Sunday 22 October 2023

Percy Park Panthers 26  - 12 Consett & District
(HT: 5 - 0)

With storm Babet not putting a stop to any of our matches this weekend, the Panthers welcomed Consett & District to Preston Avenue this Sunday. 

We endured a slightly smoky start as one of our neighbours enjoyed a late afternoon garden tidy up but that was soon extinguished and we could now see the pitch.

The Panthers lined up with our new Hooker, Amy Jennings, pulling on the black and white shirt for her debut at Preston Avenue. 

Both teams started off strongly coming off the whistle at full force. Good tackling from both sides meant a very physical first few minutes. With our back row at full strength, with Captain Anna Dryden, Nesha Wood and Emma Roberts, we were able to dominate the breakdown and our front 5 dominated in the scrum and off the back of that in the 12th minute we saw Steph Gicquel barge through the defence to score the Panthers’ first try of the match. 

Dom Hepples stepped up to take the conversion but it was not to be this time around the kick just going slightly wide. 5 – 0. 

Unfortunately, the Panthers then lost their number 10 Bethany Milne to a nasty knee injury in the 20th minute resulting in a trip to hospital. We wish you a speedy recovery Bethany.  

After the injury break the game resumed and saw Consett & District take their first try of the match scoring in the 49th minute. No conversion this time with the kick going wide to take the score to 5 – 5. 

The Panthers dug deep and in the 52nd minute Steph Gicquel scored her 2nd try of the match with Dom Hepples scoring the conversion bringing the score to 12 – 5. With Consett & District scoring in the 64th minute and converting the try the score was now 12 – 12.

Once again The Panthers came back fighting with Dom Hepples scoring in the 70th minute and converting her try to bring the score up to 19 – 12. Tensions were high but our Captain Anna Dryden, leading from the front as ever, calmed the team down ,refocussing them on the job in hand; they did just that with the next try coming from Sarah Jane Laybourne running the length of the pitch to score under the posts and Dom yet again converting the try 

The Panthers took a deserved win with a final score of 26 – 12.

The whole squad put in a tremendous performance but special mention to our forward of the match, Jenny Wood, for her outstanding performance in the scrum and the loose, our Back of the match Dom Hepples for an outstanding performance and kicking the conversions Finally a special to the opposition player of the match Stephanie Gicquel who proved she can truly play any position on the team after appearing at prop centre and full back!.

Point Scorers: 

Steph Gicquel 2 Try’s

Dom Hepples 1 Try 3 conversions.

Sarah-Jane Laybourne 1 Try 

A fantastic weekend of rugby at Preston Avenue which featured an International game between England and Scotland, the first XV making progress in the Papa Johns Community Cup, the U15s bringing home the silverware and the Panthers rounding off their league season in style against Consett.

England U19 54 Scotland U19 12

The weekend opened with the U19 Men’s International between England and Scotland which proved to be a great occasion in front of a large crowd. The game itself was of the highest quality, with England showing pace and power, particularly out wide, to effectively be out of sight by half time when they led 33-7. Credit to the Scots, their forwards battled superbly in the second half and, until the last few minutes, the second half was fairly even with one try apiece but two late England scores put the icing on the cake.

The man-of-the match as awarded by Percy Park was the England No 8 and Captain Connor Treacy

Percy Park 40 Cleckheaton 34

Percy Park too on Cleckheaton for the third time this season in the first leg of their Papa John’s Community Cup Regional 1 Plate Quarter-Final with once again the emphasis on youth as it had been against Driffield in the previous round. After an exciting, though at times scrappy game, Park will take a narrow six point lead to defend at Cleckheaton in the second leg next weekend having surrendered an eighteen point advantage late in the match.

In late Spring sunshine, the game began with three tries in the first eleven minutes, Park building a quickfire 14-5 lead which was extended on nineteen minutes when standoff Ash Smith added a penalty after the entire Cleckheaton backline were caught offside in front of their posts (17-5).

Cleckheaton, using their forwards, began to gain possession and territory but when the ball was spilled inside the Park 22, the home side attempted to play the ball out only to be penalised for not releasing with the resulting kick being put into the left corner. Although the initial catch and drive was repelled, Cleckheaton hooker Richard Piper found a way to burrow over for the try on twenty-nine minutes which was unconverted (17-10).

Five minutes before the break, Park flanker Leo Caulfield was given a yellow card by referee Cam Livingstone for contact off the ball after a high tackle. Cleckheaton took full advantage, Piper scoring a second try from a catch and drive. The try was unconverted giving Park a narrow 17-15 lead.

HT: Percy Park 17 Cleckheaton 15

Two minutes after the restart, the home side were able to extend their lead, Smith kicking another penalty after Cleckheaton were penalised for a high tackle (20-15). On fifty-one minutes, after a period of forward domination, Park scored again when prop Tristan Grant scored a close range try, converted by Smith (27-15).

The visitors responded almost immediately, some good back play resulting in their fullback Dom Brambani going in under the posts on fifty-four minutes, the try converted by standoff Dale Breakwell (27-22). From the restart, the Cleckheaton replacement scrum half was shown a yellow card by referee Livingstone for a deliberate knock on just inside the Cleckheaton 10 metre line, Smith kicking an excellent penalty to extend the home lead (30-22). On sixty-one minutes, Smith kicked another penalty from the same distance as the visitors were penalised again for a high tackle (33-22).

The next few minutes had Cleckheaton parked 5 metres out from the Park try line after the home side knocked on attempting to play out of their 22. A series of reset scrums had the referee giving out some stern words but when play did start, Cleckheaton were unable to make their dominance count and from a superb turnover and breakout, Park scored the try of the match, scrumhalf Jacob German scoring under the Cleck posts on sixty-seven minutes, Smith converting (40-22).

A healthy eighteen point lead going into the last ten minutes but with changes up front for the home side, the Park forwards began to lose their mojo with Cleckheaton taking full advantage to significantly narrow the gap.  On seventy-two minutes, a Park defensive scrum was splintered by the visiting scrum, a Cleckheaton penalty awarded. A quick tap and go had scrumhalf Tom Egan score an unconverted try (40-27).

As the clock ticked down to the end of the match, a succession of Park infringements had Cleckheaton in the right corner but they knocked on as they drove to the line from the lineout. The resulting Park scrum was again marched backwards, Cleckheaton gaining possession for (I think) second row Josh Plunkett to touch down, Breakwell kicking an excellent conversion (40-34).

FT: Percy Park 40 Cleckheaton 34

The exact date and time of the second leg next week has yet to be confirmed, so please check the website and club social media outlets for updates.

We thank Cleckheaton for a great game, look forward to the return next week and wish them well as the compete in the Yorkshire Cup Final against York in Leeds on 24 May. We also thank our referee Cam Livingstone and hope to see him back here in the not too distant future.

Percy Park: 1 Tristan Grant; 2 Jonny Dubois; 3 Sam Digman; 4 Karl Thompson; 5 Chris Reekie; 6 Josh Cox; 7 Leo Caulfield; 8 Matthew French; 9 Jacob German; 10 Ash Smith; 11 Heston Floyd; 12 Jordan Carey; 13 Seb Reece; 14Howard Stock ©; 15 Josh Bailey

Replacements: Otis Collingbourne; Louis Adamson; Sean Nairn; Eddie Saint; Freddie Hara

U15s Win County Bowl

On Sunday morning, Park hosted seven county teams, some 190 players, for a number of Northumberland County Finals with our U15s bringing home the silverware in winning the County Bowl. An amazing day, many congratulations to all. The U11s also rounded off their season at the Tynedale Festival.

Percy Park Panthers 55 Consett 7

On Sunday afternoon, the Panthers completed their league season in NC 3 North (North) by overwhelming Consett 55-7 in glorious sunshine. The win sees them finish third in the table, having won eight of their twelve matches played, with Penrith running away with the league title winning all of their matches. Another great season from the ladies, onwards and upwards in 2025/26!

Saturday 12 April 2025

Percy Park 36 Driffield 31

Papa John’s Community Cup

Regional 1 Plate (Round 1)

(HT: 24-19)

Just seven days after the agony of defeat at Driffield and the confirmation of relegation, we faced the East Yorkshire side again in the first round of the Papa John’s Community Cup (Regional 1 Plate) at Preston Avenue. Both league games had produced very tight games and this cup encounter proved no different with the home side just keeping their noses in front in the second half after three early Driffield tries had Park trailing for much of the first. The game kicked off late due to the Driffield bus having broken down en route to Tyneside but the travel delay did not seem to have affected the visitors as Driffield took early control of the game to twice lead by nine points.

There were the inevitable changes after last week’s game at Kelleythorpe, both sides introducing a number of senior colts with Park selecting two seventeen-year-olds, Heston Floyd and Josh Cox, neither of whom looked out of place. Floyd debuted at fullback in place of Jordan Carey. Also in the backline, Paul Spowart replaced Fergus Simpson in the centre with Sam McDonald replacing Lucas Rowell on the left wing. In the forwards, Jonny Dubois replaced Keith Laughlin in the backrow with positional changed for Leo Caulfield and Matthew French as a result. In the front row, Louis Adamson replaces Dubois at Hooker with Michael Birkett replacing Tristan Grant at Prop. Cox was joined on an expanded replacements bench by Tom Czerwinke, Mark Barry, Fraser McGlashan, Lions captain Jay Bartoli, Archie Graham and Josh Bailey.

On a warm, sunny afternoon, albeit with a breeze, Park kicked off but were behind after only a minute, referee Harry Bailey playing an early advantage and centre Ben Blacker making an excellent break along the right touchline for wing Ben Styche to finish off the move five metres in from the touchline. Standoff Gregor Napier missed the conversion (0-5). Park were able to respond immediately from the restart, winning a scrum on the Driffield 22. After several resets, the ball was moved left and as prop Sam Digman carried strongly into the 22 he was high tackled, the referee signaling the penalty immediately. Standoff Ash Smith kicked the goal from the 22-metre line but in front of the posts on four minutes (3-5).

If Park had been quick to respond, so were the visitors to our penalty. Park attempted to play out of their 22 from the restart but the ball was turned over at a maul and from the resulting scrum, Driffield moved the ball left. Blacker, at pace and running a superb line completely flat-footed the home defence to score an excellent try just to the left of the posts on seven minutes which was converted by Napier (3-12). After some scrappy play in midfield, Driffield infringed at a scrum on their own 10 metre line. No 8 Matthew French took a quick tap and made ground and with Park moving at pace, Driffield were penalised for yet another high tackle. French took another tap, catching the Driffield defence cold and his inside pass had centre Seb Reece over by the posts. Smith converted on eleven minutes (10-12).

The breathless start to the match continued, both sides wanting to play rugby, but both defences holding firm. Park were beginning to win both the territory and possession battle as the game entered the second quarter but disaster struck as they attacked right from a maul in the left corner. The ball was spilled and Napier gathered and hared into Park territory but when tackled, a Park player was off his feet at the ensuing ruck. Driffield fullback William Bradley took a quick tap and from then, Park were always struggling defensively along Driffield’s left touchline. Good hands and good support play had flanker Jack Webster in for the try to the left of the posts on twenty-two minutes, Napier kicking an excellent conversion (10-19).

The next few minutes had Driffield keeping possession with the forwards around halfway but when they decided to put the ball wide it was turned over with Park moving the ball left at speed. A piece of individual brilliance by scrumhalf Jacob German had him accelerate into space, break the defensive line and side step the last defender to score a fantastic try by the posts on twenty-six minutes, Smith converting (17-19). Park were now starting to win the collisions and gain the ascendancy and took the lead for the first time in the match on thirty-two minutes when second row Karl Thompson made a storming run deep into the Driffield 22 and when tackled, the ball was moved swiftly left for left wing Sam McDonald to touch down in the corner. Smith kicked an excellent conversion from the touchline (24-19). A very enjoyable half was brought to a close with Park containing a number of Driffield forays into their 22.

HT: Percy Park 24 Driffield 19

Driffield kicked off the second half and after an excellent first period, the third quarter was largely tame by comparison, both sides spending time in the opposition 22 without troubling the scoreboard. The second half stalemate was broken as the game entered the final twenty minutes, Park winning a penalty just inside the Driffield 22 after two visiting players were caught offside. Smith kicked into the left corner and from the catch and drive, second row Chris Reekie peeled off to score in the left corner on sixty-two minutes. Smith missed the difficult conversion (29-19).

The score roused the visitors who began to enjoy their best period of the second half, a series of forward drives putting them deep into the home 22. A Park high tackle gave Driffield the opportunity to put the ball into the right corner with the catch and drive taking them to the Park try line. As Park contained the threat with good defence they were penalised again for a side entry and the kick was again put into the right corner. This time, the catch and drive was perfect, replacement prop Tom Green touching down for the score on twenty-seven minutes. The conversion was missed (29-24).

Four minutes later, Park scored their fifth try and with the conversion opened up a twelve-point lead. A Driffield clearance kick from their 22 failed to find touch and replacement Josh Cox powered into Driffield territory. The ball was eventually moved at speed left with centre Reece on a great line hitting the ball at pace to scythe through the Driffield defence. He kicked the ball ahead but the Driffield left wing Tom Brankley was unable to gather the ball and Reece was able to pick up and touch down, referee Bailey signaling the try immediately, Smith converting (36-24).  

With just one minute of the match remaining, Driffield scored the final points of the match, scrumhalf Tom Sowerby finding a gap to go over after the visitors had spent the last few minutes of the game attacking the Park line. The try was converted by Sowerby himself to end the match (36-31).

FT: Percy Park 36 Driffield 31

An excellent game played in a great spirit, the third meeting of the season and three very close and entertaining matches. After last weeks heartache, smiles all round for the home faithful. For Park, the future looks bright despite our relegation with players of the calibre of man-of-the-match Jacob German and young Heston Floyd and Josh Cox coming through the youth ranks. Post match, Jacob had this to say: “I really enjoyed the game and obviously, it was great to score a try. Last weekend was tough but this win shows that we are a good team. Hopefully we will do well in the cup”.

Driffield played well and the whole game was nip-and-tuck with the home side never quite comfortable after taking the lead with the visitors always able, in the second half, to respond to Park scores. We have had three excellent games this season and we wish them well for 2025/2026 and hope to meet them again in the not too distant future. Our thanks also to referee Harry Baily from the Manchester Society who refereed the game superbly throughout. We hope to see him back at Preston Avenue soon.

As is their wont, the RFU have changed the format of the Regional 1 Plate competition in recent days, making the quarter-final two-legged affairs. We have drawn our old friends from Cleckheaton and are due to meet here at Preston Avenue on Saturday 26 April with the return in West Yorkshire a week later but, with the U19 England vs Scotland Men’s International to be played at Park on 26 April, the above may be subject to change so, please keep a check on the website and the club social media platforms for the latest information on the games.

The Panthers were away at Alnwick on Sunday last, suffering a 35-26 defeat which effectively ended their push for promotion but they have still enjoyed an excellent season. This weekend, on Good Friday, the Northumberland Vets Cup gets underway at Preston Avenue, KO 3pm. If you are not eating Easter eggs, pop along and support the day, the bars will be open!

May I wish everyone connected to the club together with your families and loved ones a very, very happy Easter.

Percy Park: 15 Heston Floyd; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Paul Spowart; 11 Sam McDonald; 10 Ash Smith; 9 Jacob German; 8 Matthew French; 7 Jonny Dubois: 6 Leo Caulfield; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Karl Thompson; 3 Michael Birkett; 2 Louis Adamson; 1 Sam Digman

Replacements: Tom Czerwinke; Mark Barry; Fraser McGlashan; Jay Bartoli; Josh Cox; Archie Graham; Josh Bailey

Saturday 5 April 2025

Driffield 29 Percy Park 26

Regional 1 North East

(HT: 14-19)

There was absolute heartache for all connected with the club at Driffield on Saturday as Park were relegated from Regional 1 North East after suffering an agonising defeat by the home side. After twice holding a twelve-point lead, a penalty just four minutes before the end of the match condemned the visitors to the narrowest of defeats and put an end, after one season, to our journey at Level 5. It was, to some extent, a familiar story, the team fading in the last twenty minutes of the game with Driffield scoring two tries to tie the match and kicking the late penalty to seal the game. Within two minutes of the second half starting, Park had scored the bonus point try and looked to be in complete control but gradually, as the half wore on and despite a yellow card, Driffield gained control and were able to turn the game around to take the spoils. Crucial injuries together with a yellow card late on did not help the visitors but credit to Driffield, they fought their way back into the game with Park running out of steam.

There were changes to the Park side defeated by Huddersfield last time out with a new centre pairing of Seb Reece (in from the left wing) and Fergus Simpson with Ross Young unavailable through injury. Ash Smith moved from centre to standoff. Lucas Rowell came into the side on the left wing. In the front row, Jonny Dubois returned as hooker in place of the injured Dan Shuttleworth with Tristan Grant replacing Michael Birkett. On the replacements bench, Josh Hedley replaced Jake Smith.

On a bright, breezy but sunny day and in front of a large crowd, Driffield kicked off and were immediately into their stride and straight into the Park 22. The ball was moved swiftly left and standoff Gregor Napier was able to offload the ball in the tackle inside to flanker Rob Mewburn who scampered over five metres in from the left touchline. As Napier began his run up to take the conversion the ball fell off of the tee but he coolly picked it up and his drop goal sailed over (7-0). Three minutes played and Park were still on the bus.

From the restart, the visitors began to play and quickly cancelled out the opening home score. They stormed into the home 22, Driffield quickly conceding a penalty but with the referee playing advantage, Park moved the ball quickly right. Skipper Howard Stock was held up on the line but when the ball was quickly recycled, fullback Jordan Carey was on hand to score after a neat side step on eight minutes, standoff Ash Smith kicking an excellent conversion from the right touchline (7-7). Park were gaining the ascendancy; just a few minutes later a Driffield overthrow at a lineout had the visitors racing some 60 metres only for wing Lucas Rowell to be held just short of the try line but the visitors gained their reward for some sparkling play when, after a Driffield clearance kick, an excellent offload from Seb Reece had fellow centre Fergus Simpson haring along the right touchline. His kick ahead was collected by Stock who raced in under the posts for a superb try on fourteen minutes, Smith converting (7-14).

Just two minutes later, with Park exploiting the holes in the home defence, they were held up over the line after excellent work from Lucas Rowell and Tristan Grant. This seemed to give the home side some impetus and they began to test the Park defence, wing Ben Styche tackled into touch just short of the Park line with the Driffield forwards held up on the line a short while later. Park responded, an attack down the right stopped just short but regaining possession on halfway shortly after, the forwards were able to drive to the Driffield 10 metre line and a clever change of direction and break by Smith took him into the home 22 where the ball was moved at speed for captain Howard Stock to score his second try of the match in the right corner on 34 minutes. Smith missed the difficult conversion (7-19), the Park faithful beginning to believe.

As the clock ticked down to the end of the half, Park were again almost on the Driffield line and going for the jugular when disaster struck. Home No 8 Ed Falkingham turned the ball over and charged out of the 22 and with the Park defence caught knapping quick hands had the ball into the hands of centre Ben Blacker who raced in for the try on 40 minutes, Napier converting to significantly narrow the score (14-19).

HT: Driffield 14 Percy Park 19

Park kicked off the second half and were quickly on the front foot. From a lineout on halfway, the ball was moved into centre field where second row Chris Reekie ran hard into the opposition half, the ball being quickly recycled right with Smith making the break and centre Seb Reece receiving the ball on the Driffield 10 metre line to leave the home defence trailing in his wake to score a great try to the right of the posts on forty-eight minutes, Smith converting to restore the twelve point advantage, the bonus point secured (14-26).

One minute later, Driffield replacement Harry Grant was shown a yellow card after a high tackle but Park, despite possession and pressure over the next ten minutes or so, could not make the numerical advantage count. Restored to fifteen players, Driffield began to find some momentum but Park’s defence held firm around the 22 metre line. When the ball was moved left another excellent offload in the tackle from Napier allowed Driffield to attack along the left touchline and when the visitors ran out of defenders, prop Sam Robson found a gap to go over just to the left of the posts with Napier converting on sixty-four minutes (21-26). Just a couple of minutes after the restart, Park prop Sam Digman was shown a yellow card (it was difficult to see exactly for what offence as the referee’s signal was unclear) with things quickly going from bad to worse a short time later when, with the visitors beginning to tire, the home eight sent the visiting forwards backwards at a scrum on the Park 10 metre line, the ball eventually going along the line to the right wing where left wing Robbie Rix made ground, just managing to kick ahead before he was tackled. Fellow wing Ben Styche managed to hack on and ground the ball just before it went over the dead ball line on seventy minutes. Napier missed the conversion, the game tied (26-26).

Park were now hanging on with a fifty metre break by the home side stopped just short after the ball was lost in the tackle. Driffield came again, No 8 Falkingham being brought down inches from the line but as the ball was recycled Park were offside in front of their posts, the referee playing advantage, and although they managed to hold Driffield up over the line the referee brought play back for the infringement with Napier kicking the goal with just four minutes of the match remaining (29-26).

With time running out, Park roused themselves for one last effort, winning an attacking lineout in the right corner. From this, they pounded the home line with Ash Smith and several forwards falling inches short of the line but when they conceded a penalty as the clock turned red, the chance was lost and their relegation confirmed.

FT: Driffield 29 Percy Park 26

As they have done in every game, the lads gave absolutely everything and their efforts over the season cannot be faulted. A number of games have gone down to the wire and injuries and unavailability have taken their toll but, ultimately, it has been our failure to see out a number of games from winning positions that has cost us dearly, today being a prime example. The team were obviously in bits after the final whistle when Blaydon’s victory over Selby was confirmed as was our relegation but the trip home was not all doom and gloom, a stop in Yarm to drown our sorrows helped, as was the realisation that we did not go down without a real fight and who knows what next season will bring, promotion?

Captain Howard Stock was, as always, honest in his assessment post-match: “We just couldn’t see it out and it has been the same old story most of the season. Is it fitness? I don’t know. After Seb scored (the fourth try) I thought we would really kick on especially as they went a man down but we couldn’t capitalise. We lost our go forward and allowed Driffield to come back at us. We were so close at the end to getting the score we needed but probably lost a little composure knowing time was nearly up. The whole team are gutted but we need to quickly face up to what has happened, we take on Driffield again next week in the cup and we want to do as well as we can in that competition”.

In the clubhouse post-match, Driffield were gracious in victory, fulsome in their praise for our efforts, and sad for our relegation. We thank them for their wonderful hospitality and look forward to reciprocating next weekend on Tyneside. We also thank our match referee.

The Lions suffered a high scoring defeat at Driffield 71-46 and on Sunday, the Panthers suffered a home defeat to league leaders Penrith 5-36 to leave their promotion hopes resting on a knife edge.

Next Saturday, with the league season over, the Papa John’s Community Cup takes centre stage and we are in the Regional 1 Plate Competition with a first round home tie against… Driffield! KO is at 3pm. The Plate is a straight knock-out competition with the winner of our game taking on either Cleckheaton or Blackburn at home in the Quarter Final. The Lions are not scheduled to have a game but on Sunday the Panthers travel to Alnwick in NC3 North (North). All support for our sides would be greatly appreciated.    

Percy Park: 15 Jordan Carey; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Fergus Simpson; 11 Lucas Rowell; 10 Ash Smith; 9 Jacob German; 8 Keith Laughlin; 7 Leo Caulfield; 6 Matthew French; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Karl Thompson; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Jonny Dubois; 1 Tristan Grant

Replacements: Louis Adamson; Paul Spowart; Josh Hedley