A Derby to Remember
Whitley Bay Rockcliff Roses 12-19 Percy Park Panthers
24th November 2024

This Sunday, the Panthers made the short trip to face the Roses in a derby day clash that will be remembered. With a smaller squad than usual due to the winter flu sidelining several players, we knew we were in for a tough battle. Matches against Rockliff Roses are always fiercely contested, and this game was no exception.

Before the match, a minute silence was observed to honour a cherished friend we lost, with the team wearing black armbands featuring the number 32, #Forever32. There will always be a seat for you with us, Charlotte.

From the opening whistle, both teams were fired up, eager to demonstrate their capabilities. Rockcliff managed to score the first try, but our number 13, Livia Shanks, quickly countered by breaking through their forward defense to score the Panthers’ first try, which was expertly converted by C. Ward.

Despite another try from Rockcliff, the Panthers knew it was time to dig deep and prove our mettle. Winger Alice Goodwin, coming off the bench at halftime, ran the length of the pitch, fending off defenders to score what was undoubtedly her best try of the season.

The Panthers maintained their relentless pressure on Rockcliff, with prop Clari Beaumont diving over the try line to secure another fantastic score, once again beautifully converted by C. Ward.

The final score stood at 19-12 in favor of the Percy Park Panthers, securing a well-fought derby day victory.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to Rockcliff Rugby Club for an incredible day of rugby and an electrifying atmosphere. We eagerly anticipate hosting you for International Women’s Day in March 2025.

Special recognition is due to our Players of the Match:

- Forward: R. Hyland

- Back: Talia Sisterson

- Opposition: N. Wood

Panthers 44 - 5 Gateshead
20th October 2024
 Women's NC 3 North

The Panthers hosted Gateshead Women RFC at Preston Avenue on Sunday. The match began with a powerful start from the Panthers, who quickly pushed Gateshead back into their 22. Just minutes into the game, D. Hepples opened the scoring with the first try. C. Ward soon followed, making a stunning break down the wing to secure another try, setting the Panthers on a confident path.

With precise passing and effective gameplay, N. Wood added her first try of the match, converted nicely by D. Hepples. Gateshead, however, refused to let the Panthers settle, exerting pressure and delivering some hefty tackles. Fortunately, L. Calvert charged through, gaining ground and pushing the team back into the opposition's half. A quick play from the scrum saw A. Hyde take a hard hit, resulting in a dislocated knee. We wish you a speedy recovery, Amber. Your Panthers are sending you all the love.

With Winger A. Goodwin stepping up to the 9 position the team quickly re-established their rhythm and maintaining pressure, D. Hepples scored another try under the posts. With quick hands from Calvert and a clever dummy run by C. Beaumont, Captain S. Gicquel also crossed the line for a try under the posts.

As the weather took a turn, strong winds and heavy rain made it challenging for both teams to maintain the flow of the game. Just as things began to settle, the halftime whistle blew.

With the downpour continuing, the Panthers struggled to regain their footing, allowing Gateshead to score their first try. However, as the skies cleared and the sun emerged, a beautiful rainbow arched over Preston Avenue, signalling a resurgence from the Panthers. N. Wood quickly added another try, and Captain S. Gicquel, proving to be unstoppable, broke through the defense for yet another score. Gateshead showed great resilience, demonstrating their fighting spirit, but ultimately, the final try of the match came from N. Wood, bringing the game to a close with a score of 44-5 in favor of the Panthers.

A special shout out goes to this week's match ball sponsor, Conor Ryan-Somers, who generously donated his pocket money to the team. Thank you, Conor!

Our Players of the Match this week were:
- Forward: Emily Mather
- Back: Alice Goodwin
- Opposition: Lauren Calvert

Panthers Rise to the Challenge
Consett & District Women 10 - 64 Percy Park Panthers Ladies
13-Oct-2024

On Sunday, October 13, 2024, the Panthers journeyed to Consett to face off against the Cobras. The recent rainfall had softened the pitch, creating ideal conditions for an intense rugby match, and the Panthers certainly rose to the occasion.

From the very first whistle, the Panthers were quick to assert their dominance, applying pressure right from the start. Just minutes into the contest, Captain S. Gicquel scored the opening try, expertly converted by C. Ward, setting a positive tone for the game. Consett responded with a try of their own shortly after, igniting the Panthers' determination to take control.

Captain Gicquel struck again, crossing under the posts for her second try, which set up Fly Half Ward for another successful conversion. The Panthers continued their offensive surge, with N. Wood executing a remarkable line break, sprinting the length of the field to score under the posts, followed by another conversion from Ward. L. Shanks soon mirrored Wood's impressive run, adding another try and conversion, establishing a clear pattern of dominance as the Panthers rolled on.

A quick tap and go by Scrum Half A. Hyde led to an excellent offload to C. Beaumont, who scored another try under the posts. This time, the conversion narrowly missed, hitting the posts, but the Panthers still held a commanding halftime lead of 33-5.

The second half introduced newcomer F. Rees at the 9 position for her debut match, where she settled in seamlessly. The Panthers maintained their pressure, resulting in Captain Gicquel breaking through Consett's defense once more to score the first try of the second half, converted beautifully by C. Ward.

Consett, unwilling to back down, managed to score their second try, bringing the score to 40-10. Both teams were hitting hard and showing signs of fatigue, but the Panthers found a second wind, leading to more tries. E. Barker scored a try on the wing, with a slightly challenging conversion for Ward, who handled it with ease.

Next, P. Wood showcased her speed and agility, leaping for the ball on the wing and securing another score for the Panthers. N. Wood then broke through the defense again, scoring her second try of the day with an impressive run. Finally, C. Beaumont capped off the scoring with her second try, sneaking in from behind to score under the posts, finalizing the match with a score of 64-10 in favor of the Panthers.

With strong scrums, fierce tackles, and excellent teamwork, the entire team left the pitch full of smiles. A special shout-out to Consett for an exhilarating match; it was a pleasure competing against you, and we eagerly anticipate the upcoming Friday Night Lights at home.

Recognition goes to our Players of the Match: Forward M. Watson, Back B. Milne, and Opposition N. Wood.

We also welcomed back Lauren Calvert to our team, and in true form, she managed to sustain an injury that left her chin bust wide open, resulting in some unfortunate stains on our new strip, much to Coach Mandy's delight. We’re all curious to see if she can remove the stains—stay tuned!

Panthers Claim Victory:

Percy Park Panthers 49 - 17 Alnwick Ladies 
Sunday 22nd September 2024

This Sunday, the Panthers hosted Alnwick RFC Women at Preston Avenue, eager to rebound after a hard loss the previous week. The squad was determined to showcase their abilities, and they certainly did not disappoint.

Right from the whistle, the Panthers asserted their control with a powerful scrum, applying constant pressure that left Alnwick struggling against their strong pack. Just six minutes into the match, Livia Shanks opened the scoring with her first try, quickly followed by her second, putting the Panthers ahead 10-0.

The team's momentum continued when Captain Steph Gicquel executed a brilliant line break, outpacing the Alnwick defence. Despite being tackled just before reaching the try line, Gicquel made a precise offload to our number 10, Caitlin Ward, who scored under the posts and converted her own try, extending the lead to 17-0. The Panthers were clearly finding their rhythm.

With strong offensive plays, the Panthers continued to pressure Alnwick, keeping them pinned in their 22-meter area. Winger Sarah-Jane Laybourne made an impressive run along the sideline, passing to Ward, who was making ground until an unfortunate knock-on interrupted the play. Not to be deterred Clari Beaumont secured the next points on the board scoring a spectacular try for the Panthers.
The closing moments of the first half saw the Panthers dominate, culminating in a line break by Emily Mather, who breached Alnwick's defence to secure another try. Ward converted, bringing the halftime score to 27-0.

In the second half, the Panthers maintained their aggressive approach, leading to Beaumont adding her second try. However, Alnwick fought back, scoring and converting their first try, followed by a second, narrowing the score to 27-12.

Refusing to back down, the Panthers responded swiftly with a try from winger Alice Goodwin, marking a stellar debut for her. Flanker Nesha Wood also contributed with another try, but Alnwick kept up the pressure and managed to score again. The Panthers quickly countered with a try from Sheona McIntyre, finishing the match with a decisive score of 49-17 in Favor of the Panthers.

Acknowledging standout performances, the Players of the Match awards were given to Forward Clari Beaumont, Back Amber Hyde, and Caitlin Ward, who received recognition from the opposition for her significant contributions.

As the Panthers look forward, they are excited to take on Novo’s 2nds in the Papa Johns Junior Cup, with kickoff set for 2 PM at home. The team is eager to build on this victory and maintain their positive momentum as the season unfolds!