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Old Albanians 19 – Blaydon 18

Blaydon went down narrowly at Old Albanians, contributing greatly to their own downfall by conceding a string of penalties and losing 2 players to the sin-bin in quick succession.

The home side had the early benefit of the wind and therefore lots of possession but excellent Blaydon defence gave then only limited scoring opportunities. They did take the lead however with a well worked effort completed by wing-forward Billy Johnson who strolled in unopposed.
Centre Dan Watt added the conversion but Blaydon were quickly on terms through skipper Keith Laughlin from a catch and drive, Andrew Baggett converting.

Honours were even at the break after Watt and Baggett each landed penalties to make it 10-10 and with their turn to use the elements still to come Blaydon should have been in the ascendancy.

Baggett was on target with another penalty, Laughlin repeated his first half score from close range and at 10-18 an away win was on the cards.

Sadly it all went wrong though a combination of ill-discipline and some dubious decisions. In the 59th minute Prop Robbie Morris was sent to the naughty step to be followed by Craig Willis a minute later.

In their absence Watt was given 2 more penalty opportunities and then with 6 minutes remaining hammered the final nail in the coffin with his 4th success of the game.

John Brennan

Blaydon 27 – Loughborough Students 23

The Students usually have the ‘Indian sign’ over the home side and for 15 minutes were on schedule to continue the sequence. A Tom James penalty and Jack Pons try put them ahead with the Blaydon defensive line at full stretch and unable to get their hands on the ball.

Things then changed dramatically at the first scrum which saw the students in full retreat losing 20 metres, and at the next, and for the rest of the game.

By half-time the early 10 points reversal had become 17-10 with Tom Jeffery cutting a fine line in the corner, and Harry Bate under the posts from set pieces, and then a breakaway effort from home full-back Nathan Bailey after Loughborogh had inexplicably ignored a kickable penalty to tap and run only to lose possession.

Pons scored his second on 44 minutes with a fine run down the right only for Jeffery chasing an up and under to send in Toby Bain at the other end, a carbon copy of a disallowed effort minutes earlier.

Will Roberts charged down a Blaydon clearance resulting in a Harry Elrington try that took it to 24-20 and from then it was anyone’s game.

Andrew Baggett and Sam Pointon exchanged penalties, Loughborough retained possession for long spells, but in the end it was the Blaydon forwards who ruled the roost.

Star man: Matt Rogerson (Loughborough)
Referee: James Clarke
Attendance: 202
HT: 17-10 FT: 27-23

Scoring

Blaydon
Tries: Jeffery 23, Bate 30, Bailey 40, Bain 57
Conversions: Baggett 30,57.
Penalty: Baggett 66

Loughborough
Tries: Pons 10, 44, Elrington 62.
Conversions: James 10.
Penalty: James 4, Pointon 70.

Reporter: John Brennan

Blaydon versus Loughborough Students game goes ahead

Pitch is fine and the game goes ahead today

 

KO 2pm at Blaydon’s Crowtrees Ground

Loughborough Pre Match Dinner – 31st Jan

There will be a pre-match lunch before the game against Loughborough Students

Lunch will be 12.00 for 12.30
Tickets £12 season ticket holders
Tickets £15 members
Tickets £22 for non members.
Guests welcome.

If you wish to book a place please contact Jim Huxley – jimhux@btopenworld.com as soon as possible

Thanks
Linda

Rosslyn Park 20 – Blaydon 15

Having being generally outplayed in the first half when they had the wind advantage Blaydon turned it round after the break and were unlucky not to have gone on to win.

High flying Rosslyn Park were much the better organised and monopolised the early play, taking the lead through their scrum-half Luke Carter who found a convenient gap near the corner.
Andrew Baggett pulled back 3 points when the home side were caught offside but Park scored again after Blaydon had failed to secure the ball and winger Neville Edwards finished off an excellent move.

With Park having the lions share of possession another try was inevitable and just before the interval Carter went in for his second after much re-cycling. None of the tries were converted and at that stage it was a deserved 15-3 lead for the home side.

It was all Blaydon at the start of the second period with the forwards now asserting themselves and after some considerable pressure in the 22 flanker Jason Smithson crashed over in the corner.

Disappointingly for Blaydon home winger Joe Ajuwa then broke clear down the right to secure a bonus try for Park and extend the lead to 20-8.

Going into the final quarter however Blaydon stuck to their task and after spending 10 minutes encamped in the corner were finally rewarded when centre Toby Bain touched down near the flag. Baggett added the extras and then almost set up a winning try with a delicate chip ahead. Winger Tom Jeffery raced through and with a fine catch was heading for the line when brought down by a last ditch tackle.

John Brennan

Saturday 24th January – Blaydon Bricks 32, Northern Panthers 17

Top of the league clash sees Bricks come out on top, in what was some awesome forward power play, backed up by some great direct running by Blaydon backs and tremendous defence against a very young and extremely quick Panthers backline.

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/26086313@N08/collections/72157647182482669/

It looked a bit ominous when Panthers showed up and we thought they were the 2nd team opposition and looked to have about 25 players and we had 2 no-shows, so only had 3 subs. We had a guest on the day, Bum Bum, who played (Blaydon player, currently at Winlaton) 4 games last season (so missed out on his Bricks top at 5 games) turned out for us for his second appearance this season as Keith Winter was away.

 

This could be a report with a few bad clichés, it was definitely about quality on the day, not quantity, Blaydon’s forward dominance was evident from the start with wave upon wave of Forwards running at the Panthers and literally battering them with contact. Scrums for either side resulted in the ball coming to Blaydon as the Panthers pack was marched back at a fast rate of knots. Lines outs were even possession and the only possession they got was when we got isolated and they got to the ball in greater numbers, but once it went out wide; Savs, Chester, Divers, Joe and Matt closed them down and then our pack took the ball off them.

Special mention to Adam and Ryan who have bruises following the encounter and are looking for steaks to put on them to be fit form Saturday. Also special, speacial mention for Ryan for his rampaging runs, as he asked for a special  mention as he felt undervalued in previous reports ……….

Panthers were also not a squad who had played that much together, you can tell that, when the coaches on the side-line are shouting, hey ‘fullback’ as they couldn’t remember his name.

 

Scorers;

Trys: Finnas, Windy 2, Bum Bum 3

Conversion: Joe 1

 

Highs and Lows of the game:

  • Game was proceeded by a return to the changing room, followed by the Cup Final slow walk to the pitch, led by Windy , you could see the determination to win this one building as they got to the pitch.
  • Forwards driving through as a unit and clearing out, few more yards and repeat, it was a long day for Panthers pack, as I don’t think our forwards were looking for gaps, they were just battering into people with weight and colleagues behind them to add more.
  • Every forward, went forward; Finnas, Bum Bum, Ryan, Adam, Horse, Strachs, Windy, Ian and Stu and never took backward steps all day.
  • Chesters passes were a little in front of Joe, well to be fair Joe used to be a lot quicker but given work he had not played for about 6 weeks.
  • Finnas drives over for first try, Ryan goes over shortly after but didn’t manage to get the ball down
  • Scrum was totally dominate, Windy walked in two 5 metre scrums to score and then as he was walking in the 3rd, he broke off 3 yards out and got stopped, explain that one.
  • Stu gets first ‘plonker’ award for taking out a panther in case he recovers a chip and chase with all the rest of his team waiting to catch the chip as it dropped in the middle of them……
  • Second ‘Plonker’ award goes to Horse for caressing the total nugget from the Panthers who seemed intent on cheap shotting anyone he came in contact with, which annoyed our pack even more, who ran into Panthers even more. Someone teach him ‘cause and effect’, he was probably responsible for physicking up our pack so much.
  • Stu Bailey tackling and just getting everywhere to annoy Panthers
  • Bum Bum had a great game, three trys and got everywhere; Stu did, and Keith he didn’t dropped the ball
  • The Next try was Damien, to Matt and offloaded to BumBum to run in 50 yards
  • Savs, Chester , Divers and Matt made great yards when the ball came out and interplay seemed to confuse Panthers backs
  • Russ reported (now in match report so must be true) on the side line that Windy got bowled over on the far side, but the guy was too small to see who it was.
  • Strachs kicks, ricochets of a Panthers, hits him on the head and goes to touch
  • Only kicking funnier was Matt’s conversions, first one went along the 22, second scored a great goal and never got above 4 foot high
  • Good to see Kevin Scott from Winlaton doing well at Refereeing and he control what was a game of niggles well, what pressure, top of league clash, Assessed and Video’d by the RFU, all on the same game
  • Camera was a distraction, our guys kept stopping as they ran past to pose, it’s a video, noggin heads, you don’t have to pose.

 

This was a very determined team who drove out a result and only conceded the 17 point at the end after they tired (lack of enough subs and fitness levels, we discussed training again in the bar, for 30 seconds, but the laughter drown out the conversation) and Panthers took the game uncontested. The display was immense from forwards and backs and one of the best, most competitive games the Bricks have played for a long time, with Panthers competing until the end .

 

Next week is another league game, with a trip to Ashington, if we get this team available again next week, it’s hard to see anyone in this league stopping our run, let’s see who’s available next week.

 

 

Team:

 

 

1. Finnas

2. Bum bum.          (Ian Bennie)

3. Ryan

4. Horse

5 Adam

6 Strachs.                   (Bum Bum)

7 Stu Bailey

8 Windy.

9 Liam

10 Savs

11 Damien.                  (Phil Rayson)

12 Chester

13 Divers

14 joe Snowdon         (Paul Dingley)

15 Matt

 

 

 

Blaydon old boys reunion at London Irish

fenby

Former Blaydon first team pals Andy Fenby and Ralph Smith had a shock reunion this week at Premiership side London Irish.

With Fenby in good form on the wing for the Exiles, he was joined at the Madejski Stadium by former Blaydon full back Smith, who was unveiled as the new London Irish match day doctor.

Let’s hope Fenners doesn’t have to spend too much time with the doc but we wish them both the best of luck.

Blaydon U18s boys in Falcons action

Congratulations to several of the under 18 team who have recently been in action for the Falcons in the Premiership U18 league.

Ruaridh Dawson, Jack Appleton, Anthony Davis and Dan Gray (all Newcastle School for Boys) and Elliott Beattie (Gateshead Academy) have been involved in recent fixtures against Yorkshire Carnegie, Gloucester Rugby, Northampton Saints and Worcester Warriors.

Scrum half Ruaridh has also recently been selected for the North of England 18 group in their upcoming divisional campaign.

Blaydon Bricks 36, Houghton IIs 12

Saturday 10th January – Blaydon Bricks 36, Houghton IIs 12

Scorers Trys; Goggle, Ryan, Keith, Stu, Matt G, Savs

photes: https://www.flickr.com/photos/26086313@N08/collections/72157647182482669/

Conv; Damien 3

Thanks to Houghton who came through with 12 players just to get a game and thanks to Ian, Windy, Keith, Strachs and few other for playing for Houghton. Also great news that lad who got hurt only had muscle injury, hope he gets back on the pitch soon. Highs and Lows

  • Blaydon forwards were well on top and made great yards
  • Good running from Matt, Savs, Goggle and Liam in the backs
  • Short balls to Matt were making big yards
  • Harry on break, good offload to Goggle and then Ryan who runs in the try
  • Goggle takes a high ball and makes a good break, offload to Horse who got stripped of the ball
  • High ball, Stu calls majestically and then Oops, think he was using Keith’s hands
  • Stu redeems himself when he follows up a penalty kick and steals the ball which is whipped out wide for try
  • Second half Keith and Windy are sent to play for Houghton for sarcasms in the changing room before the game, revenge is sweet.
  • Kick off ball between Horse and Ryan, who just looked at each other ‘which way did it go!’
  • Near the end of the game, stoppage near the sideline and Phil Rayson takes a load of stick for still being clean
  • Keith bowls Horse over by rolling Adam into him, so funny
  • Windy gets thrown out of the line out and dumped, well he was on the opposition

http://northumberlandrugbyunion.com/clubs/county-leagues/river-blyth-league

1. Finnas. 2. Keith Winter 3. Ryan. 4. Horse 5. Adam knox. 6. Harry   7. Stu 8. Windy 9. Liam 10. Sav 11. Damien 12. Matt Goodhall 13. Phil Rayson 14. Paul Dingley 15. Craig Barlow

Ryton IIIs 10, Blaydon Bricks 41

Saturday 17th January – Ryton IIIs 10, Blaydon Bricks 41

Scorers Trys; Matt Goodhall, Divers 2, Finnas, Knoxy, Sam

Conv; Sam 3

photes: https://www.flickr.com/photos/26086313@N08/collections/72157647182482669/

With Gosforth not able to field a side we picked up a fixture against Ryton at short notice and set off with only 17 players available. Our 3s had no game but in the knowledge that Ryton had 3 games on the day, we went with a true Bricks side. We had two newcomers playing they first game;

Sam at flyhalf, who we found behind the bar at the club, having stopped playing football recently, who showed really good potential.
Neil who just walked in to the club on Thursday night looking to play social rugby at second row, which was a great help on the day and another player for the future.Our thanks to Paul Winter who played for Ryton to keep the game as contested scrums
Highs and Lows and no apology for abit of a pick on Keith day, but he made it so easy:

  • Blaydon forwards were well on top and the backs running just mesmerised the Ryton defence, game was cut short by about 10 mins and Ryton were running out of players
  • Keith goes down on the ball and rumour has is the knock on was from his belly
  • Matt G had a field day running at the Ryton backs who didn’t seem to want to tackle him at speed, he went blind for the first score and ran in from 30 yards
  • Sam did well and orchestrated things in the backs, short ball to Divers and he went through the middle to score
  • Matt G picked up a ball just outside of our 22 and took off through the middle of the opposition, passed to Keith, well that was the end of that.
  • Knoxy made a number of good breaks from the kick off (and Ryton Continued to kick it to him) off loaded to Sam and then to Divers for his second tray.
  • Next kick off, same combination Knoxy sets off, passes to Sam, who just about gets his head knocked off with a high tackle.
  • Keith steals a ball sets off down the side line, great 20 yd break and…. drops it right in front of me.
  • Then a surreal moment, Ref signals Ryton 22 drop out, our forwards line up for a scrum on the 22 (no clue why) Ryton take teh 22 and only one there, again right in front of me is Damien, who goes up for the high ball, gets it completely wrong and throws it forward into the arms of the Ryton winger, who sets off.
  • chester made some good breaks through the middle
  • Same players different combination; Sam, Divers and Knoxy scores
  • Sam chips just inside our half, chases and collects to score.
  • Matt G sets off, off loads to Keith who is then stripped by the smallest guy on the park.
  • Keith then loses one against the head, his Paul hooked it from under his nose.
  • Matt G sets off another 50yds run and is took down and winded by the same small lad who stripped Keith.
  • Last try was again a blindside move from a ruck, which thank fully missed out keith (who insists he as involved) to Damien to take it in the corner.

 

Next week is the home game against Northern (who turned us over heavily in the first fixture) who are second in the league, with Bricks in top spot. http://northumberlandrugbyunion.com/clubs/county-leagues/river-blyth-league

 

1. Finnas.

2. Ian Bennie (Keith Winter)

3. Ryan.

4. Keith Winter (Neil Gray)

5. Adam knox.

6. Matty Bell (Ian Bennie)

7. Stu

8. Windy

9. Liam

10. Sam Hedley

11. Damien

12. Chester

13. Divers

14. Craig Barlow

15. Matt Goodhall