A great game, that could have gone either way, played hard, physical but in good spirit, what an entertaining edge of the seat game right to that last whistle when Blaydon nearly won it with a break out of the 22, all in all, a great advertisement for Durham County Cup Rugby.

A game of 2 differing styles; Winlaton with a big pack and forward dominance, and Development with pace in both backs and forward that put fear into the Saxons every time they got the ball, but for a few decisions, some our own, it could have been very different, it was just a shame that someone had to lose and really hard to swallow that it was this bunch of lads. The youth with complete lack of fear to try anything from anywhere, the ability with the ball, the fitness and the never give up attitude on display in this team (with about 9 of this squad U20s) is a great sign for the future of Blaydon RFC.

We lost by a score to a team who knew their strength was big forwards and used them well, who continuously slowed the game down (can’t blame them for that!) and Blaydon with ball in hand looked capable of scoring from anywhere, just a shame we left a couple of trys out there, not capitalising on overlaps, a stray foot in touch when running a try in, penalised for what was a charge down, which instead of taking the conversion for what was a good score, we were back defending a penalty against, for a judged deliberate knock on from a Winlaton kick!!!!. To be fair to the officials, aside from yellow carding the wrong player in the first half and this decision. the officials did a good job on the day and helped make the game the spectacle it was.

It would be wrong to single anyone out, the whole squad contributed to what was a great effort and you were unlucky not to come away with the win, well done all.

Congratulations to Winton Saxons, enjoy the year, these lads will take the cup back from you next year.

Photos by Derek Turnbull:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/26086313@N08/albums/

 

Scorers
Trys: Jak 2, Max 1
Conv: Jak 3

 

Squad:

1 Damien Martinez
2 Oliver Williams
3 Jake Jobey (Scott Kelly)
4 Ewan Lowry
5 Will Daniels (Matt Johnson)
6 Rob Pyle
7 Jake Armstrong
8 Andrew Steinburg
9 Jak Tuck
10 Mark McCallan
11 Craig Oliver (Tom Allway)
12 Max Nellis
13 Damien Ameer-Beg (Capt)
14 Ewan Prichard
15 James Murray (Andrew Savory)
16 Cameron Richardson
17 Brett Hanratty
18 Scott Kelly
19 Matthew Johnson
20 Adam Tunrbull
21 Tom Allway
22 Andrew Savory

Great admiration to Consett 3rds, who came up against a very youthful Development side on the full size AGP, but although the referee offered to cut short the game they stayed with it to the end and scored 2 good trys, the whole game was played in great spirit.

 

Thanks to Derek for the photos 161 online at https://www.flickr.com/photos/26086313@N08/albums/with/72157706895656514

 

The Development side contain around 9 players under the age of 20, the speed and ability of these guys, added to some ‘older’ heads to contribute bags of experience was just too much for Consett 3s. There was so much pace in this side, both forwards and backs, Consett had no idea where the next line break was coming from. It was a very entertaining game for the crowd with some brilliant trys and played in brilliant spirit by Consett who were just up against a better side on the day, their Captain & team did the Consett club proud, it happens, we’ve all been on the wrong side of unmatched sides, you play, you shake hands, you drink in the bar and move on, all achieved. Our thanks also to Keith Oliver, Paul Winter and Ewan Lowry, all of whom played for Consett as they sustained injuries as the game came to a close.

Scorers:

Trys: Mark MacC 3, Craig Y, Dammo, Rob P, Damien A-B, Jak T, Ryan R, James M, Paddy, Savs, ??

Conv: Jak 4, James M 2, Mark Mac 1

 

Highs & Lows:

• Line speed and hits in defence were immense, especially around the edges of the mauls from the likes of Ewan, Rob, Jake and Dammo.
• Oliver, Paddy and Ewan from the forwards were everywhere, in attack  and defence
• Breaks came from everywhere, especially, Jak T, Mark Mac, Max, Craig Y, Ryan, then  Savs and James when they came on.
• David R got the ball out wide, rounded the winger, who had a lot more experience than him, (shall we say) and then somehow seemed to run around in a circle and managed to get himself tangled in his Zimmer frame and step out of play.
• Consett had no answer to Craig Y, Ryan or Mark Mac jinking runs
• Paddy secured good lineout ball
• James Murray was having a wingding time on the bench, first deciding he was injured and couldn’t play, declaring he couldn’t play 9, 10 or 15, then feeling left out as he was not starting (although he was part of the Bricks squad till their game was conceded)  so we put him on at 10 and then 9 in the 2nd half, it shut him up and he played well at both, as James does, possibly just experiencing the change of life, early…..
• Looked  like Jake broke his nose, but he was convinced it was just a bit blood and was only happy when he went back on
• Great break from Dammo thro from around halfway on the fullback, got to 22, with pace to burn idling in 1st gear on either side of him, too many options, fullback took him down, renamed ‘Dammo, won’t pass’
• Matt R crossed the try line but didn’t seem to want to put it down!
• Keith O went on for Consett, great sportsmanship, but shortly afterwards he was probably having 2nd thoughts as Ewan and Rob hit him as he received a looping pass, which set him up to get hit, ‘Oh Sh1te’ was heard, just before he was hit hard.
• Paul Winter went on for Consett in front row and him and Tom described the scrums as aggressive cuddling, not many smiles on the photos from them, too busy preparing for the cuddle!
• Savs made a great break from own 22 and slowed up to let James M catch up, to run it in from 22 and score…
• Ewan Lowry went on for Consett and immediately ran over the top of Damien A-B, but lost the ball with the line beckoning.
• Adam came on, went for glory near the line, but knocked on

 

Great display from a very talented, with Winlaton 2s beating Sunderland 2s in the other leg, its sets up a local derby for the final, date still to be agreed.

 

1.  Damien Martinez
2.  Oliver Williams
3.  Brett Hanratty
4.  Ewan Lowry
5.  Matthew Johnson
6.  Rob Pyle
7.  Jake Armstrong
8.  Paddy Cooper
9.  Jak Tuck
10.  Mark MacCallan
11.  Craig Youngmn
12.  Max Nellis
13.  Damien Ameer-Beg (Capt)
14.  David Reay
15. Ryan Robson
16.  Cameron Richardson
17.  Tom Hirst
18.  Paul Winter
19.  Adam Turnbull
20.  James Murray
21. Matt Robertson
22.  Andrew Savory