Saturday 25 October 2025
Percy Park 36 Upper Eden 22
Regional 2 North
(HT: 24-17)
Upper Eden were the visitors to Preston Avenue on Saturday and in a very entertaining game, Percy Park returned to winning ways after recent defeats, securing a 36-22 bonus point victory over a very good rugby playing side, overcoming an early ten-point deficit to score five tries. It was all the more commendable given the current injury list with the likes of Josh Hedley, Michael Birkett, Ash Smith, Oli Bartles-Smith, Jordan Carey, Matthew French and Jonny Dubois, to name just a few, missing. Indeed, as our Honorary Secretary remarked before the game, almost an entire first XV is on the sidelines.
With the mounting injury list, changes to the team that were defeated at Sunderland last time out were inevitable. In the forwards, the versatile Karl Thompson replaced Sean Nairn in the second row to partner Chris Reekie with Seth Henderson replacing Karl in the back row. At half back, George Chapman moved from scrumhalf to standoff with Tom Robinson moving from the left wing to scrumhalf. In the backline, Dan Woodcock replaced Jordan Carey at fullback with Fergus Simpson moving from standoff to inside centre to partner Seb Reece. Tom Bird switched from right wing to left with captain Howard Stock on the right, his first start of the season after injury. Sean Nairn, Paul Spowart and Joe Ford made up the replacements bench.
On a dry, sunny but very breezy day with the forecast rain thankfully never materialising, Upper Eden kicked off with the wind at their backs. An early 50/22 kick into the Park 22 showed the visitors intent but it was Park who struck the first blow. A superb break by centre Fergus Simpson deep into Upper Eden territory saw great hands put the ball into the hands of prop Sam Digman and his great offload in the tackle had fellow front row Tristan Grant crash over to the left of the posts on seven minutes. George Chapman converted (7-0).
Upper Eden responded immediately using turnover ball to devastating effect. When Park surrendered possession in midfield, Upper Eden attacked right, with quick hands putting wing Nathanial Twiss in to the right of the posts on ten minutes. The conversion was missed in the swirling wind (7-5). The score seemed to galvanise the visitors who, with their rangy forwards, carried hard into the Park 22. The home side appeared to have weathered the storm, securing possession after great defensive work but inexplicably turned the ball over, allowing Upper Eden fullback Oliver Bennett to hack on and score after a quarter of an hour, Bennett converting his own score (7-12).
Both sides were looking to play rugby with the game being played at a frantic pace and after some end to end play it was Upper Eden who scored their third try on twenty-four minutes. From a visiting lineout on halfway, an excellent break in midfield broke through the Park defence with scrumhalf Aiden Muller on hand to take the pass and score to the left of the posts without a hand laid on him. Bennett missed the conversion (7-17).
It appeared that Park had their backs to the wall but they showed real tenacity in the second quarter to wipe out the deficit and lead at halftime. On the half hour, a superb break from centre Seb Reece was carried on by fellow centre Fergus Simpson who gave the scoring pass to wing Tom Bird to score wide out on the left for an excellent try. Scrumhalf George Chapman kicked an excellent conversion into the wind (14-17). As Park gained territory and possession, an Upper Eden scrum yielded a home penalty as the visitors were pushed backwards and Chapman kicked the goal to tie the score on thirty-six minutes (17-17).
With half time approaching, Upper Eden were caught offside in their own 22 and the ball was kicked to the left corner. Although the catch and drive was halted, the ball was recycled for flanker Karl Thonpson to go over wide out on the left on 39 minutes. Chapman kicked another excellent conversion into the wind just before the halftime whistle (24-17).
HT: Percy Park 24 Upper Eden 17
Park kicked off the second half and were immediately on the attack, Upper Eden having to scramble to touch the ball down in goal. Mistakes hampered the home effort but their attacking intent was rewarded after fifty-two minutes when they scored the bonus point try. A break by scrumhalf Tom Robinson from a ruck resulted in an Upper Eden infringement midway in their own half, Chapman kicking the ball to the left corner. A textbook catch and drive had prop Sam Digman scoring. The difficult conversion was missed (29-17).
Upper Eden were beginning to struggle in the scrum and they were very much on the defensive as the third quarter ended. A great passage of play, backs and forwards involved, saw the ball in the hands of Park fullback Dan Woodcock in the visitors 22. He had work to do but one clever side step and he was in to the right of the posts on 59 minutes, Chapman converting (36-17).
The last twenty minutes of the game saw Park, until the final seconds, in the visiting 22 but they were unable to add to their score. An excellent 50/22 kick from Fergus Simpson and a quick throw from fellow centre Seb Reece almost resulted in Sam Digman scoring and repeated Upper Eden indiscipline at the maul after Park had kicked a penalty to the left corner saw visiting replacement Matthew Sanderson shown a yellow card by referee Alun Ross. Park could not take advantage as desparate defending kept the home side at bay until in their eagerness, Park strayed offside and the visitors were able to kick to their 10 metre line and relieve the pressure. As the half entered the red zone, Park were caught offside again on their own 10 metre line and Upper Eden were able to keep possession to work flanker Finlay Rose over for their own bonus point try (36-22).
FT: Percy Park 36 Upper Eden 22
An enjoyable game with both sides wanting to play an expansive game, particularly in the first half. In truth, Park dominated the second and had the chances to increase their score but credit to Upper Eden, they defended doggedly and had the wherewithal to score late on to earn the try bonus point. For Park, Tristan Grant was at his destructive best, always breaking the first tackle and at standoff, George Chapman controlled the game and kicked superbly. Upper Eden showed that they are a rugby playing team and, when possession dried up in the second half, very good defensively. They deserved their try bonus point.
After recent defeats it was a much better Park performance that propels them up to third in the Regional 2 North table behind Northern, who won comfortably at home to Sunderland, and Keswick who won at Durham City. Upper Eden slip to eighth and we thank them for an excellent game played in the right spirit and wish them well for the remainder of the season. We also thank our referee Alun Ross.
The Lions fixture against Upper Eden Boars was abandoned after home player Jeremy Newman picked up a serious looking neck injury but the injury appears to be less serious than first thought and we wish Jeremy a speedy recovery.
Next week, the 1st XV have a break from league action, hosting Northern in the Northumberland Senior Cup, KO is 3pm The Lions and the Panthers are not scheduled to play but on Sunday, the Colts are away at Hartlepool Rovers, KO is 1pm. All support for our teams would be most welcome.
Percy Park: 15 Dan Woodcock; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Fergus Simpson; 11 Tom Bird; 10 George Chapman; 9 Tom Robinson; 8 Keith Laughlin; 7 Seth Henderson; 6 Fraser McGlashan; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Karl Thompson; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Tristan Grant
Replacements: Joe Ford; Paul Spowart; Sean Nairn