An extremely important weekend for our senior teams this weekend as both men's sides travel to East Yorkshire on Saturday to take on Driffield while the Panthers take on the unbeaten league leaders Penrith on Sunday at Preston Avenue.

For the 1st XV, it is do or die in their final league game of the season with relegation a real possibility after the heavy defeat at home to Huddersfield two weeks ago. The permutations are numerous but in any event, a win is the minimum required with a bonus point win the better bet to ensure our Regional 1 North East survival. Blaydon and Selby are the other two relegation threatened sides and they meet at Crow Trees in what should be a pulsating game. Blaydon and ourselves have 36 points, Selby have 37 and so things are as tight as they could possibly be at the wrong end of the table. KO at Driffield is at 3 pm and all support for this vital game would be greatly appreciated, COME ON PARK!. 

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the Panthers hope to be the first side in NC 3 North (North) to inflict defeat on Penrith and reignite their promotion push. Our ladies have slipped to fourth in the table after the home reverse to Rockcliff a few weeks ago but they have games in hand on the two clubs immediately above them and so hopes of promotion are very much in their own hands. KO at Preston Avenue is at 3pm, all support welcome.

The Lions end their 2024/25 campaign at Driffield on Saturday, hoping to put last weeks losing cup final against Morpeth firmly behind them with a victory at Kellythorpe. KO is at 3pm.

In the Preston Avenue clubhouse bars there will be the very best of the Premier League football over the weekend:

Thurs 3 April: Chelsea vs Tottenham 8pm

Sat 5 April: Everton vs Arsenal 12.30pm

Sat 5 April: Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest 5.30pm

Sun 6 April: Fulham vs Liverpool 2pm

Sun 6 April: Manchester United vs Manchester City 4.30 pm

Mon 7 April: Leicester City vs Newcastle United 8pm

Please do not forget the following:

Sat 12 April: Percy Park vs Driffield (Papa Johns Community Cup - Regional 1 Plate) KO 3pm

Sat 26 April: England vs Scotland U19 Men's International at Park KO 2pm (ticketing information on the website and club social media platforms)

Sat 17 May: Percy Park 7s 11am

The above is a photograph I missed in the previous report regarding the County Cup successes of our junior sides at Tynedale on Sunday last.

The U13 lads with the Northumberland County Plate Cup after their thrilling 40-30 victory over Alnwick.

Congratulations again to all of of our sides, their coaches, parents and supporters.

My grateful thanks to U13 Coach Christian Taylor for the photograph.

A Glorious day at Tynedale on Sunday as the Corbridge club hosted a day of age-grade Northumberland County Cup finals with Percy Park involved in three of them. A beautiful sunny day (albeit windy) began with an early 9.45 am start for the U16 Boys who took on Gosforth, winning a great game 27-7 to lift the Northumberland County U16 Plate Final. They were followed at 12 noon by the U13 Boys who played Alnwick in the final of the U13 Plate Final winning a high scoring and thoroughly entertaining game 40-30. At 1 pm, the U 14 Boys played Northern in the U14 Plate Final but this proved just a bridge to far, the Newcastle side winning comfortably 12-62.

Congratulations to our three teams for their success and our grateful thanks to the players, coaches, parents and supporters who made it possible.

Our thanks also to Tynedale RFC, their staff and volunteers who hosted a fantastic day of rugby on behalf of the County.

Our first Silverware of the season!

This weekend, the 1st XV take a break before their make or break visit to Driffield for their final league fixture of the season. The Panthers also have a week off but it is still a very busy weekend at the business end of the season with silverware up for grabs!

The Lions take centre stage this weekend when they entertain Morpeth is a match which is both a Candy League fixture and a Cup Final! The Lions and their opponents have reached the Northumberland County Senior Bowl Plate Final. After losing in the Quarter Final of the Senior Bowl to Tynedale Hadrians 24-14, they were awarded the result in the Plate Semi-Final against Medicals II and thus face Morpeth Reivers in the Final, KO 3pm. The Reivers, incidentally, lost at home to Alnwick II in the Senior Bowl Quarter-Final but beat Berwick Bears at home in the Plate Semi-Final.

On Sunday, there is a feast of junior rugby at Tynedale that features three of our boys age grade sides going for glory. At 9.45 am our U16 side face Gosforth in their age grade County Plate Final while at 12 noon our U13s meet Alnwick in their County Plate Final. The action is completed when at 1 pm our U14 side take on Northern in their County Plate Final. I am sure that it will be a great day and all support, for all of our sides chasing silverware, would be greatly appreciated.

There will, I am sure, be the usual mix of football and Premiership rugby on offer in the clubhouse over the weekend.

The England vs Scotland U19 Men's International takes place at Percy Park on Saturday, 26 April, KO 2pm. Ticketing Information is on the website and club social media platforms.

The Percy Park 7s take place on 17 May starting at 11 am.