Saturday 11 April 2026
Percy Park 59 West Hartlepool 41
Regional 2 North
(HT: 28-10)
Fourth placed Park took on fifth placed West Hartlepool last weekend, a place in the league play-offs guaranteed for the winner and, in an excellent, high scoring game it was Park who came out victorious after a hard fought and entertaining contest. However, on the Monday after a wonderful day at Preston Avenue, an exciting game preceded by a very well attended past players lunch, there was a sense of anti-climax when Keswick, who finished in fourth place after defeat at Upper Eden, and who we would have faced at home in the Regional 2 North semi-final play-off announced that they were conceding the tie. We will now play the winner of the Consett vs Sunderland semi-final which will be played this coming weekend, 18 April.
There were only three changes to the starting XV who lost at Consett two weeks ago, Jacob German replacing the unavailable George Chapman at standoff while in the forwards, Nick Macklin-Copeland replaced Tristan Grant at prop and former club captain Jonny Dubois, minus his hair, replaced Paul Spowart on the flank. Spowart joined Austin Phillips and Dan Jackson on the replacements bench.
On a dry though breezy day, West kicked off with the home side going ahead in the first minute, fullback Joe Wotton with a searing break from his own 10 metre line scything through the visiting defence without a hand being laid on him to score under the posts, standoff Jacob German converting (7-0). Park doubled their lead just four minutes later when German, with a neat sidestep that completely wrong footed the West defence, sprinted in from his own half to touch down under the posts, converting his own try (14-0).
West were struggling to get into the game but managed a foothold when Park infringed just outside of their 22 and standoff Matt Siddle converted the kick after fifteen minutes (14-3). As the first quarter ended, Park scored their third try. After skipper Howard Stock was stopped just short, Park gained a scrum after West were unable to clear their lines and after several carries it was second row Chris Reekie who crashed over to the left of the posts, German converting (21-3). The home side’s bonus point try came on twenty-four minutes when German scored again. An attack from deep, initiated by Wotton, saw the standoff through a defensive gap and in under the posts for another excellent try, showing his strength by shrugging off a couple of despairing tackles. He converted the score (28-3).
After three successive defeats, this was more like it but the all too familiar discipline issues hampered further progress and gave West momentum and they began to exert real pressure, forcing the home side to concede penalties. A tap from one, just on the home 22 for offside, had West charging for the line, prop Andrew Rollins eventually crashing over under the posts, Siddle converting, to give the visitors a lifeline after thirty-eight minutes (28-10). It was a curious half, West having probably more territory and possession, but Park having the firepower and individual skill to attack from deep.
HT: Percy Park 28 West Hartlepool 10
Park kicked off the second half and extended their lead almost immediately from the restart, moving the ball at speed right from a lineout for captain Howard Stock to squeeze in at the corner on forty-two minutes, the difficult conversion missed (33-10). The home side’s discipline was not improving with referee Harry Graham finally losing patience with both second row Josh Hedley (after repeated Park infringements for offside) and prop Nick Macklin-Copeland (high tackle) receiving yellow cards within a few minutes of each other. Reduced to thirteen men, West were unable to take full advantage when second row Charlie Kay received a similar sanction after some off the ball petulance. However, West made the one man advantage count when second row Elliot Reed, running a great line, went over on fifty-five minutes, Siddle converting (33-17).
The home side responded five minutes later when Wotton again showed his class, leaving four defenders in his wake to score in the corner after joining the line from a scrum just outside the visiting 22. German was off target with the difficult conversion (38-17). Back came West, speedy wing Max Tennant scoring on the left after some excellent work initially from prop Adam Hutchinson although there was a suspicion of a knock-on in the build up much to the annoyance of the Park faithful. Siddle missed the difficult conversion (38-22).
Park effectively sealed the game with two tries in a five-minute spell just before the seventy-minute mark. Wotton secured his hat-trick, scoring in the left corner after the ball was turned over in the West 22, quick hands giving the fullback the space to score, replacement Paul Spowart kicking a superb conversion from the touchline (45-22) and then centre Oli-Bartles-Smith scoring under the posts after a misplaced pass in the West midfield, Spowart converting (52-22).
The last ten minutes of the contest saw a flurry of four tries, three for the visitors. The first came just two minutes after the last Park score, West with a tap and go in the home 22 after Park strayed offside, Siddle eventually going over after it appeared Park stopped playing in confusion after a second penalty award, the conversion missed (52-27). West scored again three minutes later, referee Graham awarding them a penalty try after foul play prevented what would have been a scoring pass from Siddle almost on the Park line, Bartles-Smith receiving a yellow card as a consequence (52-34). West scored yet again to set up a very nervy last two minutes, wing Jacob Wood scoring after good work from Siddle who kicked the conversion (52-41).
Any chance of a West comeback was snuffed out as the clock went into the red, the evergreen Jonny Dubois finishing off a text book catch and drive in the left corner, Spowart again kicking an excellent conversion from the touchline (59-41).
FT: Percy Park 59 West Hartlepool 41
With Upper Eden defeating Keswick 30-14, Park were able to leap frog them to claim home advantage in the semi-final which, sadly, will not now take place. Unfortunately, as a result of the defeat, West dropped to seventh in the league standings and out of the play-off places, Sunderland claiming the last play-off place after a narrow late victory over Morpeth 31-28. They visit Consett this weekend.
Post match, captain Howard Stock commented: “An excellent result, especially after recent results but if we are to progress through the play-offs our defence and discipline have to improve. We showed that we are an attacking team, capable of scoring tries, but we will not progress if we concede penalties and receive yellow cards. Our discipline has to improve”.
Our commiserations to West who, despite missing the play-offs, have had a great season and we thank them for a great game which, despite the number of yellow cards, was played in a good spirit. Thanks also to referee Harry Graham, our exchange official from the Yorkshire Society, we hope to see you back at Preston Avenue soon.
We now await the result of the Consett/Sunderland semi-final to find out our next opponents.
Former Club Captains on parade before the clash with West. Our grateful thanks to Secretary Mick Ishida, Rachel Reekie, Richard and his kitchen and bar staff for a fantastic pre match meal.
Percy Park: 15 Joe Wotton; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Matt Dunn; 12 Oli Bartles-Smith; 11 Tom Bird; 10 Jacob German; 9 Tom Robinson; 8 Matthew French; 7 Leo Caulfield; 6 Jonny Dubois; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Josh Hedley; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Nick Macklin-Copeland
Replacements: Austin Phillips; Paul Spowart; Dan Jackson