As the new league season gets underway, with the men’s 1st XV and the Lions playing their first competitive games this weekend and the Panthers getting underway on 15 September, we take a look at how preseason has shaped up for our senior squads.
The men’s senior squad have had a mixed bag, with availability and teams pulling out of fixtures making life difficult for the coaches. The preseason games themselves have been challenging. The senior squad had a great run out against Berwick in early August where the coaching staff got to see a lot of players. The result, a 17 all draw, was secondary to being able to have a good look at the players. With Ashington pulling out of a scheduled preseason game the following week, an in-house fixture was arranged which was great test to see the players front up against each other. Two matches were then arranged with one squad travelling north of the border to play Scottish Premiership side Hawick and another making the short journey to Seghill. With over 20 players unavailable for the weekend, it was very much a youthful side that made the journey to face the Scottish Cup holders and although the game was lost, 71-0, the performance in no way reflected the scoreline. The game was halted for an hour after a horrific injury to Hawick second row/flanker Stuart Graham who suffered a dislocation and break of the left ankle. The game at Seghill resulted in a good win. The final preseason game was at Morpeth last week where an experienced squad of players came away with a fine 0-47 win. After a tight and edgy first half, the team hit the accelerator against very tough local opposition who until recently were playing at Level 5. It was a successful evening and the coaches were able to try a number of different combinations in readiness for the league season ahead.
Player/Coach Ash Smith had this to say on preseason: “It's been a great preseason but I'm glad it's over as it's felt full on!! We have had new coaches join myself and Keith - James Ponton, Cameron Neild and Alex Hearle. All 3 of them are in the Newcastle Falcons environment and have all brought an extra bit of detail to the sessions on the grass. We do have some really talented new arrivals to look out for although we are still awaiting on quite a few to arrive. Those that have taken part in our preseason games are:
Jordan Carey - A rangey back with some lovely skills on him.
Dan Woodcock - A young falcons academy lad from Cockermouth who has been lightning in open space.
Euan Smart - The Scottish back rower has been very physical since he arrived but picked up a shoulder knock at Hawick.
Harry Paul - Harry has been very energetic since arriving, so much so he pulled his hamstring in training which has held him back from pulling on the shirt.
John Grey - One of our Rugby League converts. Can play multiple positions and is handy on the ball
Louis Adamson - A very mobile front rower who has impressed during his time with us.
Matthew French - A number 8 who has just finished his time at Newcastle University. Gets through a lot of work.
Tom Czerwinke - The University prop has been a blessing with his versatility. Can play across the front row and back row.
But it's not just the new arrivals, we have had some our colts step up and they have been fantastic to have around. The likes of William Ponton, Archie Graham and Jacob German have been adding a bit of zip to our back line. Roman Love and Zak Johnston have both shown great accounts of themselves in the senior set up and both have a very exciting future in senior rugby. As for goals that we are in the season now, we want to be top half of the table, which will give us the opportunity to push on further next season. I won't lie, we also want a cup run in the Papa John’s Community Cup, but we have to do the hard graft in the league to ensure we deserve the opportunity to be in a position to compete in the highest competition possible”.
The Panthers have enjoyed a highly successful preseason this summer, with both games and team bonding activities strengthening the team both on and off the field.
Preseason kicked off in early August with a home game against Peterlee & Horden Ladies. Although the fixture was lost 5-51, a very challenging start, the resilience displayed by the Panthers was commendable. Throughout the match, the team maintained their morale, showcasing the fitness and communication skills that they have worked so hard on in training. This improvement was a significant takeaway from the game, reflecting that hard work and commitment. On 18 August, the Panthers hosted a joint training session with the Houghton Hornets at Preston Avenue. The session included live scrums, lineouts, and contact work, culminating in a mixed-team touch game. Both teams found the experience enjoyable and beneficial, leaving with a lot of positives to build on. The final preseason game took the Panthers to Skipton Roses, where a very competitive yet very enjoyable match was played. The final score was 37–14 in favour of Skipton, but Captain, Steph Gicquel, made a notable impact by scoring two tries, while Caitlin Ward and Dom Hepples successfully converted. The standout element was the noticeable improvement in our game play and fitness compared to our first pre-season encounter.
Mandy Wood summed up the approaching league season: “As we gear up for the league to start, the excitement is palpable. With the strong bonds we’ve built and the improvements we’ve made, we are confident that the 2024/25 5 season will be an exciting journey for the Panthers! Coaches and players alike are feeling energized and ready for the tests to come. We are also excited to announce our participation in the Papa John’s Community Cup this season, with our first match scheduled at home against Novos 2nd team. This tournament presents a fantastic opportunity for the Panthers, and we eagerly anticipate getting it underway. In addition to our matches, the Panthers have embraced a September Challenge, aiming to run, bike, swim, and walk a combined total of 2000 miles. This initiative aims to raise funds for Maggies Centres Newcastle, our strip sponsor, as well as for Percy Park RFC. Each player and coach have committed to this challenge, showcasing our competitive spirit and dedication to our community”.
It would appear that our senior sides are more than ready for their respective league campaigns to get underway. A reminder of those first fixtures:
Saturday 7 September: Park vs Driffield (Regional 1 North East) KO 3pm
Saturday 7 September: Lions vs Driffield (Candy League) KO 3pm
Sunday 15 September: Penrith vs Panthers (NC 3 North (North)) KO 2pm
