Saturday 13 December 2025

Durham City 32 Percy Park 21

Regional 2 North

(HT: 24-7)

Park made the relatively short journey south on Saturday last to take on Durham City, hoping to put on a much better performance from that at home to Consett a week ago. Sadly, an opening twenty-minute horror show from the visitors allowed the home side to score at over a point a minute with Park facing a twenty-four deficit with the first quarter of the game barely over. Park did rally after the awful start but the deficit was just too great, only able to get within eight points of the hosts late in the second half.

With injuries and unavailability again affecting selection options, there were several changes to the side defeated by Consett with, in the backline, Matt Dunn replacing Fergus Simpson in the centre, Fergus moving to standoff in place of George Chapman. The versatile Chapman moved to scrumhalf, Freddie Harra dropping to the bench. In the forwards there were two changes, Fraser McGlashan replacing Josh Hedley bat lock and Dan Shuttleworth replacing joe Ford at hooker. Ford joined Harra and fit again Matthew French on the replacements bench.

On a sunny but cold afternoon, it took the home side just four minutes to open their account, centre Ben Speight scoring, standoff James Lythgoe converting (7-0). Just three minutes later, Lythgoe extended the lead when he kicked a penalty (10-0). Things got worse for the visitors when Durham scored again after eleven minutes, this time fullback Tom Harvey going over, Lythgoe again converting (17-0). On twenty minutes Park conceded a third try, openside flanker Herbie Hay the scorer, Lythgoe converting (24-0). Park appeared to be still on the bus and the game was effectively already won. Park did begin to play and their defence stiffened and as the halftime whistle approached, No 8 Josh Cox went over, the try converted by George Chapman.

HT: Durham City 24 Percy Park 7

Ten minutes into the second half Park scored again through fullback Jacob German to give the Park faithful some hope, the again converted by Chapman (24-14). As the game entered the final few minutes there was a run of scoring. Firstly, Durham scored to put the final nail in the Park coffin and extinguish any hope of a comeback when Lythgoe scored an unconverted try on seventy-six minutes (29-14). Park hit back from the restart, Matt Dunn scoring converted by Chapman but it was Lythgoe who had the final word when he slotted a penalty a minute from time (32-21).

FT: Durham City 32 Percy Park 21

The defeat leaves Park in fifth place in Regional 2 North. The Panthers hosted Whitley Bay Rockcliff on Sunday and in a fiercely contested game succumbed 7-27 although the score did not reflect how close the game was. Next weekend, Park host Guisborough in their final home game of 2025, KO 2.30 pm. The game is preceded by the Club Christmas Lunch. The Lions are also in action (opponents not known at time of posting this article) but the match will KO at Preston Avenue at 1.30 pm.

Percy Park: 15 Jacob German; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Will Ponton; 12 Matt Dunn; 11 Tom Bird; 10 Fergus Simpson: 9 George Chapman; 8 Josh Cox; 7 Seth Henderson; 6 Paul Spowart; 5 Sean Nairn; 4 Fraser McGlashan; 3 Nick Macklin-Copeland; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Tristan Grant

Replacements: Joe Ford; Matthew French; Freddie Harra

Saturday 6 December 2025

Percy Park 19 Consett 37

Regional 2 North

(HT: 7-27)

Over the past few games, Percy Park have managed some excellent results despite the huge number of players missing through injury and unavailability but we were unable to sustain that momentum when in form Consett, at full strength, inflicted a comprehensive 19-37 home defeat on Saturday last. The game was effectively over at half time with Consett leading 7-27 after a dominant first half from the visitors.

There were numerous changes to the side that won at Morpeth last weekend with Jacob German replacing Tom Robinson at fullback, Will Ponton making a welcome return from his sojourn in New Zealand at centre in place of the unavailable Seb Reece with Freddie Harra replacing Andrew Walker at scrumhalf. In the forwards, Joe Ford replaced Dan Shuttleworth at hooker, Nick Macklin-Copeland came into the front row in place of Sam Digman with Sean Nairn replacing the suspended Chris Reekie in the second row. A whole new replacements bench was required, Eddie Saint, Jake Bell and Matt Dunn.

Consett kicked off, the conditions damp and murky, the pitch heavy through continual midweek rain, and for the first few minutes the contest was fairly even, with the visitors probably having slightly more in the way of possession and territory without creating any real opportunities but all that changed after seven minutes when, from a ruck on their right midway inside the Park half, Consett moved the ball left and a mazy run from centre Kevan Slow created the overlap with second row Jack Read scoring wide out in the left corner. The try was unconverted (0-5).

Things got even worse for the home side when, just three minutes later, Consett scored again. From a scrum on halfway, Consett won a penalty but the referee played advantage as superb hands had the ball moving at speed left for replacement Will Penrose to score an excellent try wide out on the left. This was also unconverted by fullback Brandon Asher-Wood (0-10).

The visitors began to dominate proceedings with Park hard pressed to deal with the physicality of their forwards and the speed of their backline. Only a penalty awarded for crossing saved Park after another excellent move by the Consett backs had pierced the Park defence. After Park knocked on after a lineout on halfway, more superb work by the Consett backline had the Park defence at sixes and sevens and only a high tackle prevented a score. The referee again played advantage but when nothing came of it, Asher-Wood kicked the penalty to stretch the lead on twenty-one minutes (0-13).

Park began to win some meaningful possession and play in the Consett half but without creating any real scoring opportunities and when the ball was turned over Consett were able to force a lineout on halfway. From there, they were able to keep possession through multiple phases, eventually winning a scrum and from there, quick hands again moving the ball left had standoff Ish Perkins run a great line to score to the left of the posts on twenty-one minutes. Asher-Wood converted (0-20).

The home side were then able to build a head of steam, eventually earning a penalty midfield that was sent into the right corner. From there, a textbook catch and drive saw emergency flanker Paul Spowart (who has been playing really well in his unaccustomed position) go over, Paul also kicking an excellent conversion on twenty-eight minutes (7-20). The home side joy was short lived however, Consett scoring another excellent try on thirty-four minutes after another excellent break from Slow completely split the Park defence and Perkins was on hand to score his second try to earn the bonus point for his side. Asher-Wood converted (7-27).

In the last few minutes of the half, Park exerted pressure on the Consett try line, spurning two kickable penalties in search of a try but the ball was knocked forward and the chance was lost.

HT: Percy Park 7 Consett 27

Things did not start off too well in the second half, an early penalty for offside on halfway allowing Consett to kick deep into the Park 22. This enabled Consett to exert real pressure on the Park line with only desperate defence from the home side preventing the score. When, finally, Park were penalised two metres out from their line for preventing release of the ball at a ruck, a quick tap and go had prop Elijah Brookes-Bowen go over just to the left of the posts. Scrumhalf Lewis Bowman missed the conversion on 47 minutes (7-32).

Consett continued to dominate possession and territory but when they conceded a penalty on the home 22, it allowed Park, eventually, to force a scrum on halfway. The ball was kicked towards the right corner only for the Consett to fumble leaving skipper Howard Stock, following up superbly, free to pick up the ball and scamper over to the right of the posts on sixty-four minutes. Spowart missed the conversion (12-32). However, any Park joy was relatively short lived as just a few minutes later, it was Park conceding a penalty for nor releasing with the kick being put into the left corner. The catch and drive from the visitors was excellent, allowing hooker Jack Yarrell to peel off and score. Bowman missed the conversion (12-37).

With the game lost, Park at least had the last hurrah when, after a scrum around the Consett 22, a clever cross kick had the Consett defence scrambling but unable to stop replacement Matt Dunn from picking up and scoring to the left of the posts, Chapman converting (19-37).

FT: Percy Park 19 Consett 37

A difficult day, facing a very good Consett side short of so many players and in truth, Park were second best from the start. The game was probably over by halftime but the lads never gave up and actually won the second half 12-10.

The defeat means that Consett now take our place in second in Regional 2 North with Park slipping down to fourth behind Sunderland. Things do not get much easier next week as the team travel to Durham City, KO 2pm. On Sunday, the Panthers take on fierce rivals Rockcliff, KO 2pm. All support would be welcome.

Percy Park: 15 Jacob German; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Will Ponton; 12 Fergus Simpson; 11 Tom Bird; 10 George Chapman; 9 Freddie Harra; 8 Josh Cox; 7 Seth Henderson; 6 Paul Spowart; 5 Sean Nairn; 4 Josh Hedley; 3 Nick Macklin-Copeland; 2 Joe Ford; 1 Tristan Grant

Replacements: Eddie Saint; Jake Bell; Matt Dunn

Saturday 29 November 2025

Morpeth 20 Percy Park 33

Regional 2 North

(HT: 13-19)

A shortened match report as a lack of a scribe at Mitford Road on Saturday last.

There were few changed to the side that defeated Keswick last weekend with no changes to the back line and very few in the forwards. Josh Hedley made his first start of the season in the second row replacing Sean Nairn who dropped to the replacements bench, Tristan Grant came into the front row to replace Nick Macklin-Copeland who also dropped to the bench, and it was a changed back row with Josh Cox moving to No 8 and Seth Henderson coming in at openside flanker, Ethan Wilson missing out. Freddie Harra joined Nairn and Macklin-Copeland on the replacements bench.

In awful conditions, rain pouring continuously and very cold, Park scored first after just five minutes through hooker Dan Shuttleworth, the conversion missed. Shuttleworth again and Seth Henderson added furthere first half tries, both converted by stand off George Chapman to open a 13-19 lead at the break despite a yellow card for second row Chris Reekie.

Prop Sam Digman scored shortly after the restart to secure the bonus point, George converted before Seb Reece scored, the try also converted to open a 13-33 lead. Morpeth scored at the death to leave the final score Morpeth 20 Percy Park 33.

Percy Park: 15 Tom Robinson; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Fergus Simpson; 11 Tom Bird; 10 George Chapman; 9 Andrew Walker; 8 Josh Cox; 7 Seth Henderson 6 Paul Spowart; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Josh Hedley; 3 Tristan Grant; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Sam Digman

Replacements: Nick Macklin-Copeland; Sean Nairn; Freddie Harra

Saturday 22 November 2025

Percy Park 27 Keswick 18

Regional 2 North

(HT: 10-10)

Percy Park played host to second place Keswick on Saturday last and in an enthralling, physical encounter triumphed 27-18, earning a deserved try bonus point in the process. Despite a senior men’s squad decimated by injury and unavailability, Park rose to the occasion, particularly in the second half, surviving two yellow card decisions with a pack that just refused to yield to the bigger Keswick eight. After showing real character to secure a draw at Aspatria two weeks ago, Park again showed grit and determination to defeat Keswick, only their third defeat of the season, and at the final whistle, it was clear exactly what the win meant to the team. With poor weather throughout the week, the pitch passed an inspection on Friday so our  grateful thanks to the ground staff.

With an acute injury list, it was somewhat of a relief that there was only one change to the back division on Saturday, Andrew Walker who made such a significant impact at Aspatria replacing Freddie Harra at scrumhalf. In the forwards, Sam Digman and Dan Shuttleworth both made welcome returns to the front row to join Nick Macklin-Copeland and it was an all new back row, with Josh Cox, another standout performer at Aspatria, joined by Ethan Wilson and in a huge change from his normal position of centre, Paul Spowart coming in as blindside flanker. In the second row, Sean Nairn replaced the injured Karl Thompson. On the replacements bench Harra was joined by Tristan Grant and, after a lengthy injury absence, the welcome return of Josh Hedley.

On a very cold, overcast day Park kicked off and, winning the chase, were immediately on the offensive in and around the Keswick 22. After an excellent break by Spowart, seemingly relishing his unfamiliar role, brought play to within a couple of metres of the visitors try line. After numerous penalty advantages from referee Adam Morrison, an unstoppable Chris Reekie crashed over to the left of the posts on two minutes. Spowart missed the conversion (5-0).

Keswick responded immediately from the restart, winning a penalty on the Park 22 after a high tackle by No 8 Ethan Wison. Keswick outside half Kieran Mewse made no mistake with the kick, four minutes played (5-3). Thanks to intelligent kicking from Mewse, Keswick were playing in and around the Park 22 without really creating any threat and when they turned the ball over, Park showed their attacking intent attacking hard along the right touchline. When the ball was moved infield, a cross field kick into the left corner from outside half George Chapman had Keswick scrambling to touch the ball down before two chasing Park players could do so. Park were now beginning to exert real pressure, their forwards driving deep into the visiting 22 and, after a quarter of an hour, quick hands from a ruck had centre Fergus Simpson go over in the right corner. Chapman missed the difficult conversion (10-3).

Park continued to exert pressure but when the ball was turned over a long kick from Mewse into home territory had Park in defensive disarray and over enthusiasm  had No 8 Ethan Wilson tackle an opponent off the ball, resulting in a yellow card from Mr Morrison as the second quarter began. The resulting kick was put deep into the Park 22, but excellent maul defence kept the visiting eight out. Keswick laid siege in the Park 22, only indiscipline halting their momentum. But just as it appeared that Park had weathered the storm and effected a breakout indiscipline at a ruck again allowed Keswick to kick into the left corner. This time the catch and drive could not be stopped with (I believe) Keswick hooker Ally Hewett-Smith claiming the score. Mewse converted to tie the score on thirty minutes (10-10).

A needless obstruction gave Mewse the opportunity to kick a penalty on thirty-five minutes but he missed the kick from wide out on the right touchline and there was no further scoring as the half came to an end.

HT: Percy Park 10 Keswick 10

Keswick kicked off the second half and were ahead for the first time in the match within two minutes when yet another ruck offence (kicking through) was penalised midway in the Park half. The difficult kick was converted by Mewse (10-13).

The lead did not last for long, Park scoring an excellent try just seven minutes later. When Keswick, under pressure, were penalised on their 10 metre line, quick thinking from scrumhalf Andrew Walker with a quick tap penalty had the visiting defence in a mess and a rampaging charge from No 8 Ethan Wilson had Park almost at the try line. Quick hands right had hooker Dan Shuttleworth score wide out on the right. An excellent conversion from Chapman followed (17-13).

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors, a yellow card brandished by Mr Morrison for a high tackle on fifty-five minutes. Park took full advantage, working their way to the try line almost under the posts. Another Keswick infringement, a quick tap and go, swift hands left had replacement Josh Hedley crash over for a try that was warmly applauded by both his team and their supporters. Chapman kicked an excellent conversion from wide on the left (24-13).

Both sides were reduced to fourteen men when, as the game entered the last quarter, second row Chris Reekie received a yellow card from the  referee after what appeared to be a no arms tackle. Keswick began to turn the screw without creating any clear cut chance and when the ball was turned over, the ball was moved quickly right for skipper Howard Stock to make ground up to half way. A clever kick into the right corner from Walker put pressure back on the visitors but from the lineout, a strong carry from visiting second row Karl Smyth enabled the Cumbrians to attack along the right touchline. The next fifteen minutes saw both sides have periods of possession and territory but both were guilty of giving away needless penalties that halted any meaningful momentum.

A Keswick  scrum just on the Park 22 saw the home forwards marched backwards almost to the try line and two swift passes right had right wing Ryan Weir score in the right corner on seventy-four minutes. Mewse missed the very difficult conversion from the right touchline (24-18). A six point game with only a few tense minutes remaining. Park applied pressure and when they won a scrum in the Keswick 22, the home forwards repayed the compliment, pushing the visitors backwards and earning a penalty almost in front of the posts which was converted by Chapman on seventy-eight minutes (27-18).

Keswick won possession from the restart and remained camped in the home 22 but they elected to tap three very kickable penalties and when Park won a scrum penalty and then the subsequent lineout, the ball was put into touch, the game signalled at an end by the referee.

FT: Percy Park 27 Keswick 18

An excellent game of rugby, very physical, feisty at times but never beyond the pale. Captain Howard Stock was delighted at the end of the game: “You could see how much it meant to us, we really wanted the win. Things have been tough of late with so many injuries but the last couple of games have shown that we don’t lack spirit or the ability to play rugby. Keswick are a great side but we did deserve it today. Second half we got on top of them up front except for their try but we were missing Tanky (Chris Reekie) when they scored. Great result, we have to back it up at Morpeth next week”.

For Park, the new back row played really well, particularly out of position Paul Spowart who at times seemed to be everywhere on the pitch. Josh Cox and Ethan Wilson also impressed. Josh Hedley was on the pitch rather sooner than he may have anticipated but he made his presence felt and scored a great try in the second half. The Keswick stand off Kieran Mewse had a great game for the visitors and right wing Ryan Weir was always dangerous. they may come to regret passing up the chance to kick for goal on three occasions late in the game which may (or may not) have brought them victory but would surely have earned them a losing bonus point. We thank them for a great game and wish them well for the rest of the season. Our thanks also to referee Adam Morrison who had a great game. Keswick arrived minus a touch judge and our past president Barry Smith obliged, even managing to keep up with play at his advanced age!

The Lions were due to travel to Ryton but, due to the adverse weather, the game was called off. The weather also put paid to the Colts home fixture against Hartlepool on Sunday. The Panthers had a rest weekend. The 1^st XV travel to Morpeth this weekend for a league fixture, KO 2pm, with the Lions hosting Morpeth, KO 2pm. On Sunday, the Colts visit Blaydon, KO 1pm. Support for our teams would be most welcome.

Percy Park: 15 Tom Robinson; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Fergus Simpson; 11 Tom Bird; 10 George Chapman; 9 Andrew Walker; 8 Ethan Wilson; 7 Josh Cox; 6 Paul Spowart; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Sean Nairn; 3 Nick Macklin-Copeland; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Sam Digman

Replacements: Tristan Grant; Josh Hedley; Freddie Harra