Saturday 13 September 2025

Percy Park 38 Durham City 32

Regional 2 North

(HT: 31-10)

Durham City were the visitors for Park’s first home game of the season, the team eager to put the awful defeat at West Hartlepool firmly behind them and, by half-time, it seemed as though they had with a very healthy 31-10 lead after some great rugby played. However, worryingly, the second half witnessed another collapse but unlike last weekend, Park held on for the bonus point win. This was a great game for the neutral, not so great for the respective defence coaches.

There were several changes to the side defeated last time out, Jordan Carey returned to the starting lineup at fullback, George Chapman moving to scrumhalf in place of the unavailable Andrew Walker. Oli Bartles-Smith moved to inside centre from the left wing in place of Paul Spowart with Thomas Bird debuting in the number 11 shirt. In the forwards, Sam Digman replaced Tristan Grant, with another debutant James Pennington replacing Karl Thompson on the flank. On the replacements bench alongside Spowart were Tom Robinson and Joe Ford. Leo Caulfield captained the side.

On a damp overcast day with rain showers, Durham City kicked off but the home side were quickly on the scoreboard when George Chapman kicked a penalty on two minutes after a high tackle just outside the Durham 10 metre line straight onto the posts (3-0).

Park were looking to get the ball wide and had much the better possession and territory from the early exchanges. From a Park scrum just inside the viusiting 22, No 8 Matthew French took the ball right and when the ball was eventually moved left and up to the Durham line after multiple phases, second row Chris Reekie crashed over under the posts on eight minutes with Chapman kicking the conversion (10-0).

The hosts continued to dominate, Seb Reece just losing out in a chase after the ball was kicked into the Durham in goal area, with only indiscipline allowing Durham to escape the stranglehold. Just when it appeared that Durham were finally getting a foothold into the game, Park struck again. A Park penalty gave the home side the option of a lineout on the Durham 22 in the right corner and just as it looked as if the resulting maul had been stopped, No 8 French shrugged off what looked like five or six tackles to go over to the right of the posts on twenty minutes for an excellent individual try. Chapman kicked the conversion but seemed to injure himself in the process and was replaced by Tom Robinson (17-0).

Durham were able to respond immediately when a penalty for a high tackle straight from the restart was kicked by fullback Scott Rochester on twenty-three minutes (17-3). As Park pressed again, they were awarded a scrum just inside the visiting 22 straight onto the posts and after several phases with centre Seb Reece and prop Sam Digman prominent, scrumhalf George Chapman, who had returned to the field of play, was able to burrow over under the posts on twenty-seven minutes, outside half Ash Smith converting (24-3).

From the restart, the Durham backs, previously starved of possession, immediately showed what they could do. Durham won the ball from the kick-off and a deft kick, chase and gather from right wing Rory Marsden allowed him to give the scoring pass to centre Nathan Bushnell to go over just to the right of the posts on twenty-nine minutes, Rochester converting (24-10).

A Durham clearance kick from the restart failed to reach their left touchline and Park moved the ball swiftly left. A storming run along the left touchline by wing Jacob German nearly resulted in a great try but the ball was swiftly recycled and moved right at speed for wing Thomas Bird to score the bonus point try in the right corner on thirty-three minutes, Smith missing the difficult conversion (31-10). Neither side was able to add to the scoreboard before the half time whistle, Park held up on the Durham line as it was sounded.

HT: Percy Park 31 Durham City 10

Park began the second half but it was the Durham forwards to the fore, showing much more aggression and allowing their team to finally play on the front foot. Their much improved performance allowed their backs to show their quality after just six minutes of the second half when slick handling allowed stand off James Lythgoe to scythe through the Park defence to score under the posts, Rochester converting (31-17).

From a long Durham clearance kick Park needlessly knocked-on in their own 22 and from trhe scrum, Durham edged forward through multiple phases towards the Park line, aided by several penalty advantages called by referee Adam Morrison. When Park strayed offside yet again, City elected to kick for goal with Rochester kicking the points from in front of the posts on fifty-six minutes (31-20).

Durham scored again seven minutes later when, from a loose clearance kick, the visitors were allowed to build momentum through their forwards into the home 22 creating just enough space for fullback Scott Rochester to split the home defence with an angled run to the line and score a great try on sixty-three minutes which he converted himself (31-27).

The Park faithful must have been fearing a repeat of the game at West Hartlepool and so must the players because they then produced their best rugby of the second half. Sustained pressure in the visiting 22, prop Sam Digman and second row Chris Reekie to the fore, saw replacement scrumhalf Tom Robinson scamper through a gap in the visiting defence to score under the posts to give Park some breathing space on sixty-seven minutes, Smith adding the conversion (38-27). The score proved vital as Durham sought the try bonus point in the last ten minutes of the match.

The home side, without too much territory, defended well over the next few minutes but when a hopeful grubber kick was knocked on by the Park defence, two successive Durham free kicks, the second a tap and go a couple of metres from the Park line had centre James Coxon eventually scoring Durham’s bonus point try with three minutes of the match remaining, the score converted by Rochester (38-32).

A nervy last couple of minutes saw Park concede a penalty for a deliberate knock-on, leading to a Durham lineout on the Park 10 metre line. As the ball was moved in field Durham knocked on at the breakdown and referee Morrison signalled full time.

FT: Percy Park 38 Durham City 32  

A very entertaining and open game and definitely one of two halves. In the first, Park were excellent and with Chapman at scrumhalf keeping them on the front foot, played some great rugby. However, when Chapman went off early in the second half the home side seemed to go off the boil and, credit to Durham, our visitors took full advantage. There was no doubt, post match, that the home side were relieved to get the win but the worry must be that for the second match in succession a big lead has been surrendered in the second half of the game. Durham played exceptionally well in the second half and deserved the two bonus points earned. We thank Durham for a hard but fair game, refereed very well by Adam Morrison, and wish them well for the remainder of then season and look forward to the return at Hollow Drift in December. Our thanks to Mr Morrison who we hope to see back at Preston Avenue in the not too distant future.

Percy Park: 15 Jordan Carey; 14 Jacob German; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Oli Bartles-Smith; 11 Thomas Bird; 10 Ash Smith; 9 George Chapman; 8 Matthew French; 7 Leo Caulfield ©; 6 james Pennington; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Sean Nairn; 3 Michael Birkett; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Sam Digman

Replacements: Joe Ford; Tom Robinson; Paul Spowart

Saturday 6 September 2025

West Hartlepool 35 Percy Park 31

Regional 2 North

(HT: 9-17)

There was, after our opening league game of the new season, definitely a feeling of déjà vu! Three seasons ago, Park travelled to West and with ten minutes to go held a comfortable thirteen point lead only for two yellow cards and two late converted West tries to enable the home side to win by a point. The turnaround on Saturday was even worse, a commanding lead 9-31 on the hour proving insufficient, the visitors handed two yellow cards and West overcoming the deficit to triumph 35-31. The simple truth was that Park imploded in those last twenty minutes to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

On a dry, breezy day with some sunshine, Park kicked off the new season and with standoff Ash Smith and No 8 Matthew French prominent in the early exchanges, Park enjoyed the early advantage in both territory and possession. Despite this there were signs that the visiting lineout was not functioning as two were lost in attacking positions inside the West 22 in the first few minutes. Park put the first points on the board after 12 minutes when a high tackle in the home 22 gave Paul Spowart the opportunity to kick a penalty (0-3).

From the restart West came into the game and were quickly level, Park straying offside on their 22 metre line in front of the posts to allow home standoff Jobe Roxby to kick the penalty after 15 minutes (3-3). Park conceded a scrum from the restart and the visiting pack were splintered by a fired-up home eight but in doing so infringed and quick thinking by the returning Andrew Walker at scrum-half had him take a quick tap and scythe through the home defence and a pass left to the supporting Seb Reece had the Park centre scoring underneath the posts for the try on 17 minutes, converted by Spowart (3-10).

West were able to reduce the deficit 3 minutes later when a high tackle in front of the posts allowed Roxby to kick his second penalty (6-10). From the restart West began to dominate, the Park set piece struggling with two lineouts lost in quick succession. Park, under pressure, were again caught offside just inside their 22 in front of the posts and Roxby kicked the penalty on 26 minutes (9-10). West were straight on the attack from the restart but a Park turnover had Spowart and wing Oli Bartles-Smith send Reece into space with the centre brought down two metres from the West line and this seemed to lift the visiting forwards and as the clock ticked down to half-time, Park won a scrum just inside the West 22 several metres infield. The ball was moved right and three or four phases had prop Michael Birkett in under the posts for Spowart to convert on the half-time whistle.

HT: West Hartlepool 9 Percy Park 17 

The home side kicked off the second half but fell further behind after only 3 minutes. A home penalty after a Park high tackle gave West an attacking lineout in the visiting 22 on their right but Park were awarded a scrum after a lineout knock-on and from the scrum, Park moved the ball right for debutant replacement Monty Snarey to break the home defensive line, kick ahead and allow another debutant, fullback George Chapman, to score to the right of the posts for a stunning try. Chapman converted his score (9-24).

With the Park scrum gaining parity with the home eight, two very quick successive penalties had a Park lineout in the left corner. The ball was won, quickly moved right for Chapman to score his second (and the bonus point) try on 49 minutes, the fullback again kicking the conversion (9-31).

This, sadly, was the Park highpoint as the remainder of the game saw Park implode completely, not helped by indiscipline (mainly repeated high tackles) which resulted in two yellow cards, and West take complete control of the match. Park were under the cosh for the next 10 minutes or so as West sought a way back into the game. Two penalties, one for yet another high tackle and one for offside, had West deep inside the visiting 22 and from a scrum several metres from the Park line saw the home side move the ball right as the visiting forwards were being marched back inly for Bartles-Smith to be given a yellow card by referee Andy Fisher for a deliberate knock-on. West elected a scrum, No 8 and captain Chris Atkins scoring their first try as the Park scrum splintered going backwards. Roxby converted on 60 minutes (16-31).

Worse was to follow just 4 minutes later when West were awarded a penalty try. Multiple phases had West deep in the visiting 22 and as they drove for the line Park flanker Karl Thompson high tackled a home player on the try line and was immediately shown a yellow card by referee Fisher (23-31). Park were now down to thirteen men and West sensed an unlikely victory was now possible. The visitors were unable to control the ball and when it was turned over they were penalised for a deliberate knock-on. West were able to kick to the right corner and execute a perfect catch and drive, hooker Aiden Jackson-Smith scoring the try on 68 minutes. Roxby missed the conversion, the ball striking the upright (28-31).

On 74 minutes, the remarkable turnaround was completed with West scoring under the posts. Park were unable to break the home stranglehold after the restart and a loose clearance kick was seized upon by the home side, three missed tackles and replacement Adam Hutchinson was in under the posts to give scrumhalf Matt Siddle an easy conversion (35-31).

Park were able to rouse themselves and gain possession in the West 22 but the ball was turned over and a penalty conceded for yet another high tackle with the full-time whistle coming shortly thereafter.

FT: West Hartlepool 35 Percy Park 31

Player/Coach Ash Smith was understandably dejected post match: “It was a disaster. We just wouldn’t listen, time and time again we were penalised for high tackles but we kept on shooting ourselves in the foot. We struggled at times up front but the penalty count killed us. How can you win games with only thirteen players? This will be a hard lesson but at least it’s the first game. Credit to West Hartlepool, to come back from that scoreline early in the second half was fantastic”.

The pack did struggle, the lineout just didn’t function for the majority of the game and the penalty count, particularly for high tackles as Ash Smith alluded to, killed off any momentum in the second half. On the plus side, the Park backs looked sharp and debutants George Chapman and Monty Snarey both played well. For West, standoff Jobe Roxby was excellent and their pack played really well, particularly in the second half. We congratulate them on the win and thank them for a hard game and their hospitality and wish them well this season. Our thanks also to referee Andy Fisher from the Durham Society.

Next Saturday Park entertain Durham City in our first home league game of the season, KO at Preston Avenue is at 3pm.

Percy Park: 15 George Chapman; 14 Jacob German; 13 Seb Reece ©; 12 Paul Spowart; 11 Oli Bartles-Smith; 10 Ash Smith; 9 Andrew Walker; 8 Matthew French; 7 Leo Caulfield; 6 Karl Thompson; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Sean Nairn; 3 Michael Birkett; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Tristan Grant

Replacements: Joe Ford; Niall Coombe; Monty Snarey