Panthers Rise to the Challenge
Consett & District Women 10 - 64 Percy Park Panthers Ladies
13-Oct-2024

On Sunday, October 13, 2024, the Panthers journeyed to Consett to face off against the Cobras. The recent rainfall had softened the pitch, creating ideal conditions for an intense rugby match, and the Panthers certainly rose to the occasion.

From the very first whistle, the Panthers were quick to assert their dominance, applying pressure right from the start. Just minutes into the contest, Captain S. Gicquel scored the opening try, expertly converted by C. Ward, setting a positive tone for the game. Consett responded with a try of their own shortly after, igniting the Panthers' determination to take control.

Captain Gicquel struck again, crossing under the posts for her second try, which set up Fly Half Ward for another successful conversion. The Panthers continued their offensive surge, with N. Wood executing a remarkable line break, sprinting the length of the field to score under the posts, followed by another conversion from Ward. L. Shanks soon mirrored Wood's impressive run, adding another try and conversion, establishing a clear pattern of dominance as the Panthers rolled on.

A quick tap and go by Scrum Half A. Hyde led to an excellent offload to C. Beaumont, who scored another try under the posts. This time, the conversion narrowly missed, hitting the posts, but the Panthers still held a commanding halftime lead of 33-5.

The second half introduced newcomer F. Rees at the 9 position for her debut match, where she settled in seamlessly. The Panthers maintained their pressure, resulting in Captain Gicquel breaking through Consett's defense once more to score the first try of the second half, converted beautifully by C. Ward.

Consett, unwilling to back down, managed to score their second try, bringing the score to 40-10. Both teams were hitting hard and showing signs of fatigue, but the Panthers found a second wind, leading to more tries. E. Barker scored a try on the wing, with a slightly challenging conversion for Ward, who handled it with ease.

Next, P. Wood showcased her speed and agility, leaping for the ball on the wing and securing another score for the Panthers. N. Wood then broke through the defense again, scoring her second try of the day with an impressive run. Finally, C. Beaumont capped off the scoring with her second try, sneaking in from behind to score under the posts, finalizing the match with a score of 64-10 in favor of the Panthers.

With strong scrums, fierce tackles, and excellent teamwork, the entire team left the pitch full of smiles. A special shout-out to Consett for an exhilarating match; it was a pleasure competing against you, and we eagerly anticipate the upcoming Friday Night Lights at home.

Recognition goes to our Players of the Match: Forward M. Watson, Back B. Milne, and Opposition N. Wood.

We also welcomed back Lauren Calvert to our team, and in true form, she managed to sustain an injury that left her chin bust wide open, resulting in some unfortunate stains on our new strip, much to Coach Mandy's delight. We’re all curious to see if she can remove the stains—stay tuned!

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Panthers Claim Victory:

Percy Park Panthers 49 - 17 Alnwick Ladies 
Sunday 22nd September 2024

This Sunday, the Panthers hosted Alnwick RFC Women at Preston Avenue, eager to rebound after a hard loss the previous week. The squad was determined to showcase their abilities, and they certainly did not disappoint.

Right from the whistle, the Panthers asserted their control with a powerful scrum, applying constant pressure that left Alnwick struggling against their strong pack. Just six minutes into the match, Livia Shanks opened the scoring with her first try, quickly followed by her second, putting the Panthers ahead 10-0.

The team's momentum continued when Captain Steph Gicquel executed a brilliant line break, outpacing the Alnwick defence. Despite being tackled just before reaching the try line, Gicquel made a precise offload to our number 10, Caitlin Ward, who scored under the posts and converted her own try, extending the lead to 17-0. The Panthers were clearly finding their rhythm.

With strong offensive plays, the Panthers continued to pressure Alnwick, keeping them pinned in their 22-meter area. Winger Sarah-Jane Laybourne made an impressive run along the sideline, passing to Ward, who was making ground until an unfortunate knock-on interrupted the play. Not to be deterred Clari Beaumont secured the next points on the board scoring a spectacular try for the Panthers.
The closing moments of the first half saw the Panthers dominate, culminating in a line break by Emily Mather, who breached Alnwick's defence to secure another try. Ward converted, bringing the halftime score to 27-0.

In the second half, the Panthers maintained their aggressive approach, leading to Beaumont adding her second try. However, Alnwick fought back, scoring and converting their first try, followed by a second, narrowing the score to 27-12.

Refusing to back down, the Panthers responded swiftly with a try from winger Alice Goodwin, marking a stellar debut for her. Flanker Nesha Wood also contributed with another try, but Alnwick kept up the pressure and managed to score again. The Panthers quickly countered with a try from Sheona McIntyre, finishing the match with a decisive score of 49-17 in Favor of the Panthers.

Acknowledging standout performances, the Players of the Match awards were given to Forward Clari Beaumont, Back Amber Hyde, and Caitlin Ward, who received recognition from the opposition for her significant contributions.

As the Panthers look forward, they are excited to take on Novo’s 2nds in the Papa Johns Junior Cup, with kickoff set for 2 PM at home. The team is eager to build on this victory and maintain their positive momentum as the season unfolds!

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Penrith v Panthers
15-09-24
Final score - 41-5

On Sunday, the Panthers made the journey to Penrith for their first league clash of the season, eager to showcase their hard work and determination. From the whistle, it was evident that the match would be a physically demanding game, with both teams applying significant pressure on one another.

The first half saw Penrith strike early, scoring their first try within 20 minutes, quickly followed by a second try. As the half-time whistle blew, the score stood at 12-0 in favour of Penrith. Despite the score, the Panthers remained focused and committed, gearing up for a stronger performance in the second half.

As the second half commenced, the Panthers were fired up and ready to make their mark. However, Penrith managed to break through the Panthers' defence a few more times, extending their lead. With the Panthers fighting back our flanker Nesha Wood made a decisive move, breaking through the defence with our new winger, Joanne Clayton, in support. Wood's effort paid off, resulting in a try for the Panthers and bringing the score to 31-5.

Penrith continued to add more tries to their tally before the final whistle blew, concluding the match with a score of 41-5 in favour of the home team.  While the final score may not reflect the effort put in by the Panthers, the team's determination and focus remained unwavering until the very end. The players displayed great resilience and a strong team spirit, which will undoubtedly serve them well in future matches.

Recognizing individual performances, the Forward of the Match award went to Sheona McIntyre for her outstanding contributions in the pack, while the Back of the Match was awarded to Joanne Clayton for her crucial support play on the wing. The Captain, Steph Gicquel, also received recognition as the opposition's player of the match, highlighting her leadership and tenacity on the field.

Despite the challenging result, the Panthers are ready to regroup and build on the positives from this match as they prepare for the upcoming fixtures in the league. The season is just beginning, and the Panthers are determined to rise to the challenge ahead!

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