Woman and Girls Rugby

Percy Park Panthers 5 Blaydon Kites 15

Denley makes Percy Park history

 

A little bit of Percy Park history was made under floodlights on Friday 10 September as Percy Park RFC hosted Blaydon RFC in our first ever Woman’s competitive senior 15 a side game. And by all accounts it was a cracker.

Percy Park were led by Captain Anna Golightly as she proudly brought The Panthers side onto the hollowed turf of Preston Avenue.

For the majority of the Panthers this was their first ever contact game and whilst going down 5-15 to a strong Blaydon Kites side they came away with enormous credit.

This was a fiercely contested game with neither side taking a backwards step and the defence play of both sides were particularly well organised.

 

150 Year of Celebration Sevens

That was a Blast

 

Due to popular request the author has been asked to place some photographs to record the day....it was a blast and really does not need any words to recount the sucess that it undoubtedly was...so a few photos ...however I must start with the raffle winners.

Nicky Jenkins, Catherine 'Cathy' Little, George Rutter and Ken Fairbairn. 

To the lucky winners please contact Percy Park RFC ...your prizes are in the First Aid Room.

 

Regional 2 North

Percy Park RFC 43 v Aspatria RUFC 15

Davison conducts as Park score a 6.

Before I start my usual discourse, on behalf of Percy Park RFC, I would like to extend our sympathies to family and friends of Doddie Weir OBE who sadly passed away on 26^th November 2023. Doddie was known to many at Percy Park and whilst playing with Newcastle Gosforth shared a room with our own Martin Wilson. Doddie was blessed with an infectious and likeable disposition and was a person who filled the room with his personality. A nature and game style that Bill McLaren eloquently described as being “On the charge like a mad giraffe”. He will be missed.

On paper the contest against Aspatria should have been a close affair. Regional 2 North has split into two distinct groups with Percy Park sitting at the foot of the top 6 and Aspatria top of the ladder of the chasing half. A close call perhaps? With Josh Hedley and Michael Langlands returning from injury against Middlesbrough on this occasion the players were joined by Matty Atkinson, Michael Birkett and Danial Shuttleworth. The already impressive pack bolstered by the returning players. (Our injury list is getting shorter.) Hopefully Percy Park can now make an improved bid toward the top of the leader board. After 15 minutes of this contest the Percy Park forwards strangled the life out of the game and provided the platform for the home side to dominate throughout. Aspatria are not a poor side and in the final quarter of the game they played some great rugby to send their supporters home with some cheer. On the day it was not a close contest at all, Percy Park were simply the better team.

Percy Park’s first score came on the 15 minute mark as they played out of their 22 with some pretty impressive handling skills. With the ball in Aspatria’s 22, Park kept the pressure on securing a scrum on or about the 10 metre mark. Picking off at the back, Michael Langlands put the home side on the front foot with a pass to Ross Young playing at inside centre. Initially stopped, the ball was recycled and moved to the left toward the advancing forwards, by scrum half Charley Miller. The ball placed into the eager hands of Matty Atkinson who rounded defenders to place down, giving Paul Spowart an easy conversion.

Five minutes later Paul Spowart extended Park’s lead with a well taken penalty. The decision given clubhouse side as the Aspatria 10 failed to stay on his feet in the ruck. Just outside the 22 Paul Spowart made no mistake. 10 nil to the home side.

Aspatria responded with a penalty of their own when Chris Reekie failed to roll away and probably would have drawn level if they could have taken advantage of a swift break from their open side Phil Dixon. Howard Stock putting in a fine tackle to assist Paul Spowart in bringing the player to ground. Aspatria losing the ball in the support.

Up until that point it really was ‘all Park’. Good handling and forward play coupled with organised defence frustrated the visitors. That frustration creeping to the surface as individual players went ‘head to head’ off the ball.

Aspatria’s failure to capitalize on Dixon’s break proved costly as Percy Park stepped up the pace with some very good rugby. Fly Half Toby Davison was putting in one of his best performances ‘of late’ keeping the visitors pressed within their 22. Chris Reekie ceremoniously put on his backside by a double up tackle.

But it was all Percy Park. That frustration I mentioned earlier eventually boiled over as they had a player yellow carded for his part in a fracas with Jonny Dubois. The dispute being over possession of the ball after the whistle had blown in Park’s favour. To the bin he went and as a consequence Park dominated the scrum releasing the ball to Ross Young. Young crossing the line with ease. Conversion taken. 17 to 3 and into the half time turnaround.

With numerical advantage Percy Park kept the pressure on. The pack as an ‘8’ were playing really well. Toby Davison was enjoying the ride distributing the ball like a conductor at the Albert Hall. Josh Hedley and Chris Reekie were putting in the hits but the work on the floor from Jake Smith and Dan Shuttleworth was equally as impressive.

A long throw to the back saw the peel and Percy Park went to the Aspatria line. Relentless pressure from the forwards and scrum half Charley Miller manufactured the penalty advantage as Aspatria drifted offside. Percy Park didn’t need it as Michael Birkett carried over. Paul Spowart inexplicably missing the shot. 22 to 3.

The bonus try soon followed and it was the best try of the game. Descriptive words and adjectives used courtesy of Jake Smith cannot be put into print but his sentiment was spot on. Aspatria carried out and carried high. Chris Reekie stepped in and ripped the ball free before turning and giving possession to Mark Barry. The ball went down the line at pace finding Ross Young in familiar territory out wide. A blitzering attack was supported inside first by Howard Stock and then by Toby Davison who put on the finishing touch. A really good effort and this time Paul Spowart didn’t hook his effort into West Dene Estate.29-3.

The score against seemed to inspire Aspatria. Some of their bigger players began to carry the ball with effect. Percy Park are well organised and they dealt with the threat well whilst keeping their discipline on the offside line. One such effort from Aspatria took them to our try line but a mass of committed bodies kept the ball up. A kick from behind the goaline regaining territorial advantage. Tough on the visiting team. They were enjoying some of their best moments of their day.

All that good work came to nothing as a horrendous pass was seized by the Percy Park forwards. The ball was moved quickly with Park eventually ending with a throw deep in the Aspatria 22. Josh Hedley went up gathered and was not challenged. On the spin he set off, felled just before the line. His team mates were quickly over with Michael Birkett adding to his earlier score. Try converted 36 to 3

As we entered the last 10 minutes an early push followed by a very audacious Niall Combe spoil gave Aspatria a quick tap and go. Combe literally stole the ball off the player’s foot as he made the first attempt at a quick tap. As we scrambled back Niall Combe failed to release. Another quick tap and Aspatria were through the line. Despite some up front tackling from Percy Park Aspatria kept the ball alive. Phil Dixon crossing the line for a fully committed try. The conversion was missed.

Percy Park responded in the best way possible. Straight up the other end to score. Toby Davison created the space with a few moves on the turf before Andrew Walker kicked through and behind. Sam McDonald helping the ball along. Then it was a straight race between Walker and McDonald. An Aspatria player was nowhere in sight. Walker winning the duel as he appeared to push McDonald out of the way. Well that’s how Sam McDonald saw it. McDonald was straight over to report his version of events before anyone else could interject. The truth might be a slightly different variant. Try scored. Conversion taken. 43 points to 8.

From the kick off we entered the games red zone. Percy Park dealt with the restart effectively by clearing the ball and taking the game to a line out in the visitors half. Winning their ball Aspatria came up the pitch. Finding gaps through some tired legs they created a’ two on one’ and went to the left hand corner. Persistence paid off and they scored a consolation try. Disappointing from Park’s perspective. The conversion taken from the touch line. The kick was a good one and happened to be the final kick of the game. 43 to 15 the final score.

Apologies for being slightly late on this week’s effort as I have been replacing my back fence which mysteriously incurred two snapped posts. My little tarantula insisting repair before report. Although I often prefer to give that little cherub the final say today the final word has to go to the Tynemouth League of Gentlemen who sponsored this weeks game. Gentlemen many thanks for your fund raising effort without your support we would be that much poorer! You will always have our thanks.

Representing Percy Park RFC:

From 15: Paul Spowart. Howard Stock, Andrew Walker, Ross Young, Sam McDonald, Toby Davison and Charley Miller.

From 8: Michael Langlands, Jake Smith, Jonny Dubois, Chris Reekie, Josh Hedley, Matty Atkinson, Daniel Shuttleworth and Aaron Smith

Finishers: Mark Barry, Niall Combe and Michael Birkett.

PAPA JOHNS MENS REGIONAL 2 NORTH PLATE FINAL

LUTTERWORTH RFC 34 V PERCY PARK RFC 15

 AT THE DARLINGTON ARENA SATURDAY 6^th MAY 2023

No Hurrah for Park as Lutterworth take the silverplate. 

We couldn’t have asked for a better day. Dry and sunny, perfect for running rugby and for the first half we took advantage. Some of our play was simply brilliant. The conditions suited and we went for it. Lutterworth were on the back foot and it is testament to the Midlands side that they absorbed, dug it out and worked their way on top. Lutterworth deserved their win. At the eighty the scoreline didn’t lie. In sport sometimes you have to acknowledge the better side; well marshalled in defence, strong down the middle and importantly fitter in the final third of the game. Shame we didn’t win but hey ho we had a great campaign and I for one have hugely enjoyed watching our young embryonic side grow into a very good side.

With strong vocal support Percy Park attacked and on three minutes their fast start was rewarded as Lutterworth strayed offside preventing quick ball. An easy penalty and duly taken by Ash Smith. We continued in the same vein akin to an express train. However, our opponents stood up to most of what we threw at them. Eventually we scored a try through the forwards starting with a driving lineout we rumbled over the Lutterworth line. A heap of bodies before Niall Combe emerged the hero. Ash Smith converting. 10 nil to the black and white.

We were looking good and it sounded as if half of North Shields had made the trip south to DMP. We also had a try disallowed; Aaron Smith held up by only the grass underneath him!

We were comfortable at 10-0 but that second score didn’t come. Lutterworth came back strongly and had us on the rack. On 21 minutes Ross Young caught ‘the cheese’. A pass out to the wing, Ross goes for an interception and gathers, but only by the slightest of margins. He couldn’t hold on so he was adjudged to have deliberately knocked the ball on in the red zone. Yellow card and a tad unfortunate. We would have loved it if Ross had caught the ball. Lutterworth were in trouble if he had. There was no one home and I doubt they would have caught him.

Lutterworth made their extra body count. They went to the line out. A neat catch and drive was stopped. Lutterworth’s blind side Kieran Hussey picked up from the base of ruck and powered over from 10 metres. The conversion was missed. 5-10 the score.

The game was quick. Park fell onto the wrong side of the referee giving away two penalty kicks. Neither was taken much to the surprise of the Lutterworth’s travelling support. Their kicker Harry Read usually a deadly shot with a 15 from 15 record prior to the game. The lack of accuracy brought some lively banter from Parks young faithful who questioned whether Harry Read “wanted it”. The response from Lutterworth supporters was immediate “he does want it”. Unfortunately for us Read did want it and proved it by being man of the match with 3 tries!!!

Percy Park were offered an opportunity to extend their lead as Lutterworth’s 8 Piers Golby was handed a yellow for a deliberate knock on. Ash Smith missed the penalty. Our support was silent. Strangely Lutterworth weren’t. On 42 mins Harry Read scored his first try of the game. Converting his own try from wide out. A great effort. 12-10 at the halfway point.

The supporters chat was friendly and lively at the interval with the Lutterworth support confident that their team were going to go on and win, one even offered to put his house on it. Not too sure that my little tarantula would be happy with me if I did that!!...never mind he obviously knew more than me as……

On 46 minutes Ash Smith’s attempt to clear the lines was charged down by Harry Read who ran in to score. Soft try. Fortunately Read missed the conversion.17-10.

Coach Laughlin ran his bench to put fresh legs into the fray. Sam Digman, Michael Birkett and Andrew Walker took to the pitch. The game was even. End to end. You felt the next try would prove to be decisive and so it proved. On 65 minutes Read scored and converted another. 24-10 and Park were chasing the game.

Percy Park weren’t getting the benefit of the referee’s decisions and we fell further behind when Harry Read slotted another penalty to take the score to 27 points to 10. Read wasn’t missing now.  

We kept plugging away. As a side we certainly don’t fold. A catch and drive from a line out produced a classic forwards try with hooker Dan Shuttleworth claiming the points. The conversion was missed. 27 to 15.

As the game marched closer to its finale, we began to tire and on 82 minutes Lutterworth’s number 8 Golby broke through our defensive line to score under the posts. Read converting bringing the game to a close at 34 pints to 15.

Tries just before half time the charge down and a try at the death made the score line more flattering but Lutterworth were definitely the better side – no complaints. Their offloads and direct running better than ours with us making one too many unforced errors with passes going behind the player rather than running onto it.

Coach Keith Laughlin had mixed feelings about the game but great hope for the future

"Yesterday was a little strange, I’m quietly content with where we are at as I’m looking further afield than just a cup run. As mentioned, a few weeks ago this gave us a great opportunity to develop our gameplan. Winning the final would have been icing on the cake but it wasn’t meant to be. We have a few more layers to bake first.

We had our legs taken from underneath us a few times yesterday with dubious refereeing decisions and this knocked the stuffing out of us in the second half. I’m not one to blame the ref for losing, this isn’t why we lost. Head knocks and tip tackles, with no players leaving the field for review or sanctions just can’t be cast aside when the game is in uproar with RFU protocols lowering tackle height to minimise these scenarios.

I’ve loved coaching this season and its testament to the players buying in to what Ash has put in place. We won 15 games in 17 since November and it shows we can compete at the tight end of the league next year."

Our First team manager Paul Jobson reflected eloquently on our campaign:

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the end of our season. 5 games, 3 bus trips and a final at the end of it. It wasn’t our day but my goodness they gave it everything they had. I don’t think any of us knew what we were getting into, with murmurings of discontent about not entering the County Cup. But our Coach made a great decision, he believed we could get to the final and game by game that belief grew amongst the lads and by the time we reached the final the whole club was excited, we were going to DMP!! Unfortunately, our opponents hadn’t appeared to have as tough a competition as us. They seemed to blow their opponents away and had only conceded 5 points in the 4 games. We on the other hand we’re out on our feet after last week’s outstanding performance at Birkenhead. Our rugby last week was great to watch, I would’ve loved playing in that side, what a win that was. Should the RFU have given a Rest week to watch the Coronation? If they had, I think we would’ve won!”

“15-34 didn’t reflect the game. We were better than that. But the opposition were just better on the day. We wanted it, but so did they and they just had a little bit more than us.

In the huddle, Coach Ash Smith spoke with great clarity, emotion and threw down a challenge to the lads about getting promoted and coming back and winning this thing. If they don’t accept then it will be a real shame. They have grown as individuals and as a team over the season. It has been wonderful to be a part of it. I think our coaches are doing a fantastic job , they complement each other perfectly , but more importantly the lads have bought into what they are asking them to do.Roll on next season.”

If we are fortunate to be back next year something needs to improve. The RFU hospitality was a shambles, and is something they need to reflect upon, no meet and greet and food put out at 1 minute before kick-off. None of our travelling alikados and supporters were able to mix or join the hospitality with our Lutterworth counterparts. A missed opportunity to meet as both of our clubs were founded in 1872 and were celebrating their 150^th season. We had alot to talk about. Mind one of our supporters was happy to miss the start of the game to get a piece of cake…some things never change.

Many Many thanks to all who supported on the day ...once Black and White always Black and White!

Representing Percy Park RFC

From 15: Jamie Wrigley, Howard Stock, Seb Reece, Paul Spowart, Ross Young, Ash Smith, and Tom Robinson

From 8: Michael Langlands, Jonny Dubois, Niall Combe, Josh Hedley, Chris Reekie, Tristan Grant, Dan Shuttleworth and Aaron Smith.

Finishers: Joe Cassidy, Eddie Saint, Andrew Walker, Michael Birkett, Sam Digman, Andy Dunn and Adam Hay.