Category: 1st XV Reports 18/19
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North One East
 
Percy Park RFC 36- West Leeds RUFC 3
 
Smith demands and gets a try-umphant Park
 
 
 
Game management and tactics were the conversation topics before the game, with many questioning the manner of our defeat away to Morpeth last weekend. The ‘iron filings’ had gathered around some negative energy, so what was needed was a sparkling display to ‘dispel the blues’ and bring the positive zest back to the playing fields of Preston Avenue. And ‘from the off’ that was exactly what we got! Park played this game with real control, mixed in with a fair dash of elan, that had a very useful West Leeds side playing with their ‘backs to the wall’ and thankful that the score line only reached 36. As player coach Ash Smith commented after the game “Best performance so far. We played with real shape today and executed our game plan well. Everyone played well”
 
The game ignited in the very first minute. From the kick off West Leeds were pressurising Percy Park in their 22. With a reluctance to clear Park elected to run the ball out. A knock on gave West Leeds the ball and an ‘advantage’ before they in turn dropped the ball which kindly bobbled into the hands of centre Seb Reece. With a kick of his heels Reece set off down the Percy Park pitch closely followed by former Great Britain and England Rugby League winger Mark Calderwood. The race was a foot. With both players running at the gallop the younger thoroughbred outdistanced his opponent to score the try under the posts. With the try converted, Park were in the driving seat and ahead by 7.
 

Category: 1st XV Reports 18/19
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North One East
 
Morpeth RFC 15 v Percy Park RFC 7
 
Park fail to take advantage of Morpeth indiscipline
 
 
When the opposition spend 40 minutes , or to put it another way, half a game playing with a ‘man down’ you would expect Park to come away from Morpeth’s Mitford Road ground with some reward. How that failed to materialise came down to some well organised Morpeth defence and a Percy Park team playing 'into' that defence. To make matters worse when Park went down to 14 combatants Morpeth scored! ....... I have always reported that watching Percy Park is never dull and so it proved once again as the emotions went through the mincer with frustration ruling the day for both player and supporter.
 
As the game kicked off in struggling sunshine it was apparent ‘from the off’ that both sides were evenly matched. As the sides clattered into each other it was difficult for the connoisseur to see where advantage could be taken. As the game settled, the first indications began to manifest themselves. At the ‘scrum’ Morpeth pushed Park back. The combination of Moody, Hill and Sandell had the Park front row unsettled. For the supporter who remembered our last foray to Mitford Road concern was prevalent. Yet with ball in hand Park looked far more dangerous with Seb Rees making some superb ‘in roads’ into the Morpeth ‘three quarter’ line. One subtle kick and chase had the Morpeth backs scrambling to get the ball to safety. Could one advantage cancel the other out? Could we be heading for a draw?
 

Category: 1st XV Reports 18/19
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North One East
 
Percy Park 29 v Huddersfield YMCA 24
 
In season opener
Super Chadwick orchestrates Park victory 
 
Awesome Wafer hand off
 

The nerves were frayed, the cheers ecstatic, the groans audible, boards kicked and the gods thanked and admonished in the same breath….Rugby duly arrived back at Preston Avenue with glorious agitation and excitement as Percy Park ‘snatched victory from the jaws of defeat’. If the Percy Park faithful thought that a new look side would abate last year’s tension levels I think we need to think again. Running the ball from the 22, interceptions, last ditch tap tackles and high octane attacking play seem to be the order of the day. When pulses ceased to race, all agreed that this performance was more mature and thoughtful; this is a game we would have lost last season…so its heart pills to the ready because it’s going to be a ‘roller coaster’ ride!!

Category: 1st XV Reports 18/19
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Northumberland Senior Cup First Round

Percy Park 34- Northern FC 18

Park make hard work of the victory but show promise

As one old sage stated after the game ‘Knit one, Pearl one, Drop one!!’ Many would ask what that philosopher of rugby might have been referring to…well the comparison is made to knitting patterns …yep that’s right knitting patterns!!…Park created patterns of play (Knit one) engineering great 2 v 1 opportunities (Pearl one) only to drop the ball on the final execution (drop one) and it was hard to argue with that analogy. Park should have been out of sight in this game, yet they managed to keep Northern interested through a lack of a clinical finish. What the analogy does show is promise because Park are certainly getting themselves into positions where a score is likely.

The game started poorly for Park. Michael Grove hit the line at pace before being smothered by the Northern defence and giving away a penalty for holding on. A kick to the line saw Northern secure their own ball and push and roll themselves over the ‘Black and White line’ for an unconverted score. A score that was quickly replied to with a Grove penalty. The full back striking the ball well to cover the distance over the posts.

Category: 1st XV Reports 18/19
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Pre-Season Friendly


Percy Park 19-Old Brodlieans 35


'Minutes in the Legs'

In this pre-season game Percy Park failed to ignite a performance that would have the Percy Park faithful licking their lips in anticipation of the forthcoming Northumberland Cup game against Northern this coming Tuesday night. With Old Brodlieans running straight and powerful lines a young Park side had difficulty (at times) containing 'Brods' and as a consequence the result was (probably) a fair reflection of this encounter. However instead of reflecting on the 'negatives' (let's leave the players and Coach Patten to 'iron out' those issues) lets concentrate on the positives of this game.
As mentioned Park fielded a very young side, with a number of last year's Colts getting a run out. And they performed well. We will have strength in depth this year and that can only benefit the First XV as the season progresses. Young Andrew Walker again impressed at fly half and one audacious cross kick resulted in a fine and well taken try for centre Seb Rees.
Our 'pack' out scrummaged a lively and heavy Brodlieans eight. That bodes well, as last year we didn't quite achieve dominance in that area. Returning prop Aaron Smith certainly played well. With more game time in his legs we will end up with healthy competition for a front row berth. Something we really haven't had since the 'retirement' of George Purdy.
A good performance from new recruit and 'scrum half' Deacon had the 'black and white' support nodding their heads in acknowledgement that we will also have healthy competition for the 'number 9' shirt. And that's where the real positives are. Park were missing a good number of players and when they return we will end up with 'competition' for first team places. Competition that can be argued wasn't there last year and that sports fans gives us all hope for the coming season.Leaving the last positive to last. Lome Fa'atau watched the game and is promising a run out this season. Lets hope so.

 

  1. A lively squad run out yet old frailties are there to be worked on
  2. There's always another week
  3. New Touch Sessions with Pirates!
  4. Womens & Mens Only Try Touch Sessions