A valiant effort from the Bricks team on the day, who again just ran out of bodies, didn’t have the subs to take off the walking wounded and/or inject fresh legs when needed. Winlaton went from struggling to run a side, to come up with a squad of around 23, such is the rivalry between the two clubs, everyone turned out to look to beat the Bricks.

Winlaton Photos: Some very good photos posted Paul Hopps, look out for Anth taking down Rodders, shame he didnt get the tackle by Harry.   http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/winlatonvulcans/photos/vulcans-v-blaydon-17-10-2015-623653.html

 

Blaydon Photos: sorry omly circa 40,  got too wrapped up in the game to game, again. We really need a photographer for the Bricks (camera available to use)  https://www.flickr.com/photos/26086313%40N08/collections/

It was a typical game game of 2 halves, with Winlaton playing up the hill first, conceding 3 trys and attacking the second half down the hill. Winlaton used rolling subs well to rest some of their big men and bring them back in the later stages of the second half, down the hill, when the Bricks were trying to hold onto the lead.

It could and should have been very different:
• if the referee had been better placed he would have seen Harry score in the corner coming off the back of a ruck, but he can only give what he can see
• for a second key game we lost our flyhalf Coatsey, at the time our back division were running great lines and breaking the gain line at will. Thacks stepped in and did a sterling job, as ever, h would be the first to admit, he doesn’t have the pace that Coatsey has to create an attack from anywhere.
• we had a couple of situations where simple hands would have worked the overlaps, but either the ball was kicked, miss passes lost the overlap or the ball was dropped on the day
• we had key cry offs late on, which left us short of players
The result was we dropped points in this league game and will have been knocked off the top of the league by Northern Panthers.

The Saxons game plan was predictable, but effective, catch and drive from the line out and a rolling maul which they used to make good yards, Blaydon defence was resolute especially around the try line and stopped wave after wave of attack. Winlaton backs were nullified by the Bricks back’s defence and they made little yards with ball in hand.

So another close game with the Saxons, who pressurised us until the final whistle, in the end it was a draw, not loss, but it’s lost points in the league title race.

Our injury list grew with injuries to Coatsey and Thacks, both out now, to add to already sizable list of; Adam, Cliff, Finnas, Horse, Joe, Richard, Savs, Windy and GB and Ryan working most Saturdays now, means we are down to minimum numbers to still maintain our fixtures.

Next weekend sees us come up against Northern Panthers at Crowtrees, who narrowly beat us earlier in the season, it will be another tuff game and we are going to need bodies, as last time they had a squad of about 25 players.

1. Brett
2. Craig McBurine
3. Big lad
4. Steve Sewell
5. Keith
6. Strachs
7. Ian Bennie
8. Harry
9. Stu Reay.
10. Chris Coates (Thacks)
11. Liam.
12. Thacks (Chester)
13. Divers
14. Paul Dingley (Anth)
15. Hopey

England may be out,  they remains some great rugby to come, come follow the home nations; Ireland, Scotland and Wales, while we admire the level of ability of the Southern hemisphere. Rugby, Rugby, Rugby…….. get-in

The Quarter finals have thrown up some great encounters this coming weekend. Come join us to watch the games.

This week reserved tables and food is NZ cuisine to aline with the Saturday late game, order here.

All welcome public bar.

Also below more details of plans for the final, watch this space:

 

 

With Saturday designated a RWC weekend we were asked to avoid fixtures on Saturday 3rd October to support the competition, which we did and Morpeth came up with the idea of playing on the Friday night, hats off to them, what a great suggestion. I sent out the text on previous Sunday to see what sort of team we would get out and, to my surprise, just about every one of the squad came back available, it was like putting a text out for a cup match…. we had 10 subs, even with late cry offs

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/26086313%40N08/collections/
Scores:
Trys: Divers 2
Conv. Hopey 1
Pen Hopey 1
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It was a perfect night for rugby, we had a good crowd to watch and they were entertained by a cracking game from two balanced sides, both with good squads and full commitment from all players to the game, it was close and, in reality a draw would have been a fairer result given the performances from both sides, well done to Morpeth Stags, they won’t lose many league games this season with that squad.
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We had a number of people making a first appearance of the season:
• Mark Todd home from sea played well, tackling, lineout and at second row and back row, he missed out on his Brick’s Black shirt (5 appearances in a season) last season and wants to achieve it this year.
• Rob Pyle whose back from injury from last season and couldn’t play for the Development on Saturday, turned out (another one who just missed out on his shirt last season and year before) and we moved him from normally playing in the backs, into the backrow where he was yellow carded for tackling too quickly….
• Davy Lowes (Lowsey) made a come back from his retirement from rugby, to focus on playing football, playing in the centre in the 2nd half
• Finnas and Ryan, who have been working Saturdays were both available, giving us a strong front row presence, as GB was available as well.
• Gerry even made himself available, another one working every Saturday
• We have a new playing member, John, who had not played since playing for his regiment a few years ago, he was to start 2nd half, I named the team, we took the pitch and realised we had 14 men, (he had been called away) I must pay better attention and improve my counting..
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Highs & Lows:
• We had a complete second set of backs and we changed the whole back division at half time, Craig going back on when we notice we only had 14 men on the pitch.
• This was 2 experienced sides with loads of talent and some good young players with pace, difficult to single out individual performances, they were so many good ones, let’s mention the young (Colt) Morpeth 15, he used the ball kicked to him well, with some great running lines and bags of pace.
• Divers took his two scores well, but we still haven’t seen the jugs from his hat trick, from a couple of games ago.
• Turnover ball to Morpeth with us attacking in their 22, they kicked ahead and foot race with Phil (60+) and Thacks (no-where near 60, so we’re told) to secure the ball before Morpeth get to it, Phil wins the foot race, it was mentioned to Thacks consistently after game, but he insists he let Phil get to the ball first and stood ready for the off load, it would have been a forward pass, in everyone else’s view.
• Finnas and Ryan trying to persuade the Bricks to train on a Thursday, they were out of breath due to this being their first game, but they wasted a lot more trying to persuade likes of Keith to train….
Next weekend was designated a RWC weekend with a break in league fixtures, but given the result on Saturday, we will get a game and still be in the bar to talk about what could have been, if England had got through the Pool round.

1. Ryan   (Scott)
2. Keith W. (Criag McBurnie)
3. Paul W
4. Mark Todd. (Cliff)
5. Windy.
6. Strachs (Mark Todd)
7. Ian Bennie. (Rob Pyle)
8. Harry.
9. Stu Reay. (Gerry)
10. Chris Coates. (Joe)
11. Liam. (John Hood)
12. Chester. (Thacks)
13. Phil Divers (Lowsey)
14 Craig Barlow (Damien)
15 Hopey (Phil Rayson)

First Team home game against Flyde RFC
Arrive 12.00 For 12.30pm

Two Course Lunch – Match Entry for Flyde Game – Match Programme
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Price:

• £22 Non Members
• £18 Members
• £15 Season Ticket Holders

Please contact Jim Huxley to book your place