Saturday 17 January 2026
Northern 38 Percy Park 0
Regional 2 North
(HT: 21-0)
After the comprehensive defeat of Wigton a week ago, belief was high that we could give league leaders Northern a run for their money at McCracken Park on Saturday but, sadly, a much changed team (yet again) suffered a heavy defeat to our city rivals, failing to score for the first time this season and conceding six tries in a 38-0 loss.
In truth, Park were never in the game from the fifth minute after conceding the first try, with very little offered in attack, gifting the hosts possession on far too many occasions with defensive lapses proving costly at crucial times. That said, stubborn defence for the most part restricted Northern, who did not quite reach the heights that they displayed in their win at Preston Avenue earlier in the season, in a game that was short on quality but long on niggle.
Park, with so many players injured or unavailable, made changes to the side that took the field against Wigton. In the back line, captain Howard Stock found himself at fullback for the first time this season, Freddie Hara replacing him on the wing. Will Ponton moved to standoff from fullback to replace the unavailable George Chapman. In the forwards, Jake Bell replaced Mark Barry in the back row, Barry moving into the second row to partner Sean Nairn, the regular pairing of Chris Reekie and Josh Hedley unavailable. On the all new replacements bench, Archie Graham, Josh Sho-Perring and Isaac Nokes.
Northern kicked off on a cold overcast day and were ahead in just under five minutes, Park caught offside on their own 22 metre line, the kick into the corner giving the hosts the chance to catch and drive which they took, No 8 Rob Lenderyou touching down with standoff Will Jobling kicking the extras (7-0).
Park could not seem to get a foot hold in the game, too many penalties halting any attempt at momentum. It seemed to be all Northern but Park were matching the home sides attack with excellent defence, firstly winning an excellent turnover on their own 10 metre line (Matthew French to the fore) and then Northern giving away a needless penalty after an off the ball shove, stupid niggle that was a feature throughout the game. As the first quarter ended, wing Tom Bird, the five try hero last week, so close to an interception that surely would have seen him score but he was just unable to hold on to the ball. On twenty-three minutes, Northern showed their class, swift handling right from a scrum on half way, two missed tackles along the right touchline, an inside pass and Lenderyou was in for his and Northern’s second try just to the right of the posts, Jobling again converting (14-0).
The next few minutes showed the best and worst of Park on the day. Another excellent turnover by No * Matthew French on their own 10 metre line was wasted the ball was lost cheaply with Northern again attacking at speed along the right touchline with only a desperate cover tackle by (I think) skipper Howard Stock preventing the score. Park were having trouble holding on to possession and it was to cost them again in the thirty-first minute with another home turnover and another missed tackle in midfield seeing centre Nyle Godsmark scoring underneath the posts, Jobling converting to give the hosts a substantial half time lead (21-0).
HT: Northern 21 Percy Park 0
The second half started with the home side exerting pressure but unable to penetrate the Park defence and just when the visitors looked to have broken the stranglehold a penalty was gifted to the home side, made worse by stupid backchat that had Park marched ten yards back by referee Yannick Debit. Park lost the plot with Northern attacking along the left and two missed tackles later on prop Josh Coombes, Lenderyou was completing his hat trick, in at the left corner on fifty-two minutes. Jobling missed the difficult conversion (26-0).
As the third quarter ended, Park seemed to be gaining some parity with the hosts in terms of possession and territory with replacement Josh Sho-Perring showing some real pace. A wayward Park kick was ruthlessly exploited by the home side, wing Jimmy Howarth initiating a counter attack that was finished by captain and flanker Tom McCullough crashing over on 70 minutes, the conversion missed (31-0).
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors when wing Tom Bird was shown a yellow card for retaliation as the clock wound down, Northern taking full advantage, second row Dom Warby scoring under the posts with the last move of the match after excellent work from replacement Murray Brown, Jobling’s conversion signaling the end of the match (38-0).
FT: Northern 38 Percy Park 0
A sobering afternoon but one put onto context by injured player coach Ash Smith: “I was proud of our commitment and at times our defence was outstanding but, with the players we have missing, it was always going to be a struggle. We could not secure enough ball to really see what our backs could do but credit to Northern, they are a very good side and they are deservedly top of the table. We have to regroup for Sunderland in a fortnight”.
Despite the scoreline, Park were competitive throughout and it is not often that we do not trouble the scoreboard in a game. A weakened team fought well but the league leaders were just too strong on the day. We remain third in the table behind our hosts, who have a commanding lead at the top of the table, and Consett but there are teams just below us, Sunderland and Keswick, with a game in hand. The race for the play-of places will be tight.
We thank our hosts for their hospitality and a hard fought game together with referee Yannick Debbit, without whom there is no game.
Elsewhere, the Panthers have had a good start to 2026, there game at Ponteland being awarded and forcing a 14-14 draw at home to second placed Alnwick last weekend. They remain third in NC 3 (north) North.
The 1st XV do not have a game next weekend and they are next back in action on Saturday 31 January when Sunderland are the visitors, KO 3pm. Next weekend however, the Lions are scheduled to host Alnwick on the Saturday, KO 2pm, the Panthers and Colts have no fixtures.
Percy Park: 15 Howard Stock ©; 14 Freddie Harra; 13 Oli Bartles-Smith; 12 Fergus Simpson; 11 Tom Bird; 10 Will Ponton; 9 Jacob German; 8 Matthew French; 7 Jake Bell; 6 Paul Spowart; 5 Mark Barry; 4 Sean Nairn; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Joe Ford; 1 Dan Shuttleworth
Replacements: Archie Graham; Josh Sho-Perring; Isaac Nokes