Saturday 24 October 2026
Percy Park 31 Durham City 19
Regional 2 North
(HT: 17-5)
As Storm Boelo moved in across the North East, Percy Park entertained Durham City in what was an entertaining and hard fought Regional 2 North game with the swirling wind a factor before the worst of the weather closed in. It was, in many ways, the classic wind affected game of two halves, Park using the conditions in the first half to lead comfortably at the break, City pegging them back to within one score before a late Chris Reekie try secured the win and the bonus point. At the death, Durham pounded the Park line for the score that would have given them both the try and losing bonus points but excellent defence denied them although few in around the ground would have begrudged them something from the game.
The home side made a number of changes from the team that triumphed at Ryton last time out with Jacob German moving from the wing to standoff to replace the injured Will Ponton, Ross Young making a welcome return on the left wing to replace him. New recruit Tom Cahill came in at scrumhalf for his first league start of the season replacing Harry Hunter. In the forwards, Jonny Dubois returned on the flank, Sam Digman, fresh from his appearance for Newcastle Red Bulls U23 the previous evening, moved back to the front row while prop Joe Green moved into the second row to replace the unavailable Austin Phillips. On the replacements bench, Matthew Robertson joined Leo Curpanen and Aaron Haddrick.
On an overcast and very blustery day with rain never too far away, Park kicked off and within four minutes were ahead, Excellent work from fullback George Bogg led to a maul that had the visitors retreating midway into their own half when it was stopped illegally. The ball was kicked to the right corner and although the first catch and drive broke down, Durham infringed again and a second kick into the corner had hooker Dan Shuttleworth score from the resultant catch and drive. Scrumhalf Tom Cahill missed the difficult conversion in the swirling wind (5-0).
Durham responded well, gaining a five-yard scrum after Park had been forced to carry the ball over their own line. Durham pounded the Park line, No 8 Dan Toole to the fore, but they were not able to breach a resolute home defence. Although Park were able to clear their lines it was visitors who enjoyed the bulk of possession over the next ten to fifteen minutes but without ever seriously threatening to score. The wind was making life difficult for both sides but, eventually, Park were able to gain parity in both possession and territory. From a lineout just out side the Durham 22, centre Matt Dunn broke the first line of defence, the ball quickly coming back infield, A short pass from prop Sam Digman found standoff Jacob German on a fantastic line to run in without a hand being laid on him for a great score on twenty-nine minutes. Cahill converted (12-0).
Four minutes later, Park scored again. From a lineout on their own 10 metre line, an awesome Park maul pushed Durham back to their own 10 metre line and beyond before it was illegally brought down. Referee Morgan Sparke played advantage with the ball carried by the forwards before centre Howard Stock, with another great running line, split the Durham defence. The ball was moved swiftly right for wing Alistair Lovel to cross on thirty-three minutes with Durham simply running out of defenders. Scrumhalf Tom Cahill missed the difficult conversion (17-0).
The third Park try seemed to galvanise Durham who then began to have their best spell of the match. An initial penalty for a high tackle gave them possession on the Park 10 metre line and from there Durham were able to drive forward, centre Ben Speight prominent, to the Park line aided by repeated home infringements that could have easily resulted in a yellow card. A quick tap and go from five metres out was unable to be stopped and Speight was able to ground the ball on thirty-eight minutes to reduce the deficit. Scrumhalf Scott Rochester was unlucky with the conversion, the ball bouncing back off the upright (17-5).
HT: Percy Park 17 Durham City 5
The opening ten minutes of the second half were a stalemate, both sides finding it difficult to deal with an increasingly stronger breeze with mistakes littering play and it was a mistake that led to Durham’s second try on fifty-one minutes. A Park lineout on their own 10 metre line had the ball moving infield and a ball that caught the wind went to ground. Durham centre Ben Speight was alert, scooped up the loose ball and an inside pass to replacement Jimmy Dines saw him force his way over the line despite the attention of several Park players. Rochester converted (17-12).
From the restart it was the visitors who began to exert pressure until, at a scrum on halfway it yielded a penalty that was kicked to the right touchline just outside the Durham 22. Excellent carries from skipper and No 8 Matthew French, prop Sam Digman and Flanker Jake Smith had Park almost at the Durham line. The ball was moved left and when it appeared the move had broken down, another Digman carry had the home side almost over but a Cahill pass infield to the charging and unstoppable Chris Reekie had the second row crash over on fifty-seven minutes for the bonus point try. Cahill kicked the conversion (24-12).
With the rain now falling, both sides were having difficulties without either being able to exert real control. Mistakes littered play but as play entered the final ten minutes Durham were awarded a penalty as two Park players strayed offside on their 22. The kick to the right corner had Park defending the catch and drive but, eventually, flanker Herbie Hay (I think) was able to ground the ball on seventy-two minutes, Rochester converting (24-19).
Having just got themselves back to within touching distance, Durham were caught out by a long restart kick that completely eluded them, Park suddenly finding themselves on the Durham line in control of the ball. It wasn’t wasted, Reekie again crashing over from the base of the ruck, Cahill converting on seventy-four minutes (31-19). In the last few minutes, Durham pounded the Park line looking for both the losing and the try bonus points but try as they might, the Park defence held firm and there was no further scoring.
FT: Percy Park 31 Durham City 19
An entertaining game despite the conditions and the errors. For Park, five games played and five games won, all with maximum points and they proudly sit at the top of the Regional 2 league table, five points ahead of second place Morpeth who themselves remain unbeaten. Both teams deserve great credit for trying to play in difficult conditions and credit to Durham who look a far better team than their league position suggests and who came to play rugby. Sadly, they slip to tenth place after this defeat but I am sure they will move up the table quickly if they continue to play as they did today.
Post match, there was a farewell to our club steward Richard Power who moves to pastures new delivered by Club President Don Millican. Our time-honoured Man of the Match award is now sponsored and the award, presented to himself by skipper Matthew French (cue laughter), was sponsored by Club Chairman Tim Walker. Thanks Tim!
We thank Durham for a good, hard game played in a good spirit. We also thank Morgan Sharpe who refereed the game superbly. We look forward to the return at Hollow Drift later in the season and hope to see Mr Sharpe back at Preston Avenue very soon.
Elsewhere, the Lions got back on track with a thumping 5-72 win at Ryton in Counties 3 North East (North) while, on Friday night under our lights, the Colts had an excellent 67-14 win over a combined Consett/Tynedale side. Next weekend, the 1st XV travel to Cumbria to take on Upper Eden at Kirkby Stephen, KO is scheduled at 3pm, but if you cannot travel the Lions host Consett, KO 2pm. On Sunday, the Panthers host Gateshead in NC3 North (North), KO 2pm. Please check club social media for accurate KO times in case of changes.
Percy Park: 15 George Bogg; 14 Alistair Lovel; 13 Howard Stock; 12 Matthew Dunn; 11 Ross Young; 10 Jacob German; 9 Tom Cahill; 8 Matthew French ©; 7 Jake Smith; 6 Jonny Dubois; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Joe Green; 3 Sam Digman; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Kieran Hope
Replacements: Leo Curpanen; Aaron Haddrick; Matthew Robertson