading that news ! 77-3 , a man of the match performance , and he doesn't even make the bench ! Fortunately , a huge squad had been assembled , allowing Jobson Snr to rest , no doubt he will be required next week such is the unpredictability of players availability . Last week the Lions totalled 13 , 5 of that 13 weren't present this week , but today we were able to relax with a full compliment .

Park started as follows ; Ward , Pollock , Kidd , Langlands , Saint , Warren , Henessey , Lenahan , Gilmore , Dale , Baldwin , Scott , Danil , Caufield , Gould . Former Seghill 'Waterboy' and international referee would get the game underway , with Park attacking towards Bobby's tree . The Lions started brightly but weren't cohesive enough to keep Arthur Turnbull busy on the scoreboard .
The visitors were first to score . A penalty on their own 10m line was kicked to touch just outside the Park 22 . At the lineout , Billingham threw to the middle and won clean ball for their backs . A cheeky little move bringing in the blindside winger through the Park midfield and over the fullback to score . 0-7 .

Morpeth Reivers 3 - 77 Percy Park Lions

It's great when a plan comes together . Saturday 24th September 2016 will be remembered as the day a very very very cunning plan was devised and executed superbly . It was a plan as cunning as a fox what used to be Professor of Cunning at Oxford University but has moved on and is now working for the UN at the High Commission of International Cunning Planning . In short , travel to Morpeth with 13 players , lure the opposition into a false sense of security , get the coach dressed into a playing kit to make 14 players , continually switch players from forwards to backs , backs to forwards , have your 9 who's never played 9 playing 15 as well , permanent open side winger coming into the line outs , and anything else we fancied doing because today was the day of 'The Incredible Plan ' .