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