1st Team News
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Blaydon 69 Sandal 12
5 point win for Blaydon RFC puts us back in playoff spot, as Billingham Lose at Wirral
Blaydon 69 Sandal 12
Blaydon put their disappointing recent form well and truly behind them with this 11 try romp over a Sandal side that simply had no answer whenever the hosts made a clean break, and it all started within 60 seconds of the whistle.
Sandal fluffed the kick-off ball just outside their 22 and when the Blaydon half-backs moved it on from the scrum Dan Marshall put Frazer Wilson over in the corner, whilst spectators were still taking their seats.
Jamie Guy added the conversion and then added the extras again in the 6th minute after Marshall had scored a contender for ‘try of the season’. The centre set off on a mazy run from his own 22 weaving in and out of a bewildered defence, and not a hand had been laid on him when he touched down at the other end for a fantastic score.
And so the pattern of the game was set – Sandal coughing up possession and then parting like the Red Sea in the face off some slick Blaydon running.
Nathan Bailey started and then finished off the next score to make it 21-0 but in a rare attack full-back Jack Townend pulled one back for the visitors.
Matt Jenkinson then did a ‘Marshall’ when he intercepted and raced in from 50 metres for the try bonus point, and by the interval Marshall was in again, collecting his own chip ahead, and Sean Pyle had added a 6th right on the whistle.
Leading 31-7 at the break Blaydon were quickly back into their stride with Pyle crossing for his second 2 minutes after the restart. The hooker was then prominent in the build-up to a Guy Graham effort whilst prop forward David Lyall went in from a line-out drive following a high tackle.
Another penalty for a similar offence led to an almost farcial 10th try when Harry Borthwick took a quick tap and whist everyone stood still simply set off up-field to run 50 metres unchallenged.
Sandal scrum-half Bill Morecombe took advantage of a long pass to score a second for his side but basically it was one-way traffic and when Foreman broke from a scrum in the visitors 22 Graham strolled in for his second, with Foreman (4) and Nathan Horsfall (1) adding to the 2 earlier Guy conversions to complete a more than satisfactory result that takes Blaydon back up to 2nd place in the table.
John Brennan
Team News – Sandal Game
🔴⚫️TEAM NEWS🔴⚫️
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VS Sandal (Home) 2pm
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26-01-2019
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#pumpthecrow
From the Director’s Chair – Sandal Game
This last fortnight has been a rollercoaster of emotions for the 1st XV lads.
We ground out a 5 point result against Lymm 2 weeks ago, boys feeling it was an error riddled game. The sign of a strong team is playing poorly and winning. In the huddle afterwards emotions were mixed as we won but the performance was not up to our standard we demand from each other. We then get the great news that we moved into second spot with our rivals Billingham slipping up. We feel promotion is in our own hands.
We then have a hard fixture for both our 1s and 2s at Harrogate. The home fixture was a tight affair with their forwards really getting a role on and the backs being very capable. Unfortunately last Saturday was not our day and give credit where credit is due, they deserved the 5 points. They did their homework on our lineout denying us any clean ball. That was a first for the season as it has normally been exceptional. From that they gained vital field position and really pressurised us in that respect. When we got possession they attacked our breakdown well and we did not really get our normal expansive wide game up and running. With this loss we relinquish playoff spot.
From the Touchline – Sandal Game
We welcome today our visitors from Sandal, located on the edge of Wakefield. We lost there in October so now is the time to make amends. Whilst they have had poorer form recently, they have nevertheless in the last three games lost narrowly to Billingham, beaten Rossendale away, and last week lost narrowly to Wirral 28-31. Another close game is therefore expected and it is a pleasure to have their team and supporters with us today.
For our part following a reasonably comfortable win at home to Lymm we went to Harrogate with high expectations for both our 1s and Georgians teams but lost both games. Frankly we were 2nd best on the day and Harrogate deserved their 24-3 win. Let’s put that behind us and see what we can do today
The team bus stopped in Harrogate on the way back and we had a drink or two at Weatherspoons Winter Gardens pub, formally part of the Royal Baths – built so that visitors could relax and stroll in any weather.. During the 1920s, people could relax there, amid potted palms, listening to music from a grand piano. In the 1930s, the Municipal Orchestra played every morning throughout the year, with free admission for the patients of the baths. Nobody had a dip whilst we were there, but I for one enjoyed the experience. It really is a lovely town.
Disappointingly we have been advised that the game against the RAF on 13th March has been cancelled (they are playing a Junior team called Coventry on that date ! ) but we anticipate that they will fulfil their promise and come to Blaydon during the 2019/20 Season .
Money is always tight for us at this time of year, so if anyone can persuade a Sponsor to celebrate a game with his clients and staff at Crowtrees please let me know . They would be made very welcome
Finally we have produced a thorough Safeguarding policy concerning Youth players in particular which will be available on the Web site for all those interested. It is vital that we act in a professional manner to ensure our standards in all areas remain at the highest level
Our next game is on 9th February away to Billingham. Travel is by cars rather than a team bus, but I hope as many supporters as possible can be there for this important derby game
Bill Locke
Harrogate 24, Blaydon RFC 13
Blaydon give up second place with a loss away at Harrogate
Match report
Harrogate 24 Blaydon 13
After seven bonus point victories in the last eight games, Blaydon were given a reality check when a well organised home side completely dominated play scoring four tries in the process and Blaydon’s only try coming in the final two minutes after first half penalties from Jamie Guy made the score 14 – 6 at half time.
Blaydon opened brightly for the first ten minutes but failed to break down a resolute home defence and gradually the tide turned and hooker Aaron Yorke was driven over after several minutes of forward pressure for Nathan Wyman to add the first of his two conversions. Immediately after, Jamie Guy reduced the arrears with an easy penalty before Yorke and Wyman combined to add a further seven points. Guy’s second penalty made it 14 – 6 at the break however in the second half the pattern was the same with Blaydon failing to keep control of the ball when they could not penetrate the well organised home defence. At this stage, Blaydon’s only player of note was second row Harry Borthwick who several times led charges at the home defence but without support nothing was achieved. Midway through the half, the home side added a further two tries through second row Sam Brady and No. 8 Jonny Coser. Towards the end on a rare attack, Blaydon’s Captain Keith Laughlin went over near the corner for Jamie Guy to add the extras and give some respectability to the score.
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Jim Huxley
Harrogate v Blaydon RFC – Games on
Pitch inspection complete, both 1st & 2nd team games at Harrogate confirmed for today
#pumpthecrow
Blaydon RFC 33, Lymm RFC 18
Blaydon move into the playoff spot with a 5 point win, as Billingham lose at Ilkley
Another try bonus win for Blaydon that keeps them in contention in the top three but this was not one of their better days and they were somewhat flattered by the final score-line. Many a pass went astray and many an opportunity went begging, whilst the visitors belied their lowly position with a confident approach that saw them just 3 points adrift deep into the second period.
Lymm it was who scored first after an aggressive run from right wing Tom Baker had been halted only for a poor clearance to be handed onto second-row Aaron Rashid and a simple try.
Harry Borthwick led the Blaydon response with a length of the field break and when he was held up Dan Marshall went in under the posts. Jamie Guy converted that effort and was on target again when prop Darren Fearn crossed from close range to make it 14-5.
Lymm fly-half Scott Redfern grabbed a second for the visitors but good work by James Cooney who hung onto a sharp pass put Guy in for a 3rd Blaydon effort and added the extras himself, and 21-12 seemed a decent advantage.
Penalties just before and just after the interval by Nolan however reduced it to 3 points and that was how it stayed until late on when a mistake at either end could have influenced the result.
Fortunately for Blaydon flanker Guy Graham effectively settled the game when he stormed into the 22 and was heading for the line when brought down by a high tackle. The culprit, Lymm full-back Nolan, was yellow carded, the penalty kicked to the corner and possession whipped through the hands for Nathan Bailey to touch down in the far corner.
Now with an 8 point advantage Blaydon were able to breath more easily and in the final play Marshall raced in for his second and Guy landed his 4th conversion.
John Brennan
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Saturday 12th January – Team Selection for Lymm game
Blaydon RFC Vs Lymm RUFC
Kick Off 2pm
Location: Crowtrees
#Pumpthecrow
Lymm Team:
1. Gav Woods
2. Adam Bray
3. Matty Hand
4. Matty Connelly
5. Aaron Rasheed
6. Joe Watson
7. James Pitcher
8. Jake Ashall
9. Tom Shard
10. Scott Redfern
11. Tom baker
12. Ben Stansfield
13. Richard Halford
14. Ali Sutherland
15. Cormac Nolan
16. Jordan Widdrington
17. Rob Makin
18. James Lewis
Referee : Thomas Hurdley
Saturday 12th January – Blaydon V Lymm, From the Director’s Chair
Happy New Year.
Hope you all had a great Christmas break. Our last outing at home was a very tough contest versus local rivals Alnwick. In tricky conditions our lads played an exceptional brand of expansive hard running rugby against some big boys. After 80 mins we came out convincing winners through hard work not only on the day but throughout the last 6 weeks previously setting ourselves hard targets in training and in games.
Moving on to last week’s game at Hull after a well deserved rest, was going to be the toughest test of the season. We started the game exactly how we wanted with a early try from Jack Davidson’s hard running breaking a tackle and rounding the full back. Hull were always going to have their period in the game when they got their big pack rumbling and they did for 15 mins either side of the half. They scored a well constructed try through their powerful 12 but other than that did not threaten. Hulls experienced 10 slotted 3 pens after half time but other than that the game was evenly balanced. Blaydon’s pack then started dominating using their driving lineout creating sustained opportunities for Captain Keith Laughlin to put us right back in the game. Going into the last 10 mins 19-17 down we had full belief that we would come away with the win. Great impacts off the bench from Dan Taylor and Harry Borthwick moving the ball wider got our danger runners into the game and Borthwick breaking a tackle in our own half nearly went all the way. Two phases later a Blaydon walk in was only halted by an unfortunate handling error. Hull won but we could not of asked anymore from the lads. They gave everything and only lost by the smallest of margins.
We are still in the hunt and eager to chase down top spot, taking each game as it comes knowing we have to be at our best week in week out to achieve our end goal for the season supported by our fans.
Lymm today offer a different challenge but one equally as tough. We have to be focused for the full 80 mins and hopefully come away with the win.
Kaizen.