Saturday 21 February 2026

Upper Eden 27 Percy Park 28

Regional 2 North

(HT: 17-12)

In a game where the visitors squandered an early seven point lead, Upper Eden conceded ten points in the last quarter of an increasingly fractious game, Park stealing the win with the last kick of the game to cement their third place position in the league table. When Upper Eden ran onto the field of play in their traditional black and white hoops a former Park President (who obviously did not go to Specsavers) was heard to repeatedly shout “Come on Park” to the rather puzzled home side. As the Park players ran out in their changed red strip, the fact was gently pointed out to him… It was going to be a long afternoon!

With the game being hastily rearranged after last weekend’s postponement, there were bound to be changes to the Park side that last took the field against Sunderland three weeks ago. Monty Snary came in as fullback in place of Will Ponton who moved to inside centre. At half back, George Chapman moved from scrumhalf to standoff in place of the unavailable Fergus Simpson with Jacob German coming in at nine. In the forwards, in came Joe Ford at hooker replacing Jonny Dubois, with Nick Macklin-Copeland replacing Sam Digman at prop. Sean Nairn replaced Mark Barry in the second row with, in the back row, Leo Caulfield moving to No 8 to replace Matthew French and Paul Spowart and the ever reliable Joey Cassidy coming in on the flanks.

On a dull afternoon with rain in the air, Park were immediately under pressure, an excellent 50/22 kick from home standoff Neldus Kruger creating the initial problem with the visitors compounding it by indiscipline. However, excellent Park defence early on kept the home side at bay. But after seven minutes, Park showed what they were about when an excellent attack along the right touchline orchestrated by captain Howard Stock led to a final pass that No 8 Leo Caulfoeld was just unable to hold that would have opened the scoring.

The first quarter was littered with mistakes, Park on a couple of occasions turning the ball over only to immediately give away penalties to hand back the initiative. On eighteen minutes, another excellent 50/22 kick from Kruger allowed Upper Eden the lineout in the right corner and the catch and drive had No 8 Will Birbeck touching down. Kruger missed the difficult conversion (5-0). Park were able to hit back immediately, a home knock-on from the restart giving the visitors a scrum in the middle of the Upper Eden half. The ball was moved quickly right with skipper Howard Stock stopped on the tryline only for the ball to be moved infield for No 8 Leo Caulfield to go over on twenty-one minutes. Standoff George Chapman converted (5-7).

Park struck again six minutes later after Upper Eden were caught offside in midfield, the resulting penalty kick going into the left corner. From the lineout excellent hands had the ball moved right at speed for Stock to go over in the right corner, Chapman failing to convert (5-12). The home side dominated the final ten minutes of the half, scoring twice. On thirty-four minutes, a break in midfield from home scrumhalf Sam Edgar led to a try in the left corner by wing Matthew Brass, the conversion attempt unsuccessful (10-12). With two minutes of the half remaining, Park butchered an attacking lineout in the left corner after Upper Eden had been penalised for crossing. A length of the field move from the home side had replacement Matt Sanderson scoring under the posts for Kruger to convert (17-12).

HT: Upper Eden 17 Percy Park 12

It took only three minutes of the second half for Park to reduce the deficit, a deliberate trip penalised with Chapman kicking the penalty from just inside the home 22 (17-15). However, after forty-seven minutes, a superb break from Upper Eden fullback Dan Todd through the Park midfield had centre Josh Alderson scoring, Kruger missing the conversion (22-15).

The visitors began dominating the game, kicking well to pin the home side in their 22, but hard fought possession kept being turned over cheaply. A little bit of niggle was creeping into the game and when the referee saw a Park player being held on the floor inside the home 22 it resulted in a home yellow card (one of five given during the game) and Chapman kicking the resulting penalty on fifty-four minutes (22-18).

This seemed to spur on the home side who scored their bonus point try on fifty-eight minutes. Replacement Ethan Clarke was penalised after infringing in a desperate few minutes of defence, a pick and go seeing No 8 Will Birbeck going over for his second try but, crucially as it turned out, Kruger missed the conversion (27-18).

Park were able to reduce the deficit straight from the restart. The ball was worked well along the left touchline. When the move broke down, the ball was recycled infield to fullback Monty Snary who, after a sidestep completely wrong footed the home defence, was able to score just to the right of the posts on sixty-two minutes, Chapman converting to set up a grandstand finish (27-25).

The last quarter was niggly, frequent penalties and yellow cards littering the game. Park had the territory, without being able to fashion the decisive break through. As the game entered the final few minutes, Park were awarded several penalties with white wash fever prevailing, bodies piling up on the home try line. Finally, common sense prevailed after yet another penalty award and, with the last kick of the game, Chapman coolly kicked the penalty from the left side to give Park the victory (27-28).

FT: Upper Eden 27 Percy Park 28

A tight game, marred at times by more niggle than was necessary, with Park showing some real character to take the win at the death. Captain Howard Stock was a relieved man post-match: “I’m just grateful that we were calm enough to take the points at the end, it was a bit frantic out there! It was a shame that we could not quite get the bonus point but the win keeps us in the play-off places. Proud of the lads for the effort, it was a tough afternoon”.

It was a real team effort with everyone contributing to the win. Upper Eden gained two bonus points in defeat and we thank them for a hard game and for their hospitality. Park remain in third place in the league, our hosts also remaining in eighth place.

Elsewhere, the Lions game at Gateshead was postponed but on Sunday, the Panthers fell to a home defeat to Gateshead 19-26 while our Colts marched on, defeating Northern 31-5 in the County Plate semi-final at Preston Avenue. The final will be played at Ashington RFC against Gosforth on Wednesday 11 March, KO 7 pm.

Next Saturday, the 1^st XV are at home to Aspatria, KO 3pm

Percy Park: 15 Monty Snary; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Oli Bartles-Smith; 12 Will Ponton; 11 Freddie Harra; 10 George Chapman; 9 Jacob German; 8 Leo Caulfield; 7 Paul Spowart; 6 Joey Cassidy; 5 Sean Nairn; 4 Josh Hedley; 3 Nick Macklin Copeland; 2 Joe Ford; 1 Dan Shuttleworth

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Saturday 31 January 2026

Percy Park 29 Sunderland 14

Regional 2 North

(HT: 14-0)

Percy Park hosted third placed Sunderland on Saturday, the game played on the second team pitch for the second home game in succession due to the inclement weather. In a much-improved performance after the heavy defeat at Northern two weeks ago, Park established a 26-0 lead early in the second half before allowing the visitors two late tries to minimise the scale of the defeat.

As has been the norm this season, there were several changes to the team that succumbed at Northern. In the backline, captain Howard Stock resumed his normal place on the right wing from fullback, Will Ponton taking the number 15 shirt moving from standoff. Paul Spowart, apparent jack-of-all-trades after recent deployments on the flank and Number 8, moved back to his usual position of inside centre with Freddie Hara switching wings to replace the injured Tom Bird. Fergus Simpson moved to standoff from centre with George Chapman making a welcome return at scrumhalf. In the forwards, Jonny Dubois made a welcome return from long term injury replacing Joe Ford. There was also a welcome return from injury to the back row for Leo Caulfield with Seth Henderson also returning after missing the game at McCracken Park. Josh Hedley replaced Sean Nairn in the second row. On the replacements bench, Fraser McGlashan joined Ford and Nairn.

On a muddy, heavy pitch, with both sides struggling to adapt it was Park who struck first after a first quarter of stalemate, George Chapman pouncing to score after centre Oli Bartles-Smith charged down an attempted clearance kick. Chapman converted his own try, twenty-two minutes played (7-0).

As the game neared halftime, Park extended their lead in similar circumstances, this time Will Ponton charging the ball down and scoring after thirty-seven minutes. Chapman converted (14-0). There was no further scoring before the break.

HT: Percy Park 14 Sunderland 0

The second half opened with two quick home tries in three minutes. After forty-three minutes Park put together multiple phases with Josh Hedley finishing off with the score, the conversion missed (19-0). Just three minutes later captain Howard Stock scored the all-important bonus point try after quick hands following a Sunderland knock on, Chapman converting (26-0).

Sunderland were able to get onto the scoreboard in the fifty-first minute with a converted try (26-7), but Park responded almost immediately when sustained pressure brought a home penalty in front of the posts, duly kicked by Chapman to complete the home scoring (29-7).

A Will Ponton yellow card enabled Sunderland, after some good handling, to score their second try which was converted after sixty-minutes (29-14). There was no further scoring.

FT: Percy Park 29 Sunderland 14

An excellent result that sent that means the home side replace the visitors in third in the Regional 2 North league table, still a long way behind runaway leaders Northern and high flying Consett. We thank Sunderland for a good, hard game and wish them well for the remainder of the season. We also thank our match referee.

Elsewhere, The Lions travelled to Medicals losing 54-27 but came back strongly in the second half after being 42-10 in arrears at halftime and on Sunday our unbeaten Colts with just thirteen players travelled to Hartlepool Old Boys winning 38-53 against a side able to field a full strength side. Trailing 24-12 early in the game, they turned the game around to win convincingly, a truly epic result.

Next weekend, both the first XV and the Lions are not in action but on Sunday the Panthers travel to Consett to resume their league campaign, KO 2pm. The Colts also have a rest weekend. The 1^st XV are next in action when they travel, with the Lions, to Upper Eden on Valentine’s Day, KO 2pm.

The Six Nations begins on Thursday and all of the matches will be available to watch in the clubhouse bars.

Percy Park: 15 Will Ponton; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Oli Bartles-Smith; 12 Paul Spowart; 11 Freddie Harra; 10 Fergus Simpson; 9 George Chapman; 8 Matthew French; 7 Seth Henderson; 6 Leo Caulfield; 5 Mark Barry; 4 Josh Hedley; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Jonny Dubois; 1 Dan Shuttleworth

Replacements: Joe Ford; Sean Nairn; Fraser McGlashan

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Saturday 17 January 2026

Northern 38 Percy Park 0

Regional 2 North

(HT: 21-0)

After the comprehensive defeat of Wigton a week ago, belief was high that we could give league leaders Northern a run for their money at McCracken Park on Saturday but, sadly, a much changed team (yet again) suffered a heavy defeat to our city rivals, failing to score for the first time this season and conceding six tries in a 38-0 loss.

In truth, Park were never in the game from the fifth minute after conceding the first try, with very little offered in attack, gifting the hosts possession on far too many occasions with defensive lapses proving costly at crucial times. That said, stubborn defence for the most part restricted Northern, who did not quite reach the heights that they displayed in their win at Preston Avenue earlier in the season, in a game that was short on quality but long on niggle.

Park, with so many players injured or unavailable, made changes to the side that took the field against Wigton. In the back line, captain Howard Stock found himself at fullback for the first time this season, Freddie Hara replacing him on the wing. Will Ponton moved to standoff from fullback to replace the unavailable George Chapman. In the forwards, Jake Bell replaced Mark Barry in the back row, Barry moving into the second row to partner Sean Nairn, the regular pairing of Chris Reekie and Josh Hedley unavailable. On the all new replacements bench, Archie Graham, Josh Sho-Perring and Isaac Nokes.

Northern kicked off on a cold overcast day and were ahead in just under five minutes, Park caught offside on their own 22 metre line, the kick into the corner giving the hosts the chance to catch and drive which they took, No 8 Rob Lenderyou touching down with standoff Will Jobling kicking the extras (7-0).

Park could not seem to get a foot hold in the game, too many penalties halting any attempt at momentum. It seemed to be all Northern but Park were matching the home sides attack with excellent defence, firstly winning an excellent turnover on their own 10 metre line (Matthew French to the fore) and then Northern giving away a needless penalty after an off the ball shove, stupid niggle that was a feature throughout the game. As the first quarter ended, wing Tom Bird, the five try hero last week, so close to an interception that surely would have seen him score but he was just unable to hold on to the ball. On twenty-three minutes, Northern showed their class, swift handling right from a scrum on half way, two missed tackles along the right touchline, an inside pass and Lenderyou was in for his and Northern’s second try just to the right of the posts, Jobling again converting (14-0).

The next few minutes showed the best and worst of Park on the day. Another excellent turnover by No * Matthew French on their own 10 metre line was wasted the ball was lost cheaply with Northern again attacking at speed along the right touchline with only a desperate cover tackle by (I think) skipper Howard Stock preventing the score. Park were having trouble holding on to possession and it was to cost them again in the thirty-first minute with another home turnover and another missed tackle in midfield seeing centre Nyle Godsmark scoring underneath the posts, Jobling converting to give the hosts a substantial half time lead (21-0).

HT: Northern 21 Percy Park 0

The second half started with the home side exerting pressure but unable to penetrate the Park defence and just when the visitors looked to have broken the stranglehold a penalty was gifted to the home side, made worse by stupid backchat that had Park marched ten yards back by referee Yannick Debit. Park lost the plot with Northern attacking along the left and two missed tackles later on prop Josh Coombes, Lenderyou was completing his hat trick, in at the left corner on fifty-two minutes. Jobling missed the difficult conversion (26-0).

As the third quarter ended, Park seemed to be gaining some parity with the hosts in terms of possession and territory with replacement Josh Sho-Perring showing some real pace. A wayward Park kick was ruthlessly exploited by the home side, wing Jimmy Howarth initiating a counter attack that was finished by captain and flanker Tom McCullough crashing over on 70 minutes, the conversion missed (31-0).

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors when wing Tom Bird was shown a yellow card for retaliation as the clock wound down, Northern taking full advantage, second row Dom Warby scoring under the posts with the last move of the match after excellent work from replacement Murray Brown, Jobling’s conversion signaling the end of the match (38-0).

FT: Northern 38 Percy Park 0

A sobering afternoon but one put onto context by injured player coach Ash Smith: “I was proud of our commitment and at times our defence was outstanding but, with the players we have missing, it was always going to be a struggle. We could not secure enough ball to really see what our backs could do but credit to Northern, they are a very good side and they are deservedly top of the table. We have to regroup for Sunderland in a fortnight”.

Despite the scoreline, Park were competitive throughout and it is not often that we do not trouble the scoreboard in a game. A weakened team fought well but the league leaders were just too strong on the day. We remain third in the table behind our hosts, who have a commanding lead at the top of the table, and Consett but there are teams just below us, Sunderland and Keswick, with a game in hand. The race for the play-of places will be tight.

We thank our hosts for their hospitality and a hard fought game together with referee Yannick Debbit, without whom there is no game.

Elsewhere, the Panthers have had a good start to 2026, there game at Ponteland being awarded and forcing a 14-14 draw at home to second placed Alnwick last weekend. They remain third in NC 3 (north) North.

The 1^st XV do not have a game next weekend and they are next back in action on Saturday 31 January when Sunderland are the visitors, KO 3pm. Next weekend however, the Lions are scheduled to host Alnwick on the Saturday, KO 2pm, the Panthers and Colts have no fixtures.

 Percy Park: 15 Howard Stock ©; 14 Freddie Harra; 13 Oli Bartles-Smith; 12 Fergus Simpson; 11 Tom Bird; 10 Will Ponton; 9 Jacob German; 8 Matthew French; 7 Jake Bell; 6 Paul Spowart; 5 Mark Barry; 4 Sean Nairn; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Joe Ford; 1 Dan Shuttleworth

Replacements: Archie Graham; Josh Sho-Perring; Isaac Nokes

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Saturday 10 January 2026

Percy Park 57 Wigton 17

Regional 2 North

(HT: 19-5)

In our first game of the new year, Park enjoyed a convincing win against bottom of the league Wigton with in-form wing Tom Bird scoring five tries. The victory moved Park up to third in the Regional 2 North table though this was only one of two games played in the league owing to the freezing weather of late. Late pitch inspections revealed that the first team pitch was not playable so the game took place on the second team pitch in sunny, though extremely cold, conditions. The game was closer than perhaps the final score suggested with Wigton more than playing their part in an entertaining game, unlucky not to come away with a losing try bonus point. As no scribe was available for the game this is a truncated report with, hopefully, normal service resumed next week.

As is sadly the case, week in week out, there were the usual changes necessary to the team that played in our last home league game just prior to Christmas. In the back line, the injured Seb Reece and unavailable Matt Dunn were replaced by Fergus Simpson (moving from standoff) and the returning Oli Bartles-Smith. Tom Bird returned to the left wing in place of Jacob German who moved to scrumhalf. George Chapman moved to standoff from scrumhalf. In the forwards, Chris Reekie returned to the second row replacing Fraser McGlashan and in the back row, centre Paul Spowart resumed his back row conversion replacing Seth Henderson.

It took just six minutes for Park to register the first score, Tom Bird opening his account, the conversion missed. Four minutes later, fullback Will Ponton scored, George Chapoman converting. Wigton got a foothold in the game, scoring after thirty-six minutes but Park replied instantly two minutes later, Sam Digman scoring with Chapman converting.

HT: Percy Park 19 Wigton 5

The second half was really one way traffic with the home side putting the game beyond Wigton within thirteen minutes of the match resuming. Quick fire tries from Bird (two) and centre Fergus Simpson, all converted by Chapman, gave the hosts an almost unassailable lead 40-5 and although Wigton hit back on eighteen minutes with a converted try, a further Bird try effectively put the game to bed.

A yellow card for hooker Joe Ford (tip tackle) on thirty-four minutes allowed Wigton the opportunity to score their third try a minute later. Park, however, finished with a flourish, Sam Digman and Tom Bird scoring late tries, one converted, to take an emphatic win.

FT: Percy Park 57 Wigton 17

The only other game in the league took place at West Hartlepool, with the hosts defeating Upper Eden 32-21.

The first XV travel to league leaders Northern next Saturday (17 January) in what is bound to be a very hard fought game. KO is 2pm. The Lions have no scheduled fixture but please check club social media platforms as that may change. The Panthers are due to host Alnwick in a league encounter on Sunday 18 January, KO 2pm. The Colts host Redcar on Sunday, KO 1pm. All support for our teams would be gratefully received.

Percy Park: 15 Will Ponton; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Oli Bartles-Smith; 12 Fergus Simpson; 11 Tom Bird; 10 George Chapman: 9 Jacob German; 8 Matthew French; 7 Mark Barry; 6 Paul Spowart; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Josh Hedley; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Joe Ford; 1 Dan Shuttleworth

Replacements: Nairn; Hara; Bell

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