Saturday 20 December 2025
Percy Park 46 Guisborough 5
Regional 2 North
(HT: 29-0)
After two successive league defeats, Park returned to winning ways in their last game before the festive league break with a comprehensive victory over, on the day, an outclassed Guisborough side. Both sides came into the match with identical playing records, with six wins and one draw from twelve games played, Park six points better off due to more bonus points scored. Park were a completely different side to that which shipped over a point a minute in the opening quarter at Durham City last time out, ensuring that they had a stranglehold on the game from the second minute when Matt Dunn scored their opening try. The game was probably over as a contest by half-time, Park having built a commanding 29-0 lead with the try bonus point secured.
There were the inevitable changes to the side defeated at Durham with Will Ponton moving from centre to fullback. Elsewhere in the backline, Seb Reece made a welcome return to outside centre with Jacob German moving to the left wing from fullback in place of Tom Bird who dropped to the replacements bench. Up front, Matthew French returned to the No 8 position in place of Josh Cox, Mark Barry replacing the unavailable Paul Spowart on the flank, Josh Hedley replacing Sean Nairn in the second row and it was all change in the front row with Dan Shuttleworth moving from hooker to loose head prop, Joe Ford hooking and Sam Digman returning at tighthead. On the replacements bench, Sean Nairn joined Tom Bird and Andrew Walker.
On a dark, dank but dry day, hardly festive season weather, and after a magnificent Christmas Lunch in the Clubhouse, Park kicked off with the visitors immediately knocking on. After several reset scrums, Park carried strongly into the Guisborough 22 and when the ball was moved right, Matt Dunn, running a superb line, cut through the defence to score to the right of the posts on two minutes. Scrumhalf George Chapman converted (7-0). From the restart, Park were relentless in attack, forcing two five metre scrums that they were unable to convert into points but from a lineout midway in the Guisborough half, an excellent cross field kick from standoff Fergus Simpson was two difficult for Guisborough fullback Will Deeks to deal with and his opposite number Will Ponton was on hand to touch down the loose ball on fifteen minutes. Chapman was unable to convert the difficult conversion (12-0).
Guisborough began to get into the game and in the next few minutes had their best spell of possession and territory, eventually managing their first foray into the Park 22. However, when Park regained possession from a defensive lineout they were straight on the offensive, moving the ball at speed and eventually forcing a Guisborough defensive lineout on the left touchline, deep in the visiting 22. Guisborough made a mess of the lineout, Park turning over the ball and after several carries that brought the home side almost to the Guisborough try line, the ball was moved right and after a lovely side step, standoff Fergus Simpson went over to the right of the posts on twenty-four minutes. The try was unconverted (17-0).
Things went from bad to worse a few minutes later, the home side forcing an attacking lineout on the right, five metres out. The catch and drive did not quite go to plan but Park retained possession, the ball moving left infield for, eventually, replacement Andrew Walker to snipe over just to the right of the posts on thirty-two minutes. Chapman converted (24-0).
The visitors were desperate to get a foothold in the game and a storming run from flanker Oliver Muir put them into the Park 22 but they were unable retain possession and great interplay between forwards and backs along the right touchline had Park on the visiting 22 with Guisborough straying offside as the ball was moved infield left. The ball was kicked to the right corner and a perfect catch and drive had (I think) Dan Shuttleworth scoring. It was difficult to see and the video is unclear so if I have credited Dan by mistake, apologies! The try was scored on thirty-eight minutes, and was unconverted (29-0).
HT: Percy Park 29 Guisborough 0
Guisborough started the second half the better side, searching for a way back into the match and enjoying their best attacking spell of the game so far. When three Park players strayed offside on half way, the kick to touch gave the visitors an attacking lineout deep in the home 22. The catch and drive was stopped at source but Guisborough moved the ball right and then left but too laterally, steadily giving up territory to the home sides ferocious defence, eventually knocking on under the pressure. Park, with real pace, soon had the ball in the Guisborough 22 and, after turning the ball over after a home defensive scrum, soon added to their score. The ball was moved right and when the final pass had captain Howard Stock isolated on the right wing, he did really well to keep the ball alive. It was moved infield, Josh Hedley used his strength to break the defensive line and an excellent offload had flanker Seth Henderson score just to the left of the posts on fifty-one minutes, Chapman converting (36-0).
There was no let up by the home side who were immediately on the attack from the restart with only desperate defence by the visitors keeping their line intact but, when Guisborough were penalised for a high tackle and Park were unable to make anything of the advantage played, referee Alun Ross brought play back midway inside the visiting 22 for Chapman to kick the penalty goal on fifty-seven minutes (39-0).
From the restart, Guisborough gained possession but were stopped around the home 22 metre line only for centre Matt Dunn to stray offside. The resultant penalty kick was put into the right corner and although the catch and drive was stopped, Guisborough retained the ball probing the home defence on their try line. The excellent Park defence held firm only for a ruck infringement to give the visitors a penalty in front of the posts. A quick tap was held but the ball was moved swiftly right for fullback Will Deeks to wriggle over in the right corner after fifty-nine minutes, scrumhalf George Speakman unable to kick the difficult conversion (39-5).
Guisborough had their tails up over the next ten minutes with catch and drives in both the left and right corners, each one repelled by superb Park defence but when the ball was turned over in the Park 22, the home side struck with devastating speed to score the best try of the game. Matt Dunn made an electrifying break into the Guisborough half, the move taken on along the left touchline, and when the move broke down just inside the Guisborough half, there was Will Ponton to pick up and go over unopposed for the final try of the match after seventy minutes, Chapman converting (46-5).
The final ten minutes provided no further scoring, both sides tiring after a hard-fought game.
FT: Percy Park 46 Guisborough 5
Post match, captain Howard Stock was a happy man: “The win was well deserved, we really played well and it is just what we needed after the last couple of weeks. After last weekend, we really wanted a response and the lads delivered. A bonus point win just before the league break will give us confidence for the games ahead and a chance to get into the league play offs. A job well done today”. The only blemish on the game from a Park perspective was a shoulder injury to centre Seb Reece who may be out of action for a few weeks. Our thanks to Guisborough for a good, hard game and to the referee Alun Ross.
The team played well as the captain acknowledged with everyone contributing and the bonus point win moves Park up to third in the Regional 2 North table. Northern and Consett have put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack with just six points separating Park in third and Upper Eden in eighth. All to play for in the new year!
Our grateful thanks to Guisborough RUFC for the photograph
Percy Park: 15 Will Ponton; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Seb Reece; 12 Matt Dunn; 11 Jacob German; 10 Fergus Simpson: 9 George Chapman; 8 Matthew French; 7 Seth Henderson; 6 Mark Barry; 5 Fraser McGlashan; 4 Josh Hedley; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Joe Ford; 1 Dan Shuttleworth
Replacements: Sean Nairn; Andrew Walker; Tom Bird
Friday 26 December 2025
Whitley Bay Rockcliff 35 Percy Park 62
Moore Cup
(HT: 24-21)
In front of a large Boxing Day crowd, and following an absolute cracker of a match between our respective Colts (see separate post), Whitley Bay Rockcliff hosted Percy Park in the annual festive game, first played 135 years ago on Boxing Day 1890. A newspaper at the time described that very first game as ‘one of the most stubbornly fought club games ever played in the district’ and this game was no different! After an excellent first half, Rockcliff held a slender lead 24-21 but after the break it was really all one-way traffic but make no mistake, this was a hard-fought game. There was a poignant edge to the day with fundraising for the Cardiac Risk in the Young charity in memory of Rockcliff’s U13 player James Black who tragically passed away in October last.
Park fielded a strong side with Ash Smith and Chris Reekie returning to the side and in a late change, the very versatile Paul Spowart came in as No 8! The only problem for this scribe were the number of replacements, with the match becoming very much like a rugby league style revolving door as players came and went!
On a cold, dry day, Park kicked off but it was Rockcliff who came out of the blocks the fastest, scoring two excellent tries through their half backs in the first fifteen minutes. Returning captain and scrum half Sam Train got the first after just eight minutes, the second from standoff Will Forster after fourteen minutes, Forster converting both to open up a fourteen point lead.
The visitors hit back almost immediately, gaining a penalty in front of the posts after Rockcliff strayed offside. Electing the scrum, Park got the shove on and No 8 Spowart was able to touch down to narrow the gap, converting his own try on nineteen minutes. The scores were level on twenty-six minutes after a long period of possession and territory, Sam Digman going over under the posts after excellent work from the forwards from another scrum. Spowart again converted (14-14).
Rockcliff refused to lie down and got themselves back in front when, after great work from Train and his forwards to get into the visiting 22, left wing Aiden Lydall, running a great line, split the Park defence to score to the left of the posts on thirty minutes, Forster converting (21-14). The home side were disrupted when No 8 Connor Madden suffered a head injury as Park applied the pressure which finally told after thirty-five minutes when, after a Rockcliff infringement allowed the visitors to kick into the right corner, second row Chris Reekie scored after a text book catch and drive. Spowart kicked the conversion to level the scores again (21-21). As the first half ended, Rockcliff kicked a penalty to take a narrow lead into the break.
HT: Whitley Bay Rockcliff 24 Percy Park 21
Rockcliff kicked off the second half and from the restart Park gained possession, moved the ball at speed up field, backs and forwards combining for second row Chris Reekie to crash over for his second try, Spowart converting to put Park in front for the first time in the match. (24-28). Back came the hosts, scoring a sensational try to regain the lead. A brilliant break from centre Matt Brister, followed by a deft cross field chip, was taken over the line by Lydall for a great try on forty-seven minutes. Forster converted (31-28).
The next try was equally as good as Park scored to restore a lead that they would never relinquish. A break by replacement wing Tom Bird along the left touchline left the home defence trailing in his wake and his inside pass found fullback Will Ponton who scored on fifty-two minutes. The conversion was missed (31-33). From then on, until the dying seconds, Park dominated scoring five tries. After fifty-four minutes, Spowart scored his second following a midfield break, on fifty-nine minutes replacement Dan Jackson touched down, ten minutes later it was Reekie scoring his hat trick after great work by both Park centres in midfield, replacement Archie Graham scored after seventy-two minutes with the Park scoring completed by scrumhalf Jacob German after seventy-five minutes, of which two were converted by replacement James Towell. Rockcliff got their reward for never giving up as the clock entered the red zone, flanker Idris Pritchard scoring in the left corner.
FT: Whitley Bay Rockcliff 36 Percy Park 62
A highly competitive match played in the right spirit and afterwards, the craic was everything that this fixture always delivers, a wonderful atmosphere in the Hillheads clubhouse, the result an afterthought. Our grateful thanks to both sets of players and to the officials for giving up their time and to Rockcliff for their wonderful hospitality. The Boxing Day fixture is one that I hope lasts for another 135 years and beyond.
Our next 1st XV fixture is on Saturday 10 January 2026 when we entertain Wigton at Preston Avenue, KO 3pm. The Lions fixture for that weekend will be confirmed as soon as possible. The Panthers resume their league campaign in NC 2 North (North) on Sunday 11 January when they travel to Ponteland, KO 2pm. The Colts host Northern at home on Sunday in the County Plate Semi-Final, KO 1pm.
Percy Park: 15 Will Ponton; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Matt Dunn; 12 Isaac Nokes; 11 Tom Bird; 10 Ash Smith; 9 Jacob German; 8 Paul Spowart; 7 Fraser McGlashan; 6 Mark Barry; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Josh Hedley; 3 Sean Nairn; 2 Joe Ford; 1 Sam Digman
Replacements: Josh Eapen; Jack White; Jamie Guthrie; Ben Coates; Archie Graham; James Towell; James Hare; Josh Bailey; Dan Jackson