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Henderson Scores 5 as Sedgley Take the Points at Crow Trees!

With Sedgley Park coming to Blaydon as yet undefeated and given we were looking for our first win this was always going to be a tough game. The same fixture last year ended in a 16 – 66 defeat but we faired a little bit better in the away fixture last season so there was still hope of some improvement on last seasons efforts.
So for the first 7 or 8 minutes it was very much Blaydon on the front foot, we were at 5 metre line out number 2 or 3 when Sedgley Parks counter to our driving maul forced Blaydon to give up the driving maul and look to the phases and that was going well until we dropped the ball 1 metre short of the try line. To be fair to Sedgley Park they were very quick to react, and within seconds the ball had been transferred from the right wing to the left wing and into the hands of Jamie Harrison and he turned our defenders inside out before racing to score in the corner. This first try was very well converted by fly half Oliver Glasse.
The next 10 minutes both teams were exchanging mistakes between the two 22 metre lines until Blaydon were attacking on the half way line and scrum half John Clarkson looked to spin it wide left but unfortunately his pass was well anticipated by right winger Rhys Henderson who intercepted to go in for the second try unopposed from 40-50 metres out. Glasse again converted well.
The next score came from another Blaydon handling error in midfield, which Sedgley attacked quickly at a disjointed Blaydon defence and a few phases later the ball was passed out to Henderson who out-paced the despairing Blaydon defence to score, again converted by Glasse.
Without wanting to sound repetitive, the next score was also for Sedgley Park, again they forced a Blaydon error and again the quickly jumped into life and again just a few phases later the ball found itself in the hands of right winger Rhys Henderson and he duly finished off without being touched, this time for his Hattrick. It was again converted by Glasse.
Finally on the stroke of half time Blaydon managed to build some phases and got into the Sedgley 22 and when it looked like we were struggling to break the gain line, a clever chip by James Cooney and a friendly bounce saw him gather his own kick to score Blaydon’s first try of the game. The conversion was missed by Clarkson.
Half time: Blaydon 5 v Sedgley Park 28
Sedgley started the 2nd half brightly and were looking likely to score again down the right wing but in an attempt to intercept / thwart the Sedgley attack Blaydon left winger Nathan Greenwood was given a yellow card for a deliberate knock on which was probably a fair call. Unfortunately a man down and on the left wing of all places, Sedgley scrum half Cameron Crampton, went blind down their right wing from a ruck on the 15 metre line and with no Blaydon left winger on the pitch it was Henderson once again who was unopposed to score. Glasse was again successful.
The next 20 minutes was messy to say the least with lots of injuries and substitutions for both side, which left Blaydon with a back row consisting of one back row, a scrum half and a prop, but to be fair to the home side we kept fighting and on 65 minutes Lewis Williams made a half break and fed in Nathan Greenwood who finally got the ball in space and he raced passed fly half Glasse to score in the corner, Clarkson again missed the conversion.
Frustratingly this mini revival was short lived and Sedgley park replied immediately and once again Henderson was the scorer, his 5th of the day, and as with all the Sedgley Park tries, Glasse converted.
Blaydon hadn’t given up yet and some good defensive pressure by Cooney forced an error in the Sedgley backs and the ball fell to substitute Nathan Horsfall 40 metres out and he duly ran in to score.
Unfortunately for the home side that was the final score of the game as Sedgley Park looked the more likely to get another score in the dying minutes but it was Blaydon who held out.
Full time: Blaydon 15 v Sedgley Park 42
Blaydon Bailey, Williams, Cooney, Thompson, Greenwood, Marshall, Clarkson, Fearn, Gray, Appleby, Barry, Phillips, Roy, Varley, Clarke.
Replacements: Dodds, Siddle, Edginton, Horsfall, Simpson
Sedgley Park: Riley, Henderson, Maher, Riley, Harrison, Glasse, Crampton, Blanchard, Maher, Black, Birtwell, Crowe, James, Bentley, Goodman
Replacements: Downham, Mallinson, Nonleh, Stelmaszek, Benbattouche
REFEREE: Daniel Woods
ATTENDANCE: 142
STAR MAN: Rhys Henderson
Scorers:
Blaydon 15
Tries: Cooney 39, Greenwood 65 Horsfall 73
Conversions:
Penalties:
Drop Goals:
Sedgley Park 42
Tries: Harrison 8 Henderson 21, 28, 32, 47, 68
Conversions: Glasse 9, 16, 29, 33, 48, 69
Penalties:
Drop Goals:
Many thanks to Chris Nunn for the Match Report and Iain Clyne for the fantastic photographs.

Fixture Update for the Weekend Ahead

100 Club Update

Congratulations to the winners below, please get in touch with Stan or JC to collect your winnings, there are more numbers available also if you want to get involved. Your continued support is really appreciated during these difficult times.

Our Fantastic U14 Girls Win the Stockton Shield

More positive news from our fantastic youth section!!
Our fabulous Under 14 Girls team joined forces with Ryton RUFC to be Shield Winners at last weekends Stockton RFC All Girls Festival!!
The team started slow after losing a player to injury, losing the first game against a strong Houghton side with a large squad! After that the girls regrouped and went from strength to strength!
They won their remaining pool games coming second in the pool and going into the plate final (Darlington RFC who won the pool and eventually the cup final game we actually beat comfortably in our pool game 5 try’s to 1)!!
We then played Rockcliff in the Plate Final (who we’d played several times last season and while being competitive I don’t think we won) and dominated them start to finish winning 5 try’s to 0.
Well done to all of the players and coaching team, there are bound to be some future Red Kites amongst this group.

Tynedale Take The North East Bragging Rights

The game started at a frantic pace and the first score came in the first 2 minutes with Blaydon dropping the ball as they were forming the maul on the Tynedale 22 metre line and Tynedale reacted quickest.
They transferred the ball from left to right wing within a few seconds and cleverly they kicked ahead. The kick was perfectly weighted and with no one covering across, it was an easy chase and touch down for winger Toby Ferguson. Which was well converted by Jake Rodgers.
Blaydon’s response was immediate and from a line out 10 metres out they caught and drove the maul over the line with hooker Danny Gray controlling at the back and touching down. Blaydon Scrum half John Clarkson converted.
Blaydon pushed hard for the next score and spent the 10 minutes pretty much camped in the Tynedale 22 but to their dismay there was no just reward coming, although Ralph Appleby was adjudged to be held up over the line, certainly Ralph and other Blaydon players around him were convinced he got the ball down but unfortunately there is no TMO in National 2 North.
On 22 minutes Tynedale kicked ahead and Blaydon didn’t deal with the kick well at all, which gave Tynedale the ball just short of the Blaydon 22. From the next phase Blaydon were penalised at the break down albeit from my Blaydon biased eyes I could not see what for and from the resulting penalty Jake Rodgers dually converted to take Tynedale back into the lead.
The policing of the break down was a bone of contention for both sides for the whole game and the referee chose not to talk to either team to explain where things were going wrong from his perspective which didn’t help matters. As a result, there were numerous penalties throughout the game bewildering players from both teams and stopping the flow of the game.
Blaydon responded well to going behind and found themselves with a 5m scrum which they ran the ball in the backs and a relatively simple move gave the ball to centre Alex Clark who ran a great line to score near the posts. The conversion was easily knocked over by Clarkson to put Blaydon 14-10 ahead.
But frustratingly the next score came within a few minutes. Blaydon were again penalised again just inside their own half and the kick to the corner was a good one which gave Tynedale a 5m line out and the subsequent catch and drive resulted in a score for Hooker, Louis Frankland, which was again converted by Rodgers.
Blaydon had another opportunity to score as Tynedale spilled the ball in the back line on the half way line and John Clarkson was on hand to fly hack the ball ahead but with a clear run to the try line, the ball wouldn’t bounce up for him and as he went down to gather the ball he knocked it on and Tynedale survived again. On another day the ball would have bounced up higher and made gathering it a lot easier for him, as with the rest of the game small margins costing the home side.
Frustratingly a few minutes later the usual reliable boot of Clarkson, missed a penalty kick in front of the posts to level it just before half time.
Half time: Blaydon 14 v Tynedale 17
The second half started fairly frantically but with Tynedale definitely edging things territorially and within 5 minutes Blaydon were penalised in front of the posts for not releasing the man in the tackle and Rodgers easily converted to take Tyne further into the lead.
The pressure continued from Tynedale just 5 minutes later, another Blaydon infringement at the breakdown gave Rodgers another penalty in front of the posts which was easily converted to take Tynedale further ahead 14 v 23.
Blaydon responded well this time and from a line out on halfway, some good hands in the backs got the ball quickly out wide to James Cooney who cut inside but was just held up just short of the Tynedale line.
The ball was quickly recycled and Ethan Clark was on hand to carry the ball over the line to a good team try for the home side. The try was wide out but the conversion was excellently executed by Clarkson. Blaydon 21 v Tynedale 23.
But frustratingly for the home side the resurgence was short lived, and the next score came from a 5 minute period of sustained Tynedale pressure and just when Blaydon thought they had survived by bundling Tynedale into touch just short of the line. But a loose tap back from the resulting Blaydon line out was gathered by Tynedale and a few phases later 2nd row Chris Wearmouth used his substantial weight to get over the line. This time the try was converted by replacement fly half Josh Leslie taking the score to 21 v 30.
Blaydon responded well again, working their way to the Tynedale line and from a penalty and kick to the corner, the line out ball was driven over with Ethan Clark with the ball when we crossed the line. The try was scored wide out and this time conversion was missed, leaving the score 26-30.
There was 5 minutes left and their was still hope of a home win but unfortunately there were no more opportunities, Tynedale fairly professionally kept possession and closed the game out well.
The only consolation for Blaydon being the 2 bonus points.
Blaydon:
Bailey, Greenwood, Simpson, Clark, Cooney, Marshall, Clarkson, Rewcastle, Gray, Appleby, Wright, Phillips, Varley, Charlton, Clarke
Replacements: Chaplin, Gerrard, Inglis, Horsfall, Dowell
Tynedale:
Parker, Ferguson, Cramb, Roue, Todhunter, Rodgers, Telford, Carmichael, Frankland, Caudle, Wearmouth, Dunn, Cousin, Bell, Blackburn
Replacements: Batey, Dodd, Wainwright, Leslie, Cooke
REFEREE: Owen Taylor
ATTENDANCE: 578
STAR MAN: Jake Rodgers – Tynedale
Scorers:
Blaydon 26
Tries: Gray 5, Clark 28, Clarke 54, 75
Conversions: Clarkson 6, 29, 55
Penalties:
Tynedale 30
Tries: Ferguson 2, Frankland 32, Wearmouth 65
Conversions: Rodgers 3, 33, Leslie 66
Penalties: Rodgers 22, 45, 51
Many thanks to Chris Nunn for the match report and Iain Clyne for the fabulous photos.

Ionians out Muscle Blaydon

Hull started off their season really well and within 3 minutes they scored with good hands in the backs and the ball finding its way to Hull winger Sam Wilson to score in the corner, the conversion was missed by Lewis Minikin.

Both teams cancelled each other out for the next 10 minutes until Blaydon went offside in the maul, from which Hull kicked to the corner.  The subsequent catch and drive was well controlled by number eight George Newburn who scored, conversion again missed by Minikin.

Blaydon responded well and from a good kick into the corner, Blaydon won lineout which led to an excellent short burst by Alex Clark who fed Will Varley on an excellent line to score near the posts which was easily converted by Clarkson.

The next score came from a Blaydon mistake at their own lineout. The resulting scrum created an opportunity blind for Ionians scrum half Sam Pocklington who fed in Winger Josh Britton to score an easy try in the corner again unconverted.

On the half hour mark, a poor Blaydon clearance fed the Hull counterattack, this was started by winger Sam Wilson, and the ball found its way to full back Jack Townend who scored near the posts and this time Minikin was on hand to convert.

Half Time:  Blaydon 7 v Hull Ionians 22

Blaydon started the 2nd half much the brighter team, an infringement by Hull was taken quickly by John Clarkson who fed Dan Marshall who evaded several defenders to score. Again conversion by Clarkson was successful.

The next score was again by Blaydon, which came from good aggressive run from Alex Charlton, which fed the ball out to the backs which again got the ball to Dan Marshall who scored under the posts, taking the score to 21-22, Game on perhaps?

Frustratingly for the home team although they pushed hard for the next score, they found themselves with a lineout on their own 22 metre line, which Hull won and mauled all the way to the Blaydon try line, with Hooker Stephenson touching down for another unconverted try.

So both teams very much in the game with 10 minutes to go, but it was Hull who put the game beyond the home teams reach. This time indiscipline cost Blaydon who were marched back by the referee to the 5 metre line, and from the scrum the ball was fed to winger Britton to score his 2nd try, this time converted from wide out by Minikin.

Full Time: Blaydon 21 v Hull Ionians 34

 

REFEREE:   Dan Wood

ATTENDANCE:  145

STAR MAN:  Ionians – Jack Townend

 

Scorers:

Blaydon  21

Tries:  Varley 15, Marshall 43, 59

Conversions: Clarkson 16, 44, 60

Penalties:

Drop Goals:

 

Hull Ionians 34

Tries:  Wilson 2, Newburn 11, Britton 19, 79, Townend 32, Stephenson 68

Conversions: Minikin 33, 80

Penalties:

Drop Goals:

Wright Hat-Trick secures Blaydon 1st XV win

Wright hat-trick secures Blaydon 1st XV comfortable win outshining Newcastle University at Crow Trees.
Blaydon 33 Newcastle University 14
Liam Wright – Blaydon’s open-side flanker, sealed his hat trick on 57mins on a hot afternoon to secure the win. These were to be the final points of the game. All Wright’s three tries came from tireless pick-and-go work from a supportive Blaydon pack.
Blaydon managed a total shut-out in the second half, as their defence remained dominant after the break.
It was the 15 men from Newcastle University – well let’s say ‘15’ loosely as they brought a team of 35, who opened the scoring after 11mins. Max Carr went over from a few metres out for the visitors which Tom Quinlan duly converted.
Both teams in the first half looked as though their line-out needed a little more work before the serious business starts next week.
It was from a turnover at a Newcastle line out which led to Wright getting the first of his tries [25mins], which John Clarkson [scrum-half] converted. Clarkson had his kicking boots on, making 4 of his 5 attempts, some from tight angles with ease.
BRFCvNU2022
A lovely dummy sold by Nathan Bailey saw Blaydon take the lead on 27mins, only to see that cancelled out 6mins later when George Waterhouse [33mins] went over the Blaydon try line, in a mirror pick-and-go attack to their first try; driving over again from close range.
When Chris Bell for the University converted to make it 14 across the board it appeared Blaydon had a game on their hands.
However, the constant rolling subs for Newcastle rather than help energy levels hindered continuity. Tries on either side of the break by Wright [39 mins] and Charlie Smith [41 mins]-both converted by Clarkson, sealed the opposition’s fate.
The next match-up will be an entirely different test when Blaydon face Hull Ionians at home, Saturday September 3rd at home [15:00 kick-off]. Bring it on.
Many thanks to Nic Eatch for the Match Report and Iain Clyne for the fabulous match photos.
second team

Senior Squad Update

Senior Squad Update

As we continue to bolster our senior rugby infrastructure we are delighted to welcome Chris Stewart back in to the fold, Chris is a product of the Blaydon youth system and he has returned to where it all started to coach the Georgians.

Along side Chris is Steven Davidson, who is replacing the very big shoes Howie Gillfillan has left, to fill as team manager. Howie has stepped aside to focus on wearing his blazer on first team match days. The club would like to say a massive thank you to Howie for everything he has done to make sure the 2nd Team has been run so well over the last 15-20 years.

Further Updates to follow.

DMP and GHA visit Blaydon RFC

The season is almost upon us and we finally have some live action at Blaydon RFC this weekend , when we welcome Darlington Mowden Park and Glasgow Hutchesons’ Aloysians (GHA) RFC to Crowtrees.
The three teams will be playing one another throughout the afternoon with the first game kicking off at 2.30pm.
The weather forecast looks fantastic, 1888 Sports Bar & Cafe will be open, so pop along and enjoy a few ales, have some lunch on the terrace before heading over to the AGP to watch the rugby.
We will hopefully see some new and old faces on Saturday.

Sponsorship Opportunities for 2022/23 Season

Good Evening All,
In order to continue to thrive at all playing levels the Club needs to maximise its income in every way possible as the new Season commences in September.
Sponsorship plays an important part for us and a new programme of opportunities has been agreed which will benefit both the sponsor and the club. We believe we have a location and facilities which can raise the sponsor’s profile to a wide audience in many ways and improve the manner in which we have worked with them over previous years.
The full details of the numerous packages are detailed within the link below and we would ask that all members approach their friends and companies to see if they would wish to become part of our sponsors family this season.
Initial contact details are shown as contact@blaydonrfc.co.uk or as president@blaydonrfc.co.uk. Alternatively approach any member of the Executive Committee.