1st Team News
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Whilst the game may have been kicked off by Doncaster beneath a steely sky, the sun was soon going to shine on Blaydon RFC.
For the first 15 minutes the teams were evenly matched, which with Doncaster’s win over the league leaders the previous week in mind, bode well for Blaydon.
On 18 minutes Blaydon were awarded a penalty just inside the Doncaster half which Dan Marshall kicked nicely to the Doncaster 5 metre line. The lineout, which started well, the way it was to go on, was taken nicely by Turnbull, and after a brief maul, Ethan Clarke went over for his first of 4. The try was converted well, by the youngster, Rory Foster. Not soon after Doncaster had restarted, 2 minutes in fact, Blaydon were on the attack again, this time, that old stalwart Alex Clark, bursting through the defence and driving Blaydon up he pitch. The ball was passed out to Jack Appleton who happily obliged and scored the try. Once again converted by the safe kicking of Foster. 14-0 Blaydon.
Again, the game went into a period of evenly matched play, error count edging towards Doncaster, but after a Blaydon ruck, and after some excellent interplay between forwards and backs, Clark went over for his second out wide on 28 minutes. Despite a wonderful strike of the ball, it hit the post and the try went unconverted.
The first half ended 19-0 to Blaydon at half-time.
As the second was kicked off by Marshall, the sun really did begin to shine, both in reality, and metaphorically. Doncaster collected the ball and kicked it back towards the half-way line. Blaydon took possession from the line-out and great individual play from Lewis Williams saw him go over to make the score, once converted by the ever-reliable Foster, 26-0. Blaydon then went on the rampage, and it was as if Doncaster had thrown in the towel.
Tries from Alex Clark, two more from Ethan Clark, one each for John Clarkson and Kevin Slow, all converted by Rory Foster topped off a wonderful display.
Whilst Doncaster scored two consolation tries, late in the game, it had been a stern lesson for the away team.
Blaydon’s back row trio of Matty Jenkinson, Ollie Dynan and Ethan Clark were dominant in the loose, our tight 5 held its own in the scrum with Turnbull outstanding in the lineout. The handling in the backs looked well drilled, and our half-back combination of Clarkson and Marshall worked well.
It was great to see a young Blaydon side playing so well and so confidently.
Final Score Blaydon 59-12 Doncaster Phoenix
The Grey Crow
Match Report – Blaydon RFC V York RFC 9th December 2023
Slightly different conditions greeted both teams as they took to the pitch at Crowtrees. The reverse fixture, back in September, had seen the game played in a temperature of over 30 degrees. Today’s game also signified the half-way point in the 2023-24 campaign.
Blaydon got the game underway, kicking to York’s 22-metre line. York kicked the ball to touch, with Blaydon securing their first lineout. After a number of attacking phases, Blaydon got the ball over the half-way line, Blaydon gave a forward pass giving York the first scrum of the game. A pick-up and drive by York’s 8 resulted in a York penalty for a high tackle. The resulting kick gave York a lineout on Blaydon’s 10 metre line which Blaydon stole and Dynan drove well up-field. Unfortunately, a knock-on ended our boys progress giving York a scrum. Whilst the Blaydon scrum looked solid the awarded a penalty which York kicked into the Blaydon half. From the resulting lineout, Shackleton, the York Fly-Half, made great space, throwing an outrageous dummy, which even the crowd fell for, and ran in to score the first try on 8 minutes which he also went onto convert.
Blaydon restarted, and York received the ball and kicked it back mid-way. Blaydon secured their own lineout and carried the ball back into York’s half and Blaydon were awarded a penalty, which Gough kicked into touch. Lineout secured, Clarkson darted up the pitch. Another Blaydon penalty and another Blaydon lineout sees a slick handling move and young Forster, making his first team debut, dotted down for Blaydon’s first, and unfortunately, unconverted try.
Despite resolute defence by Blaydon’s tight five, and some good penetrative runs from the likes of Milkes and Dynan, the majority of the first half went York’s way. York’s set-piece worked well allowing their half-backs to combine and release their backs resulting in tries on both 23 and 26 minutes, both converted by Shackleton, who would go on to be Yorks’s man of the match, and, arguably difference in the teams.
At the break, the score stood at Blaydon 5 York 21.
York got the second half underway, with a wintery sun just starting to shine through, giving hope to the home crowds spirits. The resulting kick-off was secured by Barry and Blaydon took the ball back to the mid-way point before the Referee awarded a penalty to Blaydon for a high tackle, which was kicked to the York 22 metre line, to a fantastic attacking position. Unfortunately, despite making sure of our own line out, a handling mistake in mid-field gave York a scrum.
After an awful lot of back-and-forth play between both sides 22 metre lines, York found themselves with a penalty close to the Blaydon try line. Blaydon’s defence was incredibly impressive and seized upon a York error, ending up with our Red boys moving the ball back up-field and securing a line-out on the York 22 metre line. The line-out won, and the ruck was formed, Blaydon trundled over with Daz Fearns securing the try, duly converted by Gough with 56 minutes gone. At this point it looked like the fight back was on.
However, York had a different agenda, aiming to stay at the top of Regional 1 North East, and turned on the pressure. Eager for the bonus point score, and after some good phase play, they achieved that wish after 65 minutes, via Atkinson and converted by Shackleton.
Following the kick-off Blaydon exerted a good period of pressure, a yellow card for a York defender, and a well taken try by Coates on 73 minutes, unfortunately unconverted, made the score 17-28.
Unfortunately, one more well-constructed, and converted score, three minutes from time, ensured the win for York.
Final Score Blaydon 17 York 35
Blaydon V Sandal 18/11/2023
A beautiful autumnal afternoon greeted both teams as they ran onto the Crowtrees AGP surface. A perfect setting for what hopefully would be fast flowing rugby.
The previous three encounters had seen high scoring games, with Blaydon edging it two to one.
Dan Marshall got Blaydon underway with Sandal receiving the ball on the 20 metre line and taking it into a ruck. The ball soon found its way into the hands of Blaydon’s Milkes who made a darting run in the first minute taking the ball deep into the Sandal half before passing to Barry who took the ball to ground. Sandal managed to turn the ruck over and a kicking contest saw Blaydon with a lineout just outside the Sandal 20 metre line. The lineout resulted in a Blaydon penalty which Clarkson took quickly, putting the ball into Dynan’s hands who went over the line for Blaydon’s first score on 4 minutes, unconverted.
From the kick off Blaydon’s Coates cleared the ball up to half-way. A scrappy lineout saw the ball in Clarkson’s hands who made a clean break into the Sandal half only to be brought down by a last-ditch tap tackle. Sandal then gave away a penalty on their own 5 metre line, which Blaydon took quickly only to give away a penalty of their own for holding on, giving Sandal a chance to clear their lines.
The next 15 minutes saw the game played between both 20 metre lines with both the error and penalty count steadily increasing. From a lineout resulting from one of these penalties, slick Blaydon hands saw Appleton appear on his opposite wing and make ground into the opposition half which resulted in a Blaydon penalty which Marshall kicked to touch. The lineout was lost but a handling error by the Sandal lock saw the ball go back into touch. Again, Blaydon lost the ball from their lineout. Good defence and Blaydon won a penalty on their 10 metre line, which was cleared to half -way. The lineout was secured, and the ball moved to midfield where Blaydon were awarded a penalty which Marshall kicked to within 10 metres of the Sandal line. The lineout was secured, and the ball passed out to Dynan who broke and put the ball in Clarke’s hands who went over for Blaydon’s second try on 19 minutes, which Clarkson converted.
After a number of penalties following the restart, Blaydon moved the ball up-field with some great phase play and a deft kick over the defence by Marshall, resulting in a 5 metre scrum to Blaydon. From the scrum, the ball was moved wide, Marshall delayed a pass to Coates, wrong-footing the defender, Coates then popped the ball back to Marshall for a great try that went unconverted.
More penalties were exchanged, before Sandal decided to look to put points on the board with a penalty kick in front of the posts just before half time. H-T 17-3.
Sandal got us underway for the second half, which started pretty much in the same vein as the first, with entertaining runs along with penalties and turnovers from both sides.
After some attacking play Blaydon found themselves with a penalty midway in the Sandal half which Marshall kicked to touch. Blaydon then won a penalty from the resulting lineout and the Sandal 6 received a yellow card. Blaydon were subsequently awarded a series of penalties from reset scrums, but the penalty try was not forthcoming. After a frustrating number of resets, Blaydon’s Clarke picked up at the base and drove for the line, but Blaydon were held up. The resulting Sandal goal line dropout was caught by Blaydon’s Stamper who quickly got the ball along the backline to Dynan, who
danced past a couple of defenders to go in for his second score, which Clarkson successfully converted. Blaydon 24-3 Sandal.
After the Sandal restart, the Referee was again busy handing out penalties to either side. Blaydon even being marched back at one point for ill-discipline.
After some determined play, Sandal, scored a consolation try on 70 minutes by Stewart converted by Hodson. Shortly after, Blaydon then won a penalty in front of Sandal’s post which Clarkson kicked easily.
76 minutes saw the try of the game, Mikles and Appleton combined for a scintillating run down the left wing, with some wonderful interplay, resulting in Appleton having a clear run in to score Blaydon’s fifth try. A tough kick went unconverted.
Full time Blaydon 32, Sandal 10
Man of the Match – Ollie Dynan
The Grey Crow
We are delighted to announce that James Cooney has been named Club Captain ahead of the new season.
With over 150 1st XV appearances to his name James will play a major part on and off the pitch.
Join us in wishing James the best of luck for the season ahead!!
