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 1st 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