From the Touchline – Bill Locke

This weeks fixtures:

Blaydon v Alnwick

Blaydon Georgians v Alnwick 2s

Winlaton 2s v Blaydon 3rds

Last weeks results

Blackburn 33 v Blaydon 31

Blaydon Georgians 50 v Consett 2s 15

Rockliff 33 v Blaydon Bricks 17

From the touchline

It is our pleasure to welcome all our friends from Alnwick today for the first of a number of North East derbies this year. They are always a difficult team to beat no matter when in the season we play them and last week beat Lymm at home albeit narrowly. They are always good company off the field and we look forward to another good game.

For our part, now that we have the unbeaten season aspiration out of the window we can concentrate on game by game progress. Last week at Blackburn we had a much changed team from the week before due to an accumulation of early season injuries and appeared to be bus weary in the 1st half turning round with a 28-0 deficit. Although we sprung to life in the 2nd half we fell just short. Nathan Horsfall was nominated as their man of the match by Blackburn so well done Nathan.

It was a long journey home, having to go via the A66 to accommodate Mr Baileys new courting habits, extended by several countryside watering holes as a result of the lack of a WC on the bus. The Bus Company have been advised accordingly !

It was a pleasure to have coaches Jim Houghton and Tom Penny on board on an away game and a big boost to the team.

We have had a number of complements from the RFU Board following their visit the week before and thus thanks to all involved

With the 1st team drawing from the extended squad, the Georgians put on a fine show at Consett with a made up team including several youngsters and a re emerging Paul  Vinnicombe who will be stiff for a week after not playing for several years

Finally on a personal note I will miss John Brennan’s presence at the back of the stand. Jim Huxley has already provided an excellent brief obituary which is on line, but he was a good supporter to us over many years and a fine gentleman. He went very quickly in the end and we wish his family our best wishes

Bill