Wednesday 22 April 2026
Percy Park 24 Novocastrians 42
Northumberland County Plate Final
(HT: 24-15)
The mood in the clubhouse pre match was bullish; silverware to be won, a strong side selected, a place in the Regional 2 North Play-Off Final secured, confidence high but Novo’s didn’t bother to read the script. Trailing 24-10 after thirty-five minutes, the Newcastle side then proceeded to score six unanswered tries, five in a dazzling second half display, to outclass the home side and claim a thoroughly deserved victory in the County Plate Final under the Preston Avenue lights.
In a league campaign that has ebbed and flowed but still claimed third in the league standings, this scribe has rarely seen Park so thoroughly outplayed, at times in the second half looking completely lost, unable to stem wave after wave of inventive Novo’s play, their discipline at times evaporating completely. If we needed a wake-up call before Saturday’s Play-Off trip to Consett, this was indeed it.
Park selected a strong side for the game against the DN1 Champions who have only lost one league game all season, a tough match expected and notwithstanding the Play-Off game this coming weekend.
Novocastrians got the game underway and it was the visitors who struck first after eight minutes. Two quick Park infringements (the first two of far too many throughout the match) had the City side with an attacking 5 metre lineout, the catch and drive executed perfectly for the score, the try converted (0-7). The response from the home side was immediate, centre Oli Bartles-Smith capitalising on turnover ball in the Novo’s 22 to go over to the right of the posts on eleven minutes, the conversion attempt from scrum-half George Chapman hitting the post (5-7).
After the early exchanges had seen Novo’s enjoying the lions share of territory and possession, Park began to get into the game and they went ahead on eighteen minutes, prop and skipper Sam Digman scoring after excellent work from No 8 Matthew French and hooker Jonny Dubois. Chapman was successful with the conversion (12-7). Overeagerness in the tackle, midway in the Park half gifted the visitors a penalty which was kicked reducing the deficit as the first quarter ended (12-10). The favour was quickly returned, Novo’s penalised on their own 10 metre line, the kick from Chapman straight into the right corner. From the catch and drive, Matthew French scored, the conversion missed from wide out (17-10).
Park continued to press, relentless pressure in the Novo’s 22 which was rewarded when the visitors were caught offside in their own 22, the penalty kicked to the left corner. Although the catch and drive was stopped, the ball was moved right, the ball popped up to Digman running a great line, to crash over to the right of the posts, Chapman converting (24-10), thirty-five minutes played. And that, sadly, was that from the home side. What looked like a very comfortable fourteen-point lead just before the break had evaporated just eight minutes into the second half. Novo’s scored with the last play of the first period, scoring in the right corner after sustained pressure in the park 22. The conversion was missed (24-15).
HT: Percy Park 24 Novocastrians 15
The visitors showed their attacking intent within seconds of the second half starting, a searing break from the backs splitting the home defence with only a stumble preventing a scoring pass but Novo’s retained possession and with the home defence at sixes and sevens they were able to work an excellent score in the left corner on forty-four minutes, the conversion missed (24-20). Just four minutes later, the Sutherland Avenue side went ahead for a lead that they would never relinquish. From a scrum on the Park 10 metre line, excellent hands and a shredded defence had the visitors in under the posts, the try converted (24-27).
Park tried to rouse themselves but when they turned over the ball just outside the Novo’s 22, the clearance kick from deep was allowed to bounce and the fast visiting backs were able to scoop up the loose ball and score in the right corner, the home defence absent. The conversion was missed, fifty-five minutes played (24-32). As the third quarter ended, the home sides discipline vanished with referee Graham Crozier marching the side back after several decisions were questioned. On sixty minutes, yet another needless penalty allowed Novo’s to kick to the left corner where another successful catch and drive had the City side scoring again, the conversion missed from the touchline (24-37).
The visitors missed a straightforward penalty goal attempt soon afterward but it mattered not, they scored again in the right corner after sixty-eight minutes. A poor Park clearance kick from inside their 22 missed touch had the Novo’s right-wing speeding along the touchline and a kick ahead had him scoring in the right corner, the cover defence non-existent, the conversion missed (24-42). There was no further scoring.
FT: Percy Park 24 Novocastrians 42
At the final whistle the home side looked shell shocked, as well they might, as the victors celebrated. Flanker Leo Caulfield commented post-match: “I can’t really explain what happened. We seemed to be playing well, had the game under control, but the second half we just seemed to fall apart. They are a great side and we struggled at times to deal with the speed of their backs. Too many penalties given away and games are not won with poor discipline”.
Park must have been penalised over twenty times during the course of the game and their indiscipline hampered any real chance of momentum, particularly in the second half. Defensively, Park were not at the races, seemingly unable to deal with the speed of their opponents who, at times, appeared to be scoring at will. But credit where credit is due, Novo’s were superb and worthy victors over their Regional 2 North opponents. If we are not successful in our play-off aspirations, we will have the pleasure of playing our opponent’s next season. Our thanks to them for a very well contested game and our thanks also to our match referee Graham Crozier, always a welcome guest at Preston Avenue.
The play-off game at Consett in just two days’ time will be a real test of character after this sobering defeat, KO at Am Park is 3pm. All support would be very welcome.
Percy Park: 15 Dan Jackson; 14 Freddie Harra; 13 Oli Bartles-Smith; 12 Matt Dunn; 11 Tom Bird; 10 Jacob German; 9 George Chapman; 8 Matthew French; 7 Seth Henderson; 6 Leo Caulfield; 5 Austin Phillips; 4 Chris Reekie; 3 Sam Digman ©; 2 Jonny Dubois; 1 Nick Macklin-Copeland
Replacements: Dan Shuttleworth; Joe Ford; Josh Hedley; Ethan Wilson; Charlie Miller; Paul Spowart