1st Team News

Tag Archive for: 1st Team News

Saturday 12th January – Blaydon V Lymm, From the Touchline

If its not too late a Happy New Year to everyone and a welcome to our first home game of 2019 versus Lymm.

We visited their ground in late September and won 26-13. They are located in the attractive Cheshire countryside and are a welcoming social club who attract the majority of their players from the immediate locality. They have a private gym next to their Clubhouse but that’s where their similarity with Swalwell ends. We welcome their team and supporters today and hope that their player /coach, Andy Davies, a former Blaydon scrum half, is able to attend as he missed the last game with flu and I understand that he may now have an injury. It would be nice to see him again at Crowtrees.
Last weekend we were most unfortunate not to win at the League leaders Hull with an excusable knock on at the final whistle which would otherwise have won us the game after a fine performance from the team and a deserved opposition Man of the Match vote going to Matthew Jenkinson. That win gives Hull some breathing space but we must remain hard on the heels of Billingham if we are to achieve at least a play off position at the end of the Season
Congratulations also go to our Georgians team for their fine win against Darlington Mowden Park.
Both Northumberland and Durham County’s Clubs are to debate the RFU proposal that teams with strong 2nd teams be able to enter lower leagues and play against other Clubs 1st teams on a regular basis within a League. Blaydon, DMP, Billingham etc are all for it as this will provide regular and competitive rugby to our 2nd team. However it appears that those clubs already struggling in lower leagues are against any such proposal as they fear for their 1st team future. We shall see, but we need to encourage competitive rugby, and reduce the number of games being cancelled already at 2nd team level because of potential mismatches.
Sorry to see the Falcons take a bit of a battering against Harlequins last week and we all hope they start to pick up points after the European games
Lets hope for another good game today
Bill Locke

Hull RUFC 16, Blaydon 14 – Blaydon secure a losing bonus point at Hull RUFC

North Premier league 2nd place still a possibility for Blaydon.

  • Blaydon lose at Hull RUFC but secure a bonus point for points difference being less than 7
  • Billingham win at Sandal but don’t secure try bonus point., so their lead is 4 points.
  • Billingham still have to play Hull RUFC on 6th April
  • Blaydon go to Billingham on the 9th February.

It’s not just about these games, there are good sides in this league that will have a say in 2nd place, but It does look like the race for 2nd will go all the way to end of the season.

Get behind the team

#pumpthecrow

Match report: Hull  16   Blaydon  14

 
Blaydon travelled to league leaders Hull for their first game in 2019 and went mightily close to reversing the narrow defeat they had suffered in the earlier meeting at Crow Trees. The home side took the field on the back of a 13 match winning sequence but were rocked by conceding a first minute try and at the whistle were hanging onto a 2 point advantage with Blaydon hammering away at their try line.
Overall Hull just about deserved their win on the balance of play but this was an impressive performance by Blaydon who were on top for some long spells.
Hull kicked off and immediately found themselves 7 points adrift when Blaydon caught the ball and moved it quickly through the hands and up to the home 22 where Jack Davidson was given possession, the second row forward outstripping the cover defence to touch down and make it a sensational start. Fly half Jamie Guy landed the conversion and no Hull player had yet touched the ball.
When the home side did get going considerable pressure was applied in the Blaydon 22 and the scores were levelled when Hull winger Keane Naylor was bundled over the line and influential fly-half Simon Humberstone added the extras.
Blaydon were almost in again when Harry Borthwick went clear only to be recalled for a forward pass but then some tremendous defence was needed to keep out the Hull forwards who were encamped in the 22.
By the interval Humberstone had edged Hull in front by 10 points to 7 with his second penalty, and was on target again in the 58th minute. Despite all the Hull pressure however their line breaks had been few and far between and going into the final quarter Blaydon were becoming the dominant force.
With the visitors in charge at the line-outs and the more positive in the loose a second try was secured when Guy kicked a penalty to the corner. Good possession was driven on by the pack and skipper Keith Laughlin rumbled over to make it 13-12 with Guy then kicking Blaydon into the lead.
Inevitably it seemed yet another Humberstone penalty gave the advantage back to Hull but it was the visitors who were closest to scoring in the final minutes.
 
John Brennan

 

Saturday 5th January – Blaydon first Team Selection for game with Hull RUFC

 

Location: Away Hull Sports Centre

kO Time: 2pm

 

#pumpthecrow

Blaydon 47, Alnwick 22

1234567891011121314151617
Blaydon ended the year with a convincing 7 try win over Northumberland visitors Alnwick that keeps them in contention near the top of the table. A brace of tries each for Hugh Mongan and Guy Graham provided the bulk of the scoring with Blaydon generally on top, although the opposition played their part and also picked up a try bonus point.
Skipper Keith Laughlin got the ball rolling when he touched down in the 4th minute and was quickly by Mongan who finished off some excellent interplay between backs and forwards.
Alnwick then hit back through John Bird and Paul Moralee who scored wide out, but Blaydon’s 3rd was secured when flanker Guy Graham went in under the posts and by the interval Jack Davidson had put the seal on a fine break by Alex Clarke.
Alnwick added to their total soon after the re-start when Bird grabbed his second but the half again belonged to Blaydon who were quick to snuff out any further attacks. Graham crossed for his second and  more pressure resulted in a penalty try before Mongan came in off his wing to score the 7th under the posts with Jamie Guy completing the home scoring with his 5th successful conversion.
With the game in the bag it was left to Alnwick to achieve their bonus with a stylish effort by Sean Hutchinson in the dying seconds.
John Brennan
Virus-free. www.avast.com

 

 

 

1st XV Rugby News

Saturday 15th December – 1st Team Selection for Alnwick game

Blaydon v Alnwick

Kick Off 2pm

Location: Home @ Crowtrees

Late change: Ash Friel comes in for Nathan Horsfall on the bench

#pumpthecrow

Full list of North Premier Fixtures

 

matt thompson

Saturday 15th December – From the Director’s Chair

Good Afternoon everyone and hope you are all having an enjoyable build up to Christmas. I would firstly like to thank Bill Locke for hosting The Presidents Lunch and hopefully we will all have a great day after a entertaining game of rugby.

The last 2 weeks have been a real test for Blaydon 1st xv in tricky conditions against some tough opposition. We firstly came up against Kendal in a rainy miserable day which perhaps was not best suited to our open rugby style of play. Even in these freezing wet conditions our boys still wanted to move the ball around and play their brand of rugby. Possibly the only difference was we did this much more in the oppositions territory rather from deep in our own half. Credit to the boys, they executed the game plan well, kicking for territory, turning the opposition and pressurising them hugely at Lineout time and with a formidable kick chase. This made Kendal make errors in their own half which we capitalised on, keeping possession for numerous phases and wearing the opponents down coming away with a convincing 31-15 bonus point win. This really pleased all the coaches because we showed real discipline to perform an unfamiliar game plan to a high level.
If we thought the weather was bad the week before, we had not yet seen what was waiting ahead for us at Kirkby Lonsdale. Welcome to a typical Cumbrian winters day. A day that could of been a potential loss for us was far from it. The lads were amazing and we could not of asked for more. All 18 players demanded hardwork, determination and generally putting your heads where most people would not put there hands. In horrendous conditions we beat Kirkby in every aspect of play from tactical kicking, to smashing defence, to unbelievably good ball handling with minimal errors. Six tries to nil and coming out 36-0 victors. The best performance from a Blaydon team in a long time. Kirkby aftermatch speaker saying they had not come up against a team like that in years, not been nilled at home in forever and a special mention to Alex Clark with 2 simply brilliant solo efforts. Well done lads.
I personally hope we can replicate these last performances today versus Alnwick and send the Blaydon faithful home for Xmas with smiles on there faces and 5 points in the bag.

Kaizen

Saturday 15th December – From the Touchline

So we are now half way through the season and start to replay our opposition. It is our pleasure therefore to welcome our friends Alnwick from Northumberland for what will be their first visit here for some years after being a regular fixture in pre league times. We had a difficult and hard fought victory at their home in early September and they will look today to gain their revenge with a victory against us. They have had a varied season so far but with 7 wins from 12 games are probably reasonably content with their overall form after their promotion to this league. We welcome their team and supporters and trust they enjoy their day at Crowtrees.
Last weekend saw us visit Kirkby Lonsdale for the first ever fixture between our Clubs, and after a day of incessant rain throughout the match secured a fine 36-0 victory. It was a happy bus on the way home with Blaydon Races ringing from Andrew Richardson’s music machine as we entered Swalwell
At this half way point we lie only one point behind second place Billingham, with the leaders Hull to be played at their ground in our first match in January. We have a regular away support now and it is a pleasure to have a strong group of supporting parents with us as well at every ground we visit.
The Christmas rest period will be well appreciated by the players of all sides as injuries continue to mount due to the intensity of the game that is now being played and our 1st team squad are no different but with strong competition within the squad and four consecutive victories Matt and the team are on a good run. Let’s hope it continues today.
I am grateful for an excellent attendance at our Xmas President’s Lunch today and particular thanks and a warm welcome go to our Match Sponsor Penny Petroleum and their guests. It is also a pleasure to have Smithy, or Ian Smith to some, with us today, the BBC Rugby commentator who does so much to promote Rugby in the North East. He has confirmed that our game today will be included on Sports Extra on Sunday and BBC Newcastle We also have tables from our past players, youth teams and parents and the Club will be buzzing once again.
We were surprised and delighted to see our past President and character Peter Graham at our Wilmslow game. He advised that he hasn’t come into more money and moved to that part of Manchester but had commuted from his home in Sri Lanka to see us !
Finally it only remains for me to wish all attendees a Merry Xmas and Happy New Year from all at Blaydon Rugby Club. We look forward to another exciting year and to welcome everyone back again.

Bill Locke

 

 
Blaydon had little difficulty in registering a 5th successive victory, dominating from start to finish and scoring 6 tries in the process whilst denying the home side a single score.
They were on the front foot from the kick-off and after a number of attempts to cross the line had been thwarted ran in their first try when Nathan Bailey collected a poor clearance. The full-back made progress into the 22, moved it on to Nathan Horsfall and was then on hand to take a return pass and touch down, James Guy adding the conversion.
Ten minutes later Kirkby were hit with a replica score, Horsfall and Bailey again combining with the same outcome and Guy once more on target.
The home side  then held out for the remainder of the half which ended with the score at 0-14 but had little by way of territory and possession after the break despite Blaydon now facing the severe elements.
Try No3 was secured when Keith Laughlin picked up a loose ball near to his own line and moved it onto Horsfall who in turn released James Cooney on the 22 metre line, the centre  taking off at pace and racing 70 metres for a superb score.
At this point both sides lost a player to the sin-bin but Blaydon wisely moved a back into the forwards to retain their domination and run-in 3 more tries.
Alex Clark finished off a flowing movement and then from some excellent interplay between backs and forwards front-rower Anthony Harvey drove over from close range.
In the closing minutes the scoring was completed when Bailey made a decisive break to release wing-forward Rob Lenderyou and from his pass Clark crossed for a second time, Guy landing a 3rd successful conversion to put the seal on what had been a more than comfortable win.
 
John Brennan
1st XV Rugby News

Team Selection for Kirkby Lonsdale

Kick Off Time:               2pm
Game Location:            Away, at Underlay Park

Blaydon 31 Kendal 15

 
The visitors proved to be a bigger stumbling block than their league position might have suggested, 3rd top versus 3rd bottom, and it took Blaydon deep into the second period to finally assert some authority. The visitors were lively throughout and a number of solo breaks kept Blaydon on their toes but ultimately they only had themselves to blame as the home side ran in a couple of tries on both occasions when they were facing 14 men.
Blaydon were caught napping in the 8th minute when Steve Nelson and Kirk Chettleburgh easily penetrated the home defence to send in fly-half Nathan McCloy who also added the conversion.
On 20 minutes the home side hit back with a tap penalty move that took them over the try line but unable to ground the ball and from a line-out prop forward Anthony Harvey squeezed over. Chettleburgh was yellow carded for his part in that action and Blaydon were soon in front when a long pass out gave Jack Appleton a simple score.
A McCloy penalty made it 10-10 at the break but in the 46th minute Kendal lost a second player to the ‘naughty step’, Chris Downham for a flying tackle, and from some constant pressure on the visitors line Blaydon skipper Keith Laughlin dived in to secure try No3, James Guy converting.
With the dust not yet settled Blaydon broke quickly down the right through James Cooney, play was switched to the left and with the visitors defence wide open Guy Graham strolled in for the bonus point try, Guy again on target.
There then followed a severe battering of the Kendal line with seemingly everyone having a go until Laughlin was sent in under the posts for his second, Guy completing the Blaydon scoring at 31-10 with his 3rd conversion.
The game was now virtually wrapped up but the visitors were still going forward in the closing minutes and were rewarded when replacement Jack Lashley broke off from a line-out drive to score in the corner.
John Brennan
Virus-free. www.avast.com