Saturday 25 January 2025
Huddersfield 42 Percy Park 28
Regional 1 North East
(HT: 14-14)
For the second weekend in succession Park were on the road, this time travelling to West Yorkshire to take on high flying Huddersfield in the rearranged fixture from December. After an excellent display at league leaders Scunthorpe last week, the hope was to follow this up with an equally robust display at Lockwood Park. And, it has to be said, for large parts of the game, it was but for a total loss of concentration in a ten-minute period late in the second half that saw the visitors concede three quick tries to completely undermine their efforts although, in the dying minutes, they rallied to score the all important bonus point try to at least leave with some reward.
As has been the case for most of the season, there were a number of changes to the side that narrowly lost to Scunthorpe last week due to injury and unavailability. Will Ponton made a welcome return from injury at fullback with Sol Kench coming in on the left wing. Seb Reece moved into the centre to partner Paul Spowart. Jacob German was drafted in as scrumhalf, moving from fullback, after the injury last week to Tom Robinson. In the forwards, there was a completely new back row, the returning Jonny Dubois, Karl Thompson (moving from the second row) and player/coach Ash Smith, moving to the flank for the second time this season. Chris Reekie returned to the second row to partner Josh Hedley. There was a welcome return from injury for Aaron Smith who joined Sean Nairn and Frazer McGlashan on the replacements bench.
On a cold, sunny but dry day, Park kicked off and it was the home side who started the better, putting the visitors on the back foot inside their 22. When Park were caught offside from a lineout, Huddersfield elected to tap and go with No 8 Billy Hammond powering over after just three minutes, standoff Will Milner converting (7-0). From the restart, Park began working themselves into the game, gaining possession and territory. After Huddersfield were penalised twice in quick succession for high tackles, the ball was kicked into the left corner. The catch and drive was stopped by the home side but the ball was quickly spun right for captain Howard Stock to score out wide on eleven minutes. Centre Paul Spowart kicked an excellent conversion to level the scores (7-7). From the restart, Huddersfield attacked, moving the ball into the Park 22 only to infringe and enable the visitors to relieve the pressure but back came Huddersfield and when Park were again caught offside in front of the posts, the home side again elected a tap and go and reap the reward when prop Ethan Myers forced his way over, Milner converting on 21 minutes (14-7).
The ball was kicked straight out from the restart to give Huddersfield possession at the resulting scrum which was the springboard to enable them to again move into the visitors 22. The pressure was relieved through a touchline run from wing Sol Kench and when the ball was moved infield, a storming run from prop Sam Digman. Although the ball was eventually spilled, Huddersfield were again penalised shortly afterwards for another high tackle, the penalty being put deep into the home 22 on the right. The catch and drive was faultless with emergency flanker Ash Smith (much to his delight) touching down. Another excellent conversion from Spowart tied the score, thirty-two minutes played (14-14). The remainder of the half saw Park under sustained pressure but an excellent Jonny Dubois turnover and a steal from an attacking home lineout ensured that there was no further score.
HT: Huddersfield 14 Percy Park 14
The home side kicked off and were immediately on the attack after Park were quickly penalised for not rolling away after the tackle enabling the home side to quickly get into the 22. The visitors’ defence initially held firm with a great turnover by captain Howard Stock and then a huge effort to stop Huddersfield on their own try line keeping the scores tied. Home fullback Fin Stewart was becoming more influential, and it was his mazy run that eventually put his side into the left corner. Although the attack was stopped, the recycled ball again came left, and hooker Harry Moore squeezed over despite a last ditch tackle from Spowart on fifty-four minutes. Milner kicked an excellent conversion from the touchline (21-14).
The game then became a midfield battle, both sides struggling to retain possession through indiscipline. On sixty-four minutes, Park second row Chris Reekie was shown a yellow card, as the result of a high tackle, by referee Jamie Hanson. Huddersfield were initially unable to take advantage of the extra man as an excellent midfield counter ruck gave the visitors the platform to attack forcing the home side to infringe twice in a couple of minutes to set up an attacking lineout in the left corner. Another well executed catch and drive had replacement Aaron Smith scoring, Spowart kicking another excellent conversion from wide out on sixty-seven minutes (21-21).
As the game moved into the final ten minutes, the combination of the yellow card and several key injuries seemed to affect the visitor’s concentration as in five quick minutes, the home side scored three converted tries to put the game out of reach. Firstly, from the restart, Huddersfield attacked but Park secured possession, only for a relieving kick to miss touch but find fullback Stewart. Barely a hand was laid on him as the visiting defence melted to allow him to score a superb solo try under the posts on seventy-one minutes. Milner converted the home sides bonus point try (28-21).
Two minutes later, Stewart scored again to all but secure the match. Gaining possession from the restart, Huddersfield moved the ball right for Stewart to cruise along the right touchline, again without a hand laid on him, to score the try wide out which Milner effortlessly converted (35-21). Huddersfield were now in full flow, and they scored again on seventy-six minutes when, after securing the ball from the restart, they again attacked along the right touchline but when the move stalled, the ball was moved swiftly left for wing Ben Cawte-Davey to go over, Milner converting to put the game beyond the reach of the visitors (42-21).
To their great credit, Park rallied in the dying minutes to score their own bonus point try to at least come away from the game with something. Gaining possession from the restart, they were able to move the ball right to allow captain Howard Stock to score wide out on the right on seventy-nine minutes with another excellent conversion from Spowart (42-28).
As the game entered the final seconds, a brief exchange of handbags between the forwards held up play with Park being awarded a penalty on halfway but they were unable to trouble the scoreboard further before the referee signaled the end of the match.
FT: Huddersfield 42 Percy Park 28
A huge effort from the team against one of the form sides in the league, falling short late in the game when for a few minutes, their defensive game evaporated. Prior to that mad five minutes, despite injuries and disruption and a yellow card, they had stood toe-to-toe with the home side in another very tough and physical game, a fact acknowledged by many of the home faithful. Credit to Huddersfield, they took their opportunities ruthlessly and in Fin Stewart have a real match winner, and it is no surprise that they sit third in Regional 1 North East, just three points behind second place York with a game in hand. We thank them for the game and for their excellent hospitality and look forward to the return on Tyneside in March. For Park, the bonus point helps keep us above Blaydon (who lost at home to Cleckheaton but collected two bonus points) and Selby who did not play yesterday. Both have also played a game more than ourselves. The side played really well, pegging the hosts back three times, before succumbing late on and post-match there was huge disappointment with the defensive lapses but, there are positive signs that a win is just around the corner. We also thank referee Jamie Hanson, who came up from the Midlands Society, and who refereed both sides superbly.
The Lions travelled to Blaydon and secured a 19-33 win in what was, by all accounts, a great game. Next week, the 1st XV are at home to bottom club Selby in what is a very important Regional 1 North East game, KO 2pm. Prior to the game there is a Past Players lunch which is open to EVERYONE, bookings can be made to Club Secretary Mick Ishida at
Percy Park: 15 Will Ponton; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Paul Spowart; 11 Sol Kench; 10 Fergus Simpson; 9 Jacob German; 8 Jonny Dubois; 7 Karl Thompson; 6 Ash Smith; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Josh Hedley; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Tristan Grant
Replacements: Aaron Smith; Sean Nairn; Frazer McGlashan