Funeral Arrangements for Alan Lockey
- Keith Atkinson
- Category: 1st XV Reports 23/24
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Alan Lockey
In wishing you all a Happy New Year that sentiment is tinged with great sadness with the news that Percy Park stalwart Alan Lockey passed away on Saturday 30th December 2023. Alan will be greatly missed. As a former Percy Park President and Past President of Northumberland Rugby Union he was fiercely passionate 'of all things Percy Park' and the game of rugby union. A gregarious and hospitable man, Alan epitomised all that was great in our sport. Our best wishes remain with Alan’s wife Judy and family
To all that have made contact with Percy Park please be assured that we will pass on your thoughts and condolences to Alan’s family and will let you know of any funeral arrangements and wishes in the days to come.
PARK AT THE DOUBLE IN FESTIVE TRY FEST
Tuesday 26 December 2023
Whitley Bay Rockcliff 17 Percy Park 71
Festive Friendly
(HT: 10-31)
Percy Park prevailed in our annual festive fixture against our great rivals (and close friends) Whitley Bay Rockcliff on what was a very special Boxing Day at Lovaine Avenue. It was a day to remember and celebrate the life of our late, great past President and stalwart of both clubs, the legend that was Albi Duhrin. The inaugural Albi Duhrin Cup, to be played for annually by our respective Colts sides as a curtain raiser to the senior fixture, was won in a very entertaining game 22-31 by Percy Park Colts (5 tries to 3) and the trophy was presented to the winning Captain James Midgley by Albi’s son Dan. The trophy will ensure that Albi will always be a part of both clubs, ensuring a legacy that champions youth rugby, something that was always extremely close to his heart. Our grateful thanks go to both club Presidents, Scott Carruthers and our own Keith Atkinson, for their work in inaugurating the trophy and the fixture and long may it continue.
After the Rockcliff victory at Preston Avenue 12 months ago, there was a steely determination (revenge is not a word to use to old friends!) to win back the Moore Cup this time around and Park were at full strength (with a replacement’s bench to match) for the game against our DN1 opposition. Conditions on a cold Boxing Day afternoon were perfect, dry with a low sun and a slight breeze that began to strengthen as the game progressed.
Park kicked off toward the clubhouse with the breeze at their backs but it was Rockliff who started the better side, putting Park under immediate pressure. With only 2 minutes on the clock, Park strayed offside at a breakdown on their 22 and referee Paul Minto immediately awarded the home side a penalty. Rockliff outside half Michael Hanson kicked for goal but as his kick drifted just to the right of the posts, Park were unable to deal with the ball which was somehow regathered by the home side. It was moved quickly to the right for left wing Kohki Nakajima to touch down wide out. The try was converted by Hansen for a great start by the Hillheads side (7-0)
The response by the Regional 2 North side was immediate; from the kick off, left wing Ross Young gathered and his pass inside found second row Chris Reekie who crashed over on 5 minutes. Centre Paul Spowart was unable to convert (7-5). Six minutes later, Park took the lead which they were never to relinquish. A scrum on the Rockliff 10 metre line had the home eight concede a penalty which eventually led to a 5 metre lineout in the right hand corner. A classic catch and drive saw flanker Jonny Dubois score which was converted by Spowart from wide out (7-12). After 14 minutes, Rockliff were awarded a penalty on the right of the visitors 22 after a Park infringement which was duly dispatched by Hansen ending a tight first quarter (10-12).
The game was getting feisty, with just about an acceptable amount of ‘needle’, as the visiting pack began to dominate but several promising positions were lost due to indiscipline. Chris Reekie was making his presence felt up front and Ross Young was making metres out wide. On 26 minutes, the Rockliff dam was breached; Paul Spowart took a loose pass, Matt Atkinson made ground and as the ball went left second row Josh Hedley was able to give the scoring pass to prop Aaron Smith who powered over to the left of the posts. Spowart converted (10-19). Three minutes later, Park scored their fourth try; Ross Young at speed along the left touchline with an inside pass to flying fullback Jamie Wrigley who sidestepped two attempted tackles to score to the left of the posts for an excellent try which was converted by Paul Spowart (10-26).
On 33 minutes Park scored again; Wrigley gained possession and set off along the left touchline. He was unable to get his pass away to wing Ross Young on his left before being tackled. The ball was quickly recycled right where Jonny Dubois was able to evade two would-be tackles to score wideout on the right. The try was unconverted (10-31). As the first half drew to a close, there was no further scoring.
HT: Whitley Bay Rockcliff 10 Percy Park 31
Rockcliff started the second half brightly but despite some possession and field position they were unable to put points on the board and it was Park who struck first; the ball was recycled several times in the Rockcliff 22 before replacement Toby Davison saw a gap and scampered over to the left of the posts, the try being converted by Spowart (10-38). Rockclff were struggling for any meaningful possession with the Park forwards dominant and that dominance was more than evident on 52 minutes when they scored a pushover try, No 8 Leo Caulfield getting the score wideout on the left. The try was unconverted (10-43).
Rockcliff may have been living off of scraps possession wise but when they could retain the ball they showed what a good side they are. On 56 minutes they forced an attacking lineout on the Park 22. As the ball came infield, Hansen set off on a scorching run to deliver an inside pass to wing Nakajima who ran a superb line to score an exhilarating try which Hansen was able to convert (17-43).
Park responded almost immediately; sustained pressure in the Rockcliff 22 saw Caulfield score his second try on the hour 10 metres infield on the right which was converted by Paul Spowart (17-50). With Rockcliff unable to get a foothold in the game it was only a matter of time before the visitors scored again which they did on 73 minutes, stand off Fergus Simpson, who had switched to scrum half, receiving an excellent Kieran Sutherland off load to score wideout on the right, a try converted by Spowart (17-57). Replacement Sam McDonald had played very well on the left wing with some nice touches and strong tackling and he reaped his reward when he received a long pass from second row Josh Hedley that left him in acres of space and he scorched over by the posts on 76 minutes for Spowart to convert (17-64). As the clock ticked down to the end of the match there was still time for replacement Sam Digman to add a final try, again following sustained pressure in the Rockcliff 22. A final Spowart conversion completed a comprehensive victory (17-71).
Despite the scoreline, this was an excellent game played in front of a packed Hillheads which shows that there is still an appetite for this traditional fixture despite the demands of league rugby and again, long may it continue. Both Chris Reekie and Jonny Dubois had good games up front for Park, Ross Young and Jamie Wrigley were full of running in the back line and Fergus Simpson excelled both as stand off in the first half and as scrum half in the second. All of the replacements came on; Sam McDonald shows huge promise and it was great to see Kieren Sutherland back in the first team. For Rockcliff, stand off Michael Hansen excelled, as did wing Kohki Nakajima with No 8 Phil Ballantyne playing well in a struggling pack.
A huge thank you to Scott and all at Rockcliff for their hospitality and for making the day so special; there is a strong bond between the clubs as was evident in the clubhouse and around the ground (some of the banter was excellent!) and we look forward to reciprocating in 12 months time. Our grateful thanks also to the players from both sides who willingly give up part of their festive break to play and make all of this possible and to referees Paul Minto and Jock Gill, without whom there are no games. We wish Rockcliff every success for the remainder of the season.
We resume our Regional 2 North league campaign on 6 January when we host Cumbrian side Upper Eden RUFC at Preston Avenue, KO at 2 pm.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
Percy Park: 15 Jamie Wrigley; 14 Howard Stock ©; 13 Paul Spowart; 12 Ash Smith; 11 Ross Young; 10 Fergus Simpson; 9 Andrew Walker, 8 Leo Caulfield; 7 Jake Smith; 6 Jonny Dubois; 5 Chris Reekie; 4 Josh Hedley; 3 Matt Atkinson; 2 Dan Shuttleworth; 1 Aaron Smith
Replacements: Marc Cook; Tristan Grant; Sam Digman; Mikey Fisher; Toby Davison; Kieren Sutherland; Sam McDonald
Boxing Day rivalry
This year the Boxing Day rivalry between Percy Park and Whitley Bay Rockcliff takes place at Lovaine Avenue, Whitley Bay. The day starts off at 11.30 am with the Colts competing for the inaugural “Albi Duhrin Cup”. Albi sadly passed away earlier in the year and was a stalwart of both clubs. At 1.15 pm Dan Duhrin will be there to hand over the cup to the winning side. The 1st XV game kicks off at 2.15pm.
Percy Park v Rockcliff on Boxing Day is one of the oldest traditional rugby fixtures to be held and has been a season highlight for over 125 years. A massive family day presenting a great opportunity to catch up with familiar faces.
With the main Club bar opening at 10am, plus can bar and horsebox bar, Rockcliff aim to keep everyone well refreshed and even have the NUFC v Forest game on the big screen to keep you entertained in-between games.
All are welcome to join the faithful as we travel along The Broadway and offer support to our beloved ‘Black and Whites’ as they cross swords with our nearest and dearest. Come on Park!
Boxing Day Itinerary at a glance:
10.00 am: Clubhouse at Whitley Bay Rockcliff opens
11.30am: Albi Duhrin Challenge Cup. Rockcliff Colts v Percy Park Colts
1.15pm. Cup Presentation
2.15pm: Moore Cup. Rockcliff Senior XV v Percy Park Senior XV. Followed by Cup Presentation.
REGIONAL 2 NORTH
KESWICK 25 – 31 PERCY PARK
If ever there was a match of two different game plans, this was it, with the home side electing to kick for points, position, chase and defend and the visitors bludgeoning there way first with the heavy pack and then trying to cut loose with pacey backs. Both worked in their own way and despite Park scoring 5 tries to Keswick’s 1, the powerful boot of Glen Wightman kept the home side in touching distance right up to the end.
Park got off to a flying start from the kick off with Josh Hedley dispossessing the home side and setting away Drew Walker down the left flank but the chip through went dead in the small in goal area so play was brought back for a scrum on the 10 metre line. The early couple of scrums were even until Park’s juggernaut pack began to get on top.
After 8 minutes Park were penalised for not rolling away in the tackle and up stepped Glen Weightman to kick an easy 3 points. A bright start by the visitors began to waiver as the Cumbrian side kept them pinned in their 22. Instead of opting to clear with a kick, Park decided attack was the best form of defence, only it wasn’t and fly half Kieran Mews obviously shrouded in a cloak of invisibility snaffled a pop pass to go through for an interception try and with the Weightman conversion the Davidson Park boys were 10 – 0 ahead.
Percy Park hit back within a couple of minutes with scrum half Andrew Walker evading the home side back row and racing to the try line, a candidate for the most outrageous dummy of the season was surprisingly effective before setting Fergus Simpson through to score, with Ash Smith kicking the extras – 10-7.
A Park indiscretion gave Glen Weightman another pop at goal on 18 minutes for the home team to lead 13-7.
Percy Park then got into their stride as a dominant scrum tied in the Keswick back room, with Leo Caulfield picking up at number eight and feeding Drew Walker to set the Park backs away down the right touch line. Jamie Wrigley came into the line to score in the corner. Ash Smith’s conversion gave the visitors the lead for the first time 13 -14 after a quarter of the game had gone.
A difference of opinion between Keswick prop Jamie McKenzie and Drew Walker saw them both shown yellow which on another day could have been a different colour, and Fergus Simpson stepped in to the scrum half berth as Ash Smith moved to fly half.
Park then scored their 3rd try of the day with Jake Smith benefitting from a deft pass from Josh Hedley to cross the line for the try and with the conversion Park lengthened their lead. 13-21.
Any thoughts of the Tyneside team stretching further ahead was snuffed out as another two penalties in quick succession by Weightman kept his side in the hunt as half time approached.
Park then went on the offensive with several driving mauls from the line out. Blind side Stephen Moss was sent to the bin for collapsing the maul, again on another day this could have been a penalty try. Park persevered with the catch and drive and eventually Leo Caulfield crossed for the try bonus point and Park led at half time 19-26.
As the mist descended Keswick started the brighter in the second half and 2 further penalties from the unerring Weightman boot took his side to within a point of Park
25 -26.
Percy Park declined several kickable penalties, opting instead for the line out, and time after time the Keswick defence held firm, with several warning too from the referee for collapsing the maul. Eventually after much pressure Jamie Wrigley scored his second try of the day when an attacking scrum in the Keswick half allowed the Park full back to use his pace to burst through a gap to score an unconverted try.
With 10 minutes remaining the visitors led by 6 points, so a converted try by the hosts could give them a narrow 1 point win. A speculative chip through by Mews should have been cleared up but the ball skidded on the greasy surface and a kick through meant a foot race to the line which Keswick looked to be winning, a tackle off the ball by Drew Walker stopped the advance and he was shown his second yellow card. Cries from the Keswick players and supporters for a penalty try were dismissed by the referee and Park had played their get out of jail free card as they held out for another bonus point win to remain 8 points clear at the summit of Regional 2 North ahead of local rivals Northern. Keswick’s performance belies their league position and they were well deserving of their losing bonus point on the day.
This year the Boxing Day rivalry between Percy Park and Whitley Bay Rockcliff takes place at Lovaine Avenue. The day starts off at 11.30 am with the Colts competing for the inaugural “Albi Duhrin Cup”. Albi sadly passed away earlier in the year and was a stalwart of both clubs. Maggie, Dan and Theresa will hopefully be there to hand over the cup to the winning side. The 1st XV game kicks off at 2.15pm.
Finally we would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. League rugby returns to Percy Park on 6th January 2024 when our visitors are Upper Eden.
Photo Courtesy Julie Hedley
For more photos - Click Here
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