Saturday 26 September 2026
Percy Park 45 West Hartlepool 35
Regional 2 North
(HT: 14-20)
West Hartlepool were our last visitors in the regular 2025/26 season in April and just a few months later they returned to Preston Avenue as our opening opponents to the new, if slightly delayed, 2026/27 season. There was an air of expectancy around the ground, real anticipation for the season to finally get under way and the game did not disappoint with Park having to overcome an early 0-17 points deficit to post an opening day bonus point victory against a spirited and hard-working West side who deservedly gained a try bonus point themselves.
There were new faces in the Park matchday eighteen with props Joe Green and Kieran Hope making their Park debuts at prop and one of our outstanding colts from last season, George Bogg, coming in as fullback. Evergreen former captain Jonny Dubois packed down in the back row alongside new Club captain Matthew French. With the Lions first game of the season postponed, Lions skipper Matt Atkinson was able to offer cover on the replacements bench alongside returning Jake Smith and Heston Floyd.
On a warm but overcast day it was West Hartlepool who kicked off the new campaign and it was indeed the visitors who made the most of the early exchanges, keeping Park pinned back in and around their 22-metre line. When Park infringed at a scrum on the 22, West kicked the ball to the right corner and although the initial catch and drive was repulsed, West flanker Isaac Robinson was able to spot a gap to score the opening try of the game on four minutes. The try was converted by West stand-off Jobe Roxby (0-7).
From the restart, a west scrum in their 22 showed their forward power when they had the Park eight going backwards and West were very much in the ascendancy with only indiscipline halting momentum. Thery scored again after eight minutes when Park lost the ball in midfield. The West forwards were able to move the ball into the home 22 and when the ball was eventually moved right at speed, West right-wing Sam Knight was able to finish smartly. Roxby converted (0-14).
Suddenly being two scores adrift seemed to galvanise Park and scrumhalf Jacob German finally got them on the front foot, winning a penalty that put the home side into the visitors 22. Great work from second row Chirus Reekie should have led to the first Park try but the ball was spilled over the line. The West forwards relieved the immediate pressure and a long kick was fumbled allowing West a scrum just outside the home 22. The visiting eight worked hard to, eventually, give Roxby the space to kick a smart dropped goal on thirteen minutes (0-17).
Park appeared shell shocked and only a knock-on in the home 22 prevented another West try. West continued to press, desperate Park defence preventing another score but individual brilliance suddenly had Park on the scoreboard. A breakout from their own 22 with new prop Kieran Hope prominent was finished off under the posts by scrumhalf Jacob German on nineteen minutes for standoff Will Ponton to convert (7-17). West recovered well, quickly running the ball into the home 22 and winning a penalty when Park were penalised for holding on after the tackle. Roxby kicked the goal on twenty-one minutes to extend the visitors lead (7-20).
Park finally began to gain possession and territory and were rewarded with their second try after twenty-six minutes. Great work from Hope (again) and second row Austin Phillips had Park almost at the West try line. When the visitors conceded a penalty, the ball was tapped right to No 8 Leo Caulfield who found himself in space to run in unopposed to the right of the posts, Ponton converting (14-20).
Park were able to contain West for the remainder of the half without conceding a further score.
HT: Percy Park 14 West Hartlepool 20
The opening ten minutes of the second half completely transformed the contest with Park, at full tilt, scoring three unanswered tries to put them firmly in control. The first, after just two minutes of the half, had Park winning a lineout on the West 22. The Park forwards had the ball at the West line before West were penalised twice in quick succession and a tap and go on the second had second row Chris Reekie over for the try, Ponton converting, putting the home side ahead for the first time in the match (21-20).
Park scored two minutes later after West lost the ball on the Park 10 metre line. Great hands in midfield with the ball being moved at speed left had fullback George Bogg go over behind the posts for the bonus point try, Ponton converting (28-20).
In another two minutes, Park had the game completely under control after arguably the try of the game. Almost from the restart, Park won a lineout on their own 10 metre line and a brilliant break by centre Matt Dunn, ably supported by wing Tom Bird with a swift interchange of passes, had the Park No 12 scoring behind the posts. Ponton converted (35-20). West appeared stunned but managed to steady the ship, securing a scrum penalty on the Park 22. Thery kicked to the left corner and although the catch and drive was held at the line, it was done so illegally, with the visitors given two penalty advantages enabling them to move the ball right for wing Sam Knight to score his second try on fort-eight minutes. The conversion was missed (35-25).
The next ten minutes saw a lull in the attacking action; both sides content to trade a penalty apiece. On fifty-four minutes West were penalised for not rolling away, Will Ponton kicking the goal (38-25) only for West to reply five minutes later when Park were caught offside in their own 22 with Roxby kicking the resultant penalty (38-28).
The Park forwards were working hard to gain territory forcing a West defensive lineout on the visiting 22 metre line. A West overthrow was greedily scooped up in the Park midfield allowed Park to attack the West 22 at pace, second row Austin Phillips and flanker Jonny Dubois to the fore with eventually (I think, my view was completely obscured) Chris Reekie going over for his second try. I’m sure I will be corrected if I have made a mistake! Will Ponton converted on sixty-six minutes (45-28).
It was the visitors who had the final say when, on seventy-two minutes, a great break in midfield split the Park defence to allow wing Sam Knight to score his third try and ensure a bonus point. Roxby converted (45-35).
There was no further scoring.
FT: Percy Park 45 West Hartlepool 35
A hard-fought game with Park showing real resilience and spirit after going seventeen points adrift early in the match. Jacob German who throughout tried to get Park on the front foot and who scored our opening try was deservedly man-of-the-match. Our two new props played extremely well and everyone contributed at some point in what was, eventually, a well deserved victory. West can take much from the game and had they been able to fashion a third score from their first half dominance, Park may not have come back from the deficit. A losing try bonus point was well deserved and one has to feel sympathy for Sam Knight, scoring a try hat trick away from home and still ending up on the losing side.
We thank our visitors for an excellent game and wish them well for the rest of the season and we look forward to the reverse fixture in early January. Also, many thanks to the referee Yannick Debil who is always welcome at Preston Avenue and without whom there would be no game.
Sadly, two of our sides had first league game postponements; the Lions game at DMP was called off as was the Panthers opening game against Blaydon. However, our Colts got the season underway with a 33-21 victory on Friday under the Preston Avenue lights.
Next weekend, the 1st XV host Penrith (who incidentally put 92 points on Sunderland on Saturday), KO 3pm with the Lions also at home on Saturday when they host Houghton in Counties 3 North East North, KO also 3pm. On Sunday the Panthers entertain Houghton, KO 2pm. The Colts have a rest weekend.
Percy Park: 15 George Bogg; 14 Dan Jackson; 13 Howard Stock; 12 Matthew Dunn; 11 Tom Bird; 10 Will Ponton; 9 Jacob German; 8 Leo Caulfield; 7 Matthew French ©, 6 Jonny Dubois; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Austin Phillips; 3 Joe Green; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Kieran Hope
Replacements: Matt Atkinson; Jake Smith; Heston Floyd