Saturday 18 October 2025
Sunderland 44 Percy Park 38
Regional 2 North
(HT: 19-14)
After a chastening defeat last weekend at home to Northern, Percy Park were looking to bounce back quickly against newly promoted Sunderland at Ashbrooke but found the going just as tough, particularly in the second half, as the Wearsider’s deservedly won a topsy-turvy game 44-38. The only upside to a very disappointing display was the doggedness in the closing minutes of the match to score ten points without reply to ensure a second bonus point. Our defence at times was porous and, seemingly, every time we scored we allowed the hosts to come straight back at us to score themselves and the second half was all about playing catch-up rugby. The game was effectively over just past the hour mark and it is the second week in succession that Park have conceded forty points plus. Discipline was again a problem with, at one point, the team being marched back 20 metres after continued backchat to the referee after the award of a penalty to the home side. Another tough day at the office indeed.
After the numerous injuries suffered last week, there were always going to be changes to the side for this game. In the backline Jordan Carey returned at fullback in place of the injured Andrew Walker, Seb Reece came into the centre from left wing to partner Ash Smith with Tom Robinson coming in to replace Reece. In the forwards, Tristan Grant replaced the injured Michael Birkett in the front row, and in the backrow in came Keith Laughlin at No 8 to replace the injured Matthew French with Fraser McGlashan a late replacement for the selected Paul Spowart on the flank. Paul failed a late fitness test. On the bench, Joe Ford, and Jacob German were joined by the returning Club Captain Howard Stock after long term injury. Prop Sam Digman again captained the side on the day.
Michael Birkett suffered serious facial injuries in last week’s match against Northern and we wish Michael all the best and a very speedy recovery.
On an overcast but dry day with very little breeze, the home side kicked off with both sides looking to play an expansive game after the early exchanges. Sunderland went ahead after just four minutes when a missed tackle midway in the Park half allowed home flanker Farai Chikumbiriki to charge in to their 22 and a great offload allowed standoff Ben Hutchinson to score to the right of the posts. Second row Luke Bryon-Victory converted (7-0).
The lineout deficiencies exposed by Northern last week were again evident, with Park struggling on their own throw but it was a much better effort that led to their first try. An excellent box kick from scrumhalf George Chapman into the left corner had the home defence scrambling with the clearance kick giving the visitors a lineout just outside the 22. The ball was won and moved infield with No 8 Keith Laughlin charging forward. As the ball was recycled, centre Seb Reece running a superb line scythed through the home defence to score under the posts on nine minutes, Chapman converting (7-7).
A poor Sunderland restart gave Park a scrum on half way. As Park moved the ball, excellent carries from second row Chris Reekie and Laughlin earned Park a penalty midway in Sunderland territory that was despatched to the right corner but the lineout was butchered, Sunderland awarded a scrum, the chance lost.
On fifteen minutes, a tackle on a player without the ball gave the home side a penalty which was kicked to the Park 22 metre line. As the ball came infield, a huge tackle by Reekie earned the turnover, much to the delight of player/coach Ash Smith who warmly applauded his team mate. Just as it looked as if Park were beginning to dominate possession and territory as the first quarter ended a storming break by home centre Adam Stormont brought play into Park territory and shortly after Sunderland earned a penalty (offside) in midfield which was kicked to the left corner. Although the lineout was fumbled, Sunderland got their maul going and hooker Pete Harrison got the touchdown wide out on twenty-three minutes. Bryon-Victory hit the upright with the difficult conversion (12-7).
Park almost scored immediately after the restart when excellent work by the forwards to secure the ball gave Chapman the chance of another excellent box kick that had the home defence caught out with centre Seb Reece held up over the line. Park took the lead for the only time in the match on thirty-three minutes, Reece scoring his second try. Three successive attacking Park lineouts in the left corner had visiting mauls held by a determined home defence but on the third, the ball was moved swiftly infield for wing Tom Bird to give the scoring pass. Chapman converted (12-14).
From the Sunderland restart, superb hands from the backs had Park on half way with prop Tristan Grant then carrying strongly for centre Ash Smith to kick into the left corner. Park knocked on contesting the lineout and from the scrum, the home side were able to clear. With a narrow lead and half time approaching, a needless penalty in midfield had the home side kick to the Park 22. A good lineout had the ball left infield and from a breakdown, quick hands and change of direction had Park stretched with wing Simon Coleman able to score an excellent try in the right corner on thirty-eight minutes, Bryon-Victory kicking an excellent conversion (19-14).
HT: Sunderland 19 Percy Park 14
Sunderland stretched their lead within two minutes of the restart, Park were penalised on half way with the home side kicking to the left corner. A classic catch and drive had flanker Paul Gregson scoring their bonus point try, Bryon-Victory kicking another excellent conversion (26-14).
The score stung the visitors into attack, with firstly good play to get the ball deep onto Sunderland territory undone by a knock on and shortly thereafter, Chris Reekie looked to have scored only for play to be brought back by the referee for another knock on in the build-up. Park did get their reward on forty-nine minutes when Sunderland were penalised for a high tackle and a quick tap and go had centre Ash Smith crash over wide on the right. Scrumhalf George Chapman kicked an excellent conversion (26-21). The good work was immediately undone when, after Sunderland were awarded a penalty for a high tackle. Park were marched back not once but twice for stupid backchat to referee Andy Flisher which put the home side into kicking range. Bryon-Victory duly despatched the kick on fifty-two minutes (29-21).
Four minutes later, Sunderland scored another excellent try. A wonderful break by fullback Marc Edmundson breached the visiting defence, flanker Chikumbirike taking it on and giving the perfect offload to centre Ethan Sutcliffe to score a superb try. Bryon-Victory kicked the conversion (36-21).
Park gained an opportunity to narrow the gap which they duly took after prop Tristan Grant was high tackled on the Sunderland 10 metre line. A kick into the Sunderland 22 gave the forwards the chance to work flanker Fraser McGlashan over the line to the left of the posts on fifty-nine minutes, Chapman converting, try bonus point secured (36-28).
Almost immediately, Park gave up another Sunderland try. A wayward pass in midfield led to yet another needless penalty when the visitors were penalised for a side entry into a ruck. Sunderland kicked to the left corner and the Park defence seemed to part like the Red Sea to allow flanker Paul Gregson to score on sixty-three minutes. The conversion was missed (41-28). From the restart Park again nearly gifted the home side another score after more stupid backchat had Park marched backwards 10 metres after another ruck offence, and a flowing move from the resulting lineout almost had wing Coleman in at the corner. Sunderland did score from a penalty kick on sixty-nine minutes after Park were penalised for a high tackle, Bryon-Victory converting (44-28).
With time running out and Park playing catch-up rugby, mistakes abounded. Two penalties to the right touchline within the home 22 were squandered, one lineout lost, the other a penalty conceded and, with another penalty in the home 22, a tap and go was knocked on. However, with just three minutes remaining, scrumhalf George Chapman scored an opportunist try after good work from the Park forwards in the home 22 which he quickly converted and, as time was almost called, Sunderland were penalised for an infringement in their own midfield which Chapman converted to secure a second bonus point for the visitors (44-38).
With seconds remaining, Park secured the restart and went in search of a winning score, recycling the ball after several carries but when the ball went left replacement Jacob German could not quite break free and the game ended when he was put into touch.
FT: Sunderland 44 Percy Park 38
Twelve months ago, these two sides were two leagues apart and, after an unbeaten promotion winning campaign last season, Sunderland deserve so much credit for how far they have come. They played some excellent rugby with their young halfbacks Ben Hutchinson and Alex Lamb controlling the game, a competitive pack with flanker Farai Chikumbirike outstanding, and a stubborn defence. They were deserved winners on the day but how Park contributed to their own downfall. Discipline is becoming a serious issue and the lineout is too often a disaster area. Park like to play an expansive game but when this doesn’t appear to be working, is there a Plan B? Post match, club captain Howard Stock was not in the mood to be diplomatic: “Pathetic. Constant back chat to the referee gets us nowhere and it keeps happening. If we stopped the chat and concentrated on the rugby we might get somewhere. The same thing cost us the game at West Hartlepool. When are we going to learn?”.
For Park, Seb Reece and George Chapman were stand out performers with captain Sam Digman and second row Chris Reekie always in the thick of things.
Sunderland move into third spot in the table behind Northern and Keswick who both won at the weekend and we wish them well for the rest of the season and thank them for their hospitality. We also thank referee Andy Flisher. Park slip to fifth after two successive defeats.
Elsewhere, the Lions defeated Medicals 67-25 at home on Saturday and on Sunday, the Colts thrashed Sunderland/Westoe 54-0 to maintain their unbeaten start to the season and the Panthers defeated Consett 17-5 in their league encounter, both at Preston Avenue. Next week, Park host Upper Eden in Regional 2 North, KO is at 3pm.
Apologies for the lack of photographs.
Percy Park: 15 Jordan Carey; 14 Thomas Bird; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Ash Smith; 11 Tom Robinson; 10 Fergus Simpson; 9 George Chapman; 8 Keith Laughlin; 7 Karl Thompson; 6 Fraser McGlashan; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Sean Nairn; 3 Sam Digman ©; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Tristan Grant
Replacements: Joe Ford; Jacob Germam; Howard Stock