Saturday 14 December 2024

Percy Park 10 Heath 42

Regional 1 North East

(HT: 5-21)

Heath RUFC made their first ever visit to Preston Avenue and in what was always going to be a tough encounter for the home side, they ran out 10-42 victors in what was a comprehensive victory. Injuries have not helped the Percy Park cause so far this season and a red card late on made life even more difficult. Heath were good value for their win, a dominant scrum enabling them to score six converted tries and, apart from the first few minutes, they mostly controlled the game. A slightly shorter match report this week as I was unfortunately not present at the game and am relying solely on the match video but I am led to understand that the highlight of the day for the Park faithful was the pre-match Christmas Lunch as opposed to the game itself which was somewhat of an anti-climax.

On a dry but overcast day, Heath kicked off and were straight on the attack, but a high tackle gave the home side the chance to clear their lines. From the lineout, scrum half Andrew Walker kicked ahead, gathered and stormed into the Heath 22 and when finally tackled gave the perfect offload to Leo Caulfield who scored wide out on the left. An excellent start after two minutes, the try unconverted (5-0). However, Heath were able to hit back immediately, a great tackle from prop Jack Pilcher in midfield handing Heath possession and excellent interplay between the visiting centres had outside centre Dominic Horn run in for the try to the right of the posts, converted on five minutes by Chris Johnson (5-7).

The score seemed to lift Heath who through their forwards began to exert real pressure. A high tackle by second row Chris Reekie in the home 22 saw him shown a yellow card with the penalty kicked into the right corner. Park quickly conceded another penalty at the lineout and a quick tap had the Park defence stretched enabling flanker Harvey Keithley-Payne to score, again to the right of the posts, on twelve minutes. Johnson converted (5-14). The Heath forwards were relentless but dogged defence kept them out but as Reekie came back onto the field, yet another penalty for a high tackle enabled Heath to attack from a lineout in the Left corner. Although a succession of drives were stopped, second row Seif Boussaada had the strength to crash over to the right of the posts, Johnson converting on twenty-five minutes (5-21).

From the restart, a huge clearance kick from Johnson again had Park under pressure but there was no further score.

HT: Percy Park 5 Heath 21

Park kicked off the second half but two quick penalties, both for not rolling away after the tackle, had Heath with a lineout in the left corner. Park stole the ball on their line, but the clearance kick was charged down with Heath flanker Ben Stringer on hand to score their bonus point try. Forty-five minutes played with Johnson converting the score (5-28). Park simply could not get into the game and with the visiting pack dominant, possession was limited. The pressure was such that the Park penalty count rose as the game progressed and it was from several infringements that Heath gained a scrum just inside the home 22. They put the pressure on and sent the home eight backwards for No 8 Tom Clough to touch down on 60 minutes, Johnson again converting (5-35).

It was suddenly Heath who began to give penalties away and give Park some possession. A succession of infringements gave the home side a chance to tap from almost underneath the posts and as the ball was moved left flanker Leo Caulfield had the strength to wriggle over on the left with sixty-five minutes played. The try was unconverted (10-35). Almost from the restart, a yellow card for Heath prop Jack Pilcher, gave the home side impetus but Heath held firm with, eventually, a penalty for crossing by the home side helping to relieve the pressure. A storming run along the left touchline from prop Tristan Grant came to nothing when the ball was knocked on and from the resultant scrum, Heath scored the try of the match, a 50 metre burst from centre Ezra Hinchliff eventually being finished by scrumhalf Dom Walsh on seventy minutes, Johnson again converting (10-42).

There was no more scoring but shortly before the end of the match, another high tackle from Chris Reekie earned him a second yellow followed by a red card to end a very disappointing game for the home side.

FT: Percy Park 10 Heath 42

Heath fully deserved the win; their pack was very strong and their halfbacks Johnson and Walsh controlled the game extremely well. Heath remain in fifth place in the Regional 1 North East table with Park slipping down to nineth. It is now our fourth straight loss in the league with just one more league game to play before the festive break. We thank them for the game and wish them well for the remainder of the season. Our thanks too to our referee.

The Lions were also at home on Saturday, losing to a strong Middlesbrough Wasps side 14-38 but on Sunday, the Panthers won a hard fought game at home to Ponteland 17-12 to maintain their title bid in NC3 North (North).

Next week, the 1^st XV travel to Ilkley in their final league game of 2024, KO is 2pm. On Boxing Day, Park take on Whitley Bay Rockcliff in our annual Festive fixture at Preston Avenue. with the Colts kicking things off against their Hillheads opponents at 11.30am for the Albi Duhrin Cup. The senior game is at 1.30pm with the NUFC vs Aston Villa on the big screen in the Clubhouse from 3pm. It should be a great day. All support for the above fixtures would be most appreciated.

Percy Park: 15 Jordan Carey; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Paul Spowart; 11 Tom Robinson; 10 Ash Smith; 9 Andrew Walker; 8 Matthew French; Leo Caulfield; 6 Harry Paul; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Keith Laughlin; 3 Tristan Grant; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Louis Adamson

Replacements: Sean Nairn; Jacob German; Charley Miller

Saturday 30 November 2024

Percy Park 33 Cleckheaton 38

Regional 1 North East

(HT: 11-16)

Cleckheaton were the visitors on Saturday and took the spoils in a match that, as in our last home game against York, we could, may be should, have won but take nothing away from Cleckheaton, their opening thirty minute salvo and two quick tries at the beginning of the second period deserved victory. As with several games this season, Park struggled to get into the game in the early exchanges and found themselves sixteen points down after half an hour. They fought back but a poor start to the second half gave our guests the cushion to hang on despite a strong Park effort late on. However, two bonus points were gained which may yet prove important at the end of the season.

There were several changes to the side defeated at Blaydon last time out with yet more injuries causing disruption. Dan Shuttleworth made a welcome return from injury at Hooker as did Oli Bartles-Smith who replaced Toby Davison on the left wing. Josh Hedley returned to the second row to replace Fraser McGlashan with coach Keith Laughlin making a rare appearance to partner Josh replacing the injured Chris Reekie. Ash Smith also made a welcome return from injury at standoff to replace the injured Fergus Simpson with Tom Robinson replacing the injured Andrew Walker at scrum half.

Percy Park kicked off on an overcast day, though with a hint of sunshine, and a gentle breeze. A strong run from No 8 Jack Seddon showed the visitors intent and an early Cleckheaton penalty as Park strayed offside enabled them to gain a lineout on halfway. A storming run from Cleck centre Tom Hainsworth was only stopped by a brave tackle from home skipper Howard Stock and for the next few minutes, Cleckheaton laid siege to the Park try line. The home defence was exceptional and when Jonny Dubois was able to turn the ball over, Park were able to clear their lines.

The respite was temporary. A scrum penalty from the lineout allowed the visitors to maul impressively towards the home line and a clever cross field kick had both Cleckheaton wings held up on the line with, eventually, visiting wing Jack Marshall being tackled into touch when almost over. Home scrumhalf Tom Robinson was able to clear but back came Cleckheaton and when Cleck second row Louis Frear charged for the line he was tackled just short. Park No 8 Matthew French illegally prevented the ball being recycled and was immediately shown a yellow card by referee Will Lacey. Somehow, Park survived the resultant tap penalty, but Cleckheaton were quickly back on the attack, their forwards mauling impressively. The dam had to break, and it duly did after 12 minutes, Park centre Seb Reece being caught offside in the 22. Up stepped Cleck standoff Dale Breakwell to kick the resultant penalty (0-3).

The Cleckheaton pressure was unrelenting and back they came, after strong running from Hainsworth and their backrow, to earn another penalty after a high tackle midway in the Park half. Breakwell’s kick struck the post and as it came to ground the shout of “Leave it!” could be heard but the ball was inexplicably handled, and Park were caught offside. This time Breakwell made no mistake from in front of the posts, 18 minutes played (0-6). Worse was to come for the hosts when just two minutes later, Cleckheaton scored the first try of the match. From the restart, their big ball carriers drove Cleckheaton up field and Hainsworth, on a storming run broke through the Park defence and his pass had wing Tom Oldroyd streak along the left touchline to score with an excellent conversion from wideout by Breakwell (0-13).

A five minute period of kick tennis followed the restart but from a lineout just inside the Park half, the home side conceded a penalty after crossing in the lineout and the resulting kick gave Cleckheaton a lineout deep in the Park 22. They attacked right and only a last ditch tackle from fullback Jordan Carey stopped Oldroyd from scoring his second try in the right corner. Park infringed again in midfield (high tackle) and on 28 minutes Breakwell kicked the penalty (0-16). Cleckheaton were sixteen points to the good after half an hour with the home side barely out of their own half.

However, Park were able to respond immediately. From the restart, an excellent chase from flanker Leo Caulfield caused the visitors to knock on and when No 8 French went from the base of the scrum, Cleckheaton were penalised for a no arms tackle and centre Paul Spowart was able to get Park on the scoreboard after 31 minutes (3-16). From the restart, as Park attacked along the left touchline, wing Oli Bartles-Smith was injured which necessitated scrum half Tom Robinson moving to replace him. Charley Miller replaced him as scrumhalf with Sean Nairn also coming on into the front row. With Park slowly getting into the game, a Cleckheaton high tackle on their own 10 metre line gave Spowart another kick at goal which he duly converted with an excellent kick on 35 minutes (6-16).

Cleckheaton attacked again but another storming run from Hainsworth had them into the home 22 but the ball was spilled and a reverse pass through his legs from Seb Reece put Park on the offensive. At last the hosts were in the visitors 22 putting the Yorkshire side under sustained pressure and almost as time on the half was up, Cleckheaton were penalised for not releasing in the tackle. A kick to the corner, an excellent catch and drive and Jonny Dubois was over for the try. Spowart was unable to convert the score but, after being under the cosh for so long, Park turned around just five points adrift of their opponents (11-16).

HT: Percy Park 11 Cleckheaton 16

Cleckheaton kicked off the second half that saw Park straight on the attack. The visitors were quickly penalised and the resulting kick to touch had a Park lineout on the Cleck 10 metre line. As the ball came infield a poor pass in midfield went to ground an No 8 Jack Seddon hacked on. Park were unable to deal with the ball on the floor but managed to win a defensive lineout in the left corner after the final touch came off the Cleck player. Disaster then struck; the ball was overthrown straight to Seddon who simply had to fall over the line to score on 42 minutes. Breakwell converted (11-23). If that was not bad enough, Cleckheaton scored the try of the match straight from the kick off. The ball was fielded by Seddon who stormed up field straight through the Park defence. His pass right had a support runner storm up the touchline and his inside pass when tackled saw second row Luke Pearson crash over on 44 minutes. Breakwell converted and in two minutes Cleckheaton had almost doubled their score (11-30).

Park had a mountain to climb but began to climb it within four minutes. Keeping possession, Seb Reece escaped two tackles to put the home side into the visitors 22 and when, eventually, an attacking lineout was gained in the right hand corner another excellent catch and drive had Leo Caulfield score to reduce the deficit. Spowart kicked the difficult conversion (18-30).

The restart saw Park, with some possession, play with width and a strong carry from second row Josh Hedley saw Park gain a penalty when Cleck infringed at a ruck. Park were beginning to put pressure on their opponents but they too were penalised for a high tackle after Cleckheaton turned the ball over. The Park eight were now starting to match the Cleckheaton forwards but when Park won two quick penalties that put them into attacking positions both lineouts were lost. From the second, Cleckheaton moved the ball left at speed and wing Jack Marshall broke free. Park wing Tom Robinson hared across the field to put in a brilliant tackle as Marshall was about to pass inside to his fullback for a certain score. But Cleckheaton were not to be denied; from the five metre lineout, the Cleckheaton catch and drive was perfect for flanker Joe Flanagan to peel off and score in the left hand corner on 64 minutes for the bonus point try. Breakwell kicked another excellent conversion (18-35).

With just fifteen minutes remaining, Park ran in three tries to set up a grandstand finish. The first, on 66 minutes, followed a Cleckheaton yellow card when replacement scrumhalf Charley Miller saw a gap close to the Cleckheaton line but was high tackled, wing Tom Oldroyd sent to the bin. A quick tap penalty saw prop Sam Digman go over but the conversion was missed (23-35). From the restart Park played out of their 22 and an excellent 50/22 kick from fullback Jordan Carey gave Park a lineout in the visitors 22 but the throw was not straight. Park pushed the Cleckheaton forwards off of the ball at the ensuing scrum to win the penalty but the resulting catch and drive was held up. An act of foul play was seen by the referee and Cleck fullback Dominic Brambani was shown a yellow card. The penalty was put into the corner and this time the catch and drive was executed to perfection, No 8 Matthew French the try scorer on 74 minutes but the conversion was missed (28-35).

Cleckheaton quickly gained a penalty from the restart after Park were penalised for holding on after the tackle but Breakwell’s kick fell short and the home side attacked at speed along the right touchline, captain Howard Stock and standoff Ash Smith to the fore. The ball was moved left and flanker Leo Caulfield put in a huge kick down field, wing Tom Robinson chasing it more in hope than expectation but when the Cleck defender failed to gather the ball on the try line, Robinson pounced to score but again the conversion was missed (33-35). A two point game with under three minutes left to play.

Park attacked from the restart, but a pass went astray gifting Cleckheaton possession and Park were penalised seconds later for not releasing. This time Breakwell made no mistake with the penalty from midway in the Park half (33-38). There was just time to get the game restarted before referee Lacey called time.

FT: Percy Park 33 Cleckheaton 38

Captain Howard Stock was clearly disappointed after the game: “A difficult day but credit to Cleckheaton, they played really well particularly in that opening half hour where we just couldn’t compete. I thought we had got back into it by halftime but their two tries at the start of the second half killed us. It just left us too much to do although we nearly pulled it off. If a couple of kicks had gone over, we might have got our noses in front and who knows but two bonus points is something. Defensively we have to tighten up, we’ve let ourselves down too often lately”. As at Sandal earlier in the season, Park only started to play after a nightmare first twenty to thirty minutes and in both games, the points conceded in those opening minutes were just too much to overcome.

For Park, Matthew French excelled again (albeit with the yellow card) and with Seb Reece, gave Park momentum. Keith Laughlin also played well and showed his class and what a great player he is (was?). There were defensive lapses that cost us dearly as did the penalty count and Cleckheaton scored ten unanswered points while we were down to fourteen. Our lineout badly malfunctioned, especially in the second half, and, it has to be said, we were simply not in the game until it was already thirty minutes old. For Cleckheaton, strong running centre Tom Hainsworth caused problems all afternoon as did No 8 Jack Seddon and as a team, they played some great rugby in that opening half an hour to open up a sixteen point lead. Cleckheaton deserved the win in the end, and we thank them for a great game that occasionally got a bit tetchy, but overall was played in the right spirit. We look forward to the return in West Yorkshire in March. The result means that Cleckheaton leapfrog Park in the Regional 1 North East table to sixth, with Park dropping to seventh, one point adrift. Our thanks also, as always, to referee Will Lacey without whom there would be no game.

Next weekend, the lads travel to Huddersfield for another tough looking Regional 1 North East fixture, KO is at 2pm. The Lions and the Panthers at this time do not have fixtures but the Colts are scheduled to take on Durham City on Sunday 8 December, KO 1pm, but please check social media to ensure the game is on. In addition, the Lions may try to rearrange the recently postponed fixture against Tynedale so again, check social media.  All support for these games would be most welcome.  

Percy Park: 15 Jordan Carey; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Paul Spowart; 11 Oli Bartles-Smith; 10 Ash Smith; 9 Tom Robinson; 8 Matthew French; 7 Jonny Dubois; 6 Leo Caulfield; 5 Josh Hedley; 4 Keith Laughlin; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Tristan Grant

Replacements: Sean Nairn; Euan Smart; Charley Miller

Saturday 16 November 2024

Blaydon 33 Percy Park 0

Regional 1 North East

(HT: 19-0)

Percy Park made the short journey to Crow Trees on Saturday for this eagerly anticipated North East derby, our first senior fixture against Blaydon for many a long year. Sadly, for both players and supporters alike, it was very much a damp squib from a Park perspective. Never really in the game from the start, Park struggled to hold a clearly fired up home side and in truth, it could have been worse, Blaydon spurning a number of chances through their own errors and some dogged defending. It has been some time since Park have been unable to trouble the scoreboard in a game and the body language from the players at the end of the match clearly showed how much the result hurt. For coach Keith Laughlin, former Blaydon player, captain and coach, it was not quite the return he was hoping for.

There were several changes in the Park side from that which suffered the narrow defeat to York last week. Toby Davison returned to the left wing in place of Jacob German, Sam Digman returned to the front row in place of Sean Nairn, Jonny Dubois moved to the back row in place of Euan Smart with Louis Adamson replacing him at hooker and Fraser McGlashan coming into the second row in place of the injured Josh Hedley. On the replacements bench, Adam Hay joined Tom Robinson and the returning Jake Smith.

On a dry, generally overcast, breezy and cold afternoon, Blaydon kicked off and almost immediately Park were defending their try line. A penalty for not releasing in the tackle had Blaydon kick into the left corner with centre Alex Clark on a crash ball held up on the line but although the visitors were able to clear their lines, Blaydon were quickly back on the attack, another Park infringement (off their feet) gifting the home side territory deep in the Park 22. The catch and drive was held on the line with Blaydon eventually knocking on but the home side were rewarded for their early dominance on 9 minutes, when, after Park were penalised for crossing on halfway, Blaydon had a lineout on the Park 22. As the maul formed, Blaydon scrum half John Clarkson spotted the space on the blindside and his short pass had wing Jack Appleton sprint in to score wide out on the left. Clarkson was unsuccessful with the conversion (5-0).

From the restart, Park were again straight on the defensive, illegally stopping a huge 20 metre rolling maul and somehow managing to manouvre the resultant Blaydon catch and drive into touch almost on the try line. With the visitors unable to get a foot hold in the game the damn had to break again and it duly did on 19 minutes, the Blaydon fullback Kevin Slow receiving the ball in midfield with seemingly nowhere to go but two dummies later he was touching down to the left of the posts, not a hand laid on him, for an excellent individual try. Clarkson converted (12-0). There was a suspicion of a home knock on in the build up before the fullback received the ball, but referee Matt Arrowsmith was unsighted.

As the first quarter ended, Park had yet to enter the home 22, and an awful restart gave Blaydon possession at a scrum on halfway. Clarkson made an excellent break and when tackled the home side knocked on at the breakdown with the Park defence in disarray. Park at last began to get some meaningful possession but mistakes and ill discipline littered their game. The one bright spot for the visitors was prop Sam Digman, who had his opponent in the scrum in all sorts of bother and it was a scrum penalty that led to our first visit into the Blaydon 22. The resultant penalty was kicked deep into the Blaydon 22 on the right and the resultant catch and drive was held up almost on the Blaydon line. Park spent the next few moments battering the home defence but it held firm and a Park infringement enabled them to clear. As the half drew to a close, another excellent break from Blaydon scrumhalf Clarkson almost had Slow in again but the Blaydon fullback spilled the ball with the try line at his mercy. If Park thought the danger was over, they were wrong; an awful clearance from the drop out was fielded by Blaydon centre Nathan Bailey who ran straight, evaded several tackles to touch down under the posts on 37 minutes, Clarkson converting the try (19-0). The last couple of minutes saw Park gain some possession and territory but they were unable to score.

HT: Blaydon 19 Percy Park 0

The second half began as the first had done, with Blaydon on the attack. A kick ahead had the Park defence scrambling but the ball rolled over the dead ball line. Injuries to both Park halfbacks meant changes with fullback Jordan Carey moving to standoff and replacement Tom Robinson coming on as scrumhalf to replace Andrew Walker though, to his great credit, Walker hobbled back on to take over as fullback and back row Matthew French ended the game as an emergency centre. On 52 minutes Blaydon scored again when the home side turned over the ball at a ruck, the ball being moved at speed left for centre Alex Clark to run in, Clarkson converting the try (26-0).

The passage of play over the next few minutes really did sum up Park’s day. From the restart, the visitors gained a penalty which was kicked into the right corner. The catch and drive was held by the home defence but Park gained a 5 metre scrum from which they again attacked the Blaydon try line but they knocked on. Blaydon won a penalty from the resulting scrum and cleared their lines and two quick infringements later, Blaydon had kicked their way back in the Park 22.

As the game entered the final quarter, Park managed to put some pressure on the home team. Blaydon were penalised twice in quick succession (not releasing in the tackle and a high tackle) and both times Park kicked to the Blaydon 22 but, yet again, on both occasions the ball was too easily turned over. A kick ahead by Clarkson was well fielded by wing Toby Davison who stormed forward and a great exchange of passes with Sam Digman seemed to put the visitors on the front foot but one of the passes was called forward and the brief Park momentum was stalled. Blaydon attacked off the scrum, on halfway, and former Park player Ethan Clarke, the home No8, crashed through two or three weak tackles to score on 35 minutes, the try being converted by Clarkson (33-0).

Blaydon sensed another score and were immediately on the attack from the restart, Clarkson again to the fore but they made a hash of an attacking 5 metre lineout and another great run from Davison cleared the danger. As the clock ticked down, Blaydon saw the game out with ease but there was no further score.

FT: Blaydon 33 Percy Park 0

Another tough day at the office with Park just not at the (Blaydon) races. In truth, on the day Blaydon were much the better side and thoroughly deserved their victory and the final score did not flatter them; it could have been worse. Injured player/coach Ash Smith summed up the day: “We were just awful. No excuses, we were. Yes, the injury list and the injuries we had today didn’t help but what is so frustrating is that we are so, so much better than that. We were sluggish and just never got going. We will review it and look to see what went wrong and why but we are all so disappointed. At least there is a rest week now and we may have some players back by the time we next play”.

For the home side, John Clarkson deservedly won the man-of-the-match award but standoff Rhys Burt and both centres Clark and Bailey were all excellent. The Blaydon back row also played well, and Park could never really get on the front foot. Sam Digman was excellent and injured player Marc Cook, a fellow member of the front row union, was vociferous in his belief that Sam had won a penalty at every scrum, though referee Arrowsmith clearly didn’t think so! Matthew French and Toby Davison both tried to get some go forward into Park’s game and played well in a losing effort. Errors and ill-discipline did not help matters and our defence was at times poor. Blaydon were gracious in victory, and we thank them for their excellent hospitality and for a good, hard game, if not the result. We look forward to the return fixture in March. Our thanks also to referee Matt Arrowsmith without whom there is no game.

Blaydon celebrated a clean sweep against Park over the weekend. On Friday evening, the Colts suffered a heavy 55-19 defeat to their Blaydon counterparts under the Crow Trees lights and at Preston Avenue on Saturday, Blaydon Georgians triumphed 24-29 over the Lions. This coming weekend, both the 1^st XV and the Lions have a rest weekend but on Sunday, the Colts travel to Billingham (KO 1pm) and also on Sunday, the Panthers make a welcome return to action as they travel the short distance to take on Rockcliff, KO 2pm. All support would be most welcome.

Saturday 9 November 2024

Percy Park 21 York 22

Regional 1 North East

(HT: 14-8)

York RUFC were the visitors to Preston Avenue on Saturday last for a Regional 1 North East fixture and, down thirteen points with just ten minutes of the match remaining, they had the wherewithal and determination to score two late tries to win the game by a single point. Heartbreak for the home side. After a good start by the visitors, Park dominated for long periods, particularly in the third quarter, but a Park yellow card and a penalty kick that drifted agonisingly to the left of the posts seemed to change the game in favour of the visitors and York took their chance, piling the pressure on the home side to win the game late on and credit to them, they are a very good side. It was a game of fine margins, scrappy at times with both sides guilty of unforced errors and poor discipline but nonetheless it had an exciting climax with Park desperately hanging on to a slender lead but, alas, it was not to be.

There were a number of changes to the Park side from that which won at Selby last time out. While the back line was unchanged, Sean Nairn came into the front row in place of the unavailable Sam Digman, Leo Caulfield moved to the openside on the flank in place of Phil Crichton while Euan Smart debuted at blindside. The replacements were Louis Adamson, Tom Robinson and Oli Bartles-Smith. Sadly, the injury list remains lengthy.

On a dank, overcast day with drizzle in the air, York kicked off, Park immediately attempting to play out of their 22 but quickly spilling the ball but, at the resulting scrum, Park put the pressure on to win the penalty. A good break by centre Paul Spowart had Park in York territory only for the ball to be spilled again. A Park infringement for offside had York back into the home 22 and from the lineout on the left touchline, a series of York drives had prop Lewis Jackson barge over for the first score on 6 minutes. Standoff Harry Shackleton missed the conversion (0-5).

From the restart, the game became a bit stop-and-start, both sides committing handling errors and both unable to keep their discipline and penalised regularly by referee Yannick Debil. York began to dominate territory, using their big forwards to punch holes in the Park defence but a grubber kick to the left corner went dead and Park were able to clear their lines. As York came again, a high tackle on halfway was punished further when Park did not retreat 10 metres after scrum half Toby Atkin took a quick tap with Shackleton kicking the resultant penalty from the Park 10 metre line on 14 minutes (0-8).

Park now started to play and responded quickly after play resumed. York were penalised just inside their half (player off his feet) and the ball was kicked into the left corner. The catch and drive was held but the ball was moved right, second row Chris Reekie and No 8 Matthew French making huge dents in the York defence before York infringed again (player off his feet) and this time Park kicked to the right hand corner, A perfect catch and drive had Euan Smart peel off to score, Paul Spowart adding the conversion on 18 minutes (7-8).

As the game continued, Park were putting themselves under pressure with handling errors and although York had the territory, their own errors and lack of discipline halted any meaningful progress. Intermittent rain did not help ball handling and retention either. A scrum on the Park 10 metre line had the home pack going backwards at a rate of knots, but York could make nothing of the resultant penalty that was kicked into the Park 22. Around the 30-minute mark, Park began to make some headway and after winning a penalty on their own 10 metre line, kicked to the left touchline to get into the visitors half. However, the lineout was not straight handing possession straight back to York. From the scrum, the York No 8 peeled off the base but was brought down by a great tackle from his opposite number Matthew French and at the ensuing ruck young wing Jacob German (instantly christened the ‘Germanator’ by one wag in the crowd) in true Ritchie McCaw style turned the ball over, earning the home side a penalty which was kicked deep into the York 22. The catch and drive was held up but York were offside and a quick tap from scrum half Walker had the forwards camped on the York line. A clever pass left from Walker to second row Josh Hedley had the big man crash over on 35 minutes to the left of the posts. Spowart converted (14-8).

As the half ended there was no further score.

HT: Percy Park 14 York 8

Park kicked off the second half and were immediately on the attack, winning a quick scrum penalty on the York 10 metre line. The penalty was kicked into the visitors 22 on the left touchline but the catch and drive was held on the line, York winning the put in to a defensive scrum. York were under intense pressure in those early minutes with Park No 8 French carrying well. Park were keeping York pinned in their 22 and it was only an infringement as over eagerness caught a player off of his feet at a ruck that allowed York to relieve the pressure. Park stole the ensuing lineout and as the ball was moved left, a high tackle gave Park the chance to kick themselves back into the visiting 22. York were quickly penalized again (side entry) and although the resulting lineout was overthrown, the home side quickly regained possession and charged for the line. York managed to hold Park on their try line but the damn broke when scrum half Walker saw a gap in the defence to go over on 51 minutes. Spowart converted and Park now had a thirteen-point lead but referee Debil awarded York a penalty for a push by Spowart after the try had been scored (21-8).

York restarted with the penalty with Park knocking on and after the referee played advantage a kick ahead was superbly fielded by German who set off on a mazy run into the York half. He kicked ahead into the 22 but the ball was gathered by fullback George Davies who was then tackled high by Walker who was immediately shown a yellow card by referee Debil on 54 minutes. York were unable to escape the stranglehold, infringements and errors allowing Park the territory. On 59 minutes, a high tackle in midfield gave Spowart the chance to kick for goal but the penalty drifted to the left of the posts.

As the final quarter got underway, a poor Park kick in midfield allowed York to at last break out thanks to a clever kick from standoff Shackleton but they were immediately penalised and Park kicked into the York half on the right touchline. The throw was not straight, handing possession back to York and, sad to say, that seemed to be it from Park from an attacking perspective. Within seconds, Park skipper Howard Stock was tidying up a kick ahead on his own goal line. The visitors began to play, moving the ball left and right, stretching the Park defence. With 70 minutes played, York had a lineout on their left touchline just outside of the Park 22. They moved the ball right, their half backs Atkin and Shackleton increasingly effective, and Park were caught offside. Second row Sam Croft made ground with the referee playing advantage but when Park were again caught offside, York, sensing a score, elected a 5 metre scrum. The Park eight were pushed backwards with the ball being illegally kicked out and referee Debil had no hesitation in awarding the visitors a penalty try on 71 minutes (21-15).

As the game restarted, Park missed two kicks to touch that allowed York to attack and retain possession. Shackleton was able to kick into the Park 22 on the right touchline. As the home side attempted to hold on to the ball from the lineout they were penalised for being off of their feet at a ruck and from the lineout in the 22, York were camped on the Park line. Desperate defence kept them out and when the ball was moved quickly left the final pass to the left wing for a certain score was deemed forward. Park had the defensive scrum but York sensed victory and at the put in the Park eight were put under tremendous pressure. The home forwards could not get over the gain line and when replacement scrumhalf Tom Robinson attempted to clear his lines, the ball was charged down and there was hooker Ben Mills to gather and score on 78 minutes. An excellent conversion under pressure from Shackleton gave York a one point lead (21-22).

From the restart, Park did not seriously threaten, and indiscipline again gave possession back to the visitors who saw out the remaining couple of minutes to claim the win.

FT: Percy Park 21 York 22

An agonising defeat and it was a dejected Park side that left the field at the end of the match. Park seemed to have a stranglehold on the game in that third quarter but seemed to lose their mojo after the yellow card and it allowed York back into the game, the last ten minutes York dominating. They still had to score fourteen points in those ten minutes but, all credit to them, they did just that. After playing so well for so long, the result was a bitter pill for Park to swallow. Matthew French and Euan Smart excelled for the home side and for York, Toby Atkin and ex-rugby league player Harry Shackleton were outstanding.

In discussion after the game, coach James Ponton said: “It was a game of very fine margins and could have gone the other way. We took the wrong option on occasion, missed kicks to touch, made errors. On another day, we would have won. We cannot dwell on it, there is a game at Blaydon next week with a chance there to put things right”. The York President, Michael Negri, was gracious in victory saying that York had not played particularly well and had played their get-out-of-gaol card for the season.

Park, after eight matches played, have a won four lost four record and slip to seventh in the league table but gained a bonus point despite the defeat. York remain third. We thank them for a hard, fair game, wish them well for the remainder of the season and look forward to the return in February. Our grateful thanks, as always, to our referee from the Northumberland Society, Yannick Debil.

The Lions lost a high scoring league game 63-40 at Billingham with the Panthers having a rest weekend. Next Week, the 1^st XV make the short journey to Blaydon, our first senior game against them for many a long year, in a Regional 1 North East encounter, KO is at 2pm. If you are unable to travel or like your rugby closer to home, the Lions host Blaydon in a Candy League fixture at Preston Avenue, KO is also 2pm. The Colts travel to Blaydon on Friday evening, KO 7.15, but please check social media to confirm the fixture and the time. All support for our teams would be greatly appreciated. The Panthers again have a rest weekend.

Percy Park: 15 Jordan Carey; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Paul Spowart; 11 Jacob German; 10 Fergus Simpson; 9 Andrew Walker; 8 Matthew French; 7 Leo Caulfield; 6 Euan Smart; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Josh Hedley; 3 Sean Nairn; 2 Jonny Dubois; 1 Tristan Grant

Replacements: Louis Adamson; Tom Robinson; Oli Bartles-Smith