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!