North One East

West Hartlepool 19 - 19 Percy Park

In a game sponsored by Marston’s Brewery and two teams willing to throw the ball about a bit you might have expected a game full of spicy, sharp, bright, fresh, zippy, flavours yet what we got was a game that gave us a flat and still beverage with many looking at the bottom of the pint glass feeling very frustrated and muttering ‘was that it’. As in all things fermentable it takes a good brewer to get the recipe right and what we got was a Durham Society referee who served up what can be best described as a glass of flat southern beer despite the best efforts of all the players; and that frustration was felt by all around the Catcote Road Ground.

With a stiff breeze giving ‘West’ a notable first half advantage they were soon off the mark when Will Hilditch crossed after a lineout on the Park ‘5’. A line out resulting from a territorial boot down the field with the ball falling kindly to the Hartlepool player allowing him to nip over and score in the corner. With West looking to take territorial advantage at every opportunity Park found themselves camped in their own ‘22’. This season Percy Park are made of sterner stuff and instead of folding they looked to gain turnover ball at every opportunity and as a consequence procession was gained and full back Toby Davison took off at the gallop running the full length of the field to level the scores.

NORTH 1EAST

PERCY PARK 50 – 10 NORTHERN

Back to back wins take Park to the top of North 1 East at this early stage, 2 weeks into the new season. Newly promoted Northern travelled to Preston Avenue with high hopes after a resounding win last week against Malton and Norton, but they were soon on the back foot 2 minutes into the game as Lome Fa’atau crossed the try line and Michael Grove kicked the conversion.

Park pressured the visitors for the next 20 minutes without adding to their tally until Michael Grove kicked a penalty to take the score to 10 – 0.

Percy Park had the upper hand in the pack and their pacey back line caused Northern trouble all afternoon. A fine break and chip ahead by Toby Davison saw him race clear down the left wing but as he crossed the line after retrieving his kick, the ball spilled and the try went begging.

North 1 East

Dinnington 19 - 28 Percy Park

Following their resounding Northumberland Senior Cup Victory over Berwick Percy Park travelled to Lodge Lane the home of Dinnington RFC for the first North One East league game of the season in high spirits and that feel good factor was transferred onto the pitch as they defeated a robust Dinnington side by 28 points to 19.

Park started the brighter of the two sides taking advantage of the notorious Lodge Lane slope on a warm afternoon that had the Percy Park support stripping off to showcase their new Northumbrian Tartan waistcoats. An attire that brought many an admiring glance as the day progressed. The first score came after 5 minutes from Vice Captain Phil Morse as Park having absorbed the first Dinnington attack broke away in their own 22 and through a series of quick passes,offloads and a clever kick to the corner saw Morse touchdown with fly half Michael Grove converting.

Northumberland Senior Cup Quarter-Final

Percy Park 54 - 5 Berwick

On Saturday 19^th August Percy Park kicked off their first game of the season with a dash of flair and sparkle as they dispatched a plucky young side from Berwick 54-5 in the first round of the Northumberland County Senior Cup.

Saturdays Match Day was a bit like the first day of a term at School with the Preston Avenue faithful reacquainting themselves with fellow supporters after the summer lay off. A much slimmed down version of the Fiddler was seen with ‘Top Talent’ gracing 

the side-lines and we even had an appearance from the ‘Walker twins’ who have finally managed to emerge bronzed from various beaches across the Mediterranean and not to forget ‘Scotty from the Opposition’ who also popped down for a look. As with all first days at school attention was drawn to the new headmaster who decided to attend attired in ‘pink shorts’ and a polo top much to the derision of players and supporters alike. And so the afternoon was set and with eager expectation Percy Park led by Captain Dubois got the game underway kicking to a Berwick side with a strong breeze at their backs and the partisan encouragement of the famous three stood at West Dene Drive end of the ground.

And there follows what can only described as the Michael Grove show. Throughout the game Michael demonstrated his maturing ability to dictate a game at Fly Half despite the attention of the Berwick pack who seemed determined to drop him on his head at any given opportunity. Michael was ably supported by Andy McGrath, Charlie Greswold, Sean Nairn, Niall Combe and Ross Young who all made their 1^st XV debuts on the day.