Kendal Team Selection
Date: Saturday 1st December
Venue: Crowtrees
Kick Off time: 2pm
Team Selection:
1st Team News
Tag Archive for: 1st Team News
From the Director’s Chair – Blaydon v Kendal
I would like to give a warm welcome to Kendal to the crow trees. Both teams come off hard fought victories. Kendal having edged a very hard fought battle against Wirral 8 points to 3, where as Blaydon travelled the long distance to Wilmslow. Another great first half from Blaydon saw us storm into a 26 point lead at half time. We have been working on performing for 20 minute periods and this was really shown in our recent performance against Ilkley at home and the first 20 last week. whether it was the long journey or just a determined mindset to play for a full 80 we fell off in the second half, eventually finishing the game 38-5 victors. 5 points in the bag in what could of been a banana skin fixture. Well done lads.
We are still looking for that 80 minute performance that we saw on the first day of the season and we are slowly building towards it, but Rome was not built in a day. Hopefully we can build on the last 2 weeks performances and get the right result versus a very hardened Kendal team.
I would also like to draw to your attention our game on the 15th versus Alnwick which sees us host our local rivals and is also Presidents day. It is always a great atmosphere and day all round so please make the effort to get down and cheer on the lads.
Kaizen
From the Touchline – Blaydon V Kendal – Sat 1st December
A very warm welcome to our guests Kendal today. It is some year’s since we last played them and indeed this is our 1st game against Cumbrian opposition this season as we travel to Kirkby Lonsdale next weekend.
Both Clubs take pride in their former player Mark Wilson and his recent sterling performances for England. Its great to see national Rugby writers slowly having to appreciate that he should have been playing for England earlier and won more caps despite “only” playing for Newcastle Falcons
Kendal are an ambitious team who have benefitted from an input of cash which has enabled them to complete a fine Clubhouse that we look forward to visiting at the end of March. They are not having the best of seasons so far being placed 12th in the League with 3 wins, but this includes a fine home win over Wirral 8-3 last weekend which they will be hoping inspires them today.
We travelled to Wilmslow last week with a few absentees but thanks to a fine hattrick by Jack Appleton won 38-5 in a comfortable manner. There will be no room for complacency today however and we expect another hard fought game if we are to progress up the League towards Billingham and Hull.
Last week’s shock was Vale of Lune beating Billingham for their 1st victory which again confirms that their are no certainties in this League. Meanwhile our former player Harry Bate continues to shine for Blackheath who now lead National !. Could they make the championship ?
Glad to be on a decent pitch today after all the rain in recent days. Lets hope for more running rugby.
See you in two weeks at the Xmas Lunch and at the following Alnwick game. Make an effort to get down and bring a friend with you
Bill Locke
Wilmslow 5 Blaydon 38
A first half hat-trick by winger Jack Appleton put Blaydon comfortably on the road to a 3rd consecutive victory but after racking up a 31 points lead made very little of their advantage in the second period.
Facing a Wilmslow side on an 8 match losing run the visitors stormed into a 10th minute lead when Appleton got possession from a flowing move and found himself confronted by 3 defenders but beat them all on route to the line, Jamie guy converting.
On 15 minutes the lead was doubled by centre Dan Marshall who intercepted on half-way to race clear and give Guy another simple conversion kick. Lots of forward pressure then led to a 3rd score, the move finished off by Appleton, who then crossed for his hat-trick and the bonus point try on 26 minutes when finishing off another smart handling movement that started in the Blaydon half.
Guy again added the extras and at the break it was 0-26 with the home side having made very little impact. Five minutes into the second half hooker Cameron Bell added a 5th try from a catch and drive but with the game effectively won by that point Blaydon seemingly lost concentration and wasted a number of scoring opportunities.
When the visitors lost possession on half-way Wilmslow took full advantage with their fly-half Brendan McCullum scoring a fine individual try to bring it back to 5-31 but Blaydon should have been much further ahead.
Nathan Bailey did secure a 6th Blaydon try when he finished off a move in which he had twice been involved, Guy landing his 4th conversion, to complete the scoring in what had been a disappointing second half.
John Brennan
Blaydon 36, Ilkley 10
Despite conceding a 3rd minute try Blaydon never remotely looked like losing and with a considerable advantage at both scrum and line-out went on to run-in 6 tries unopposed. Their Yorkshire visitors had a reasonable share of possession but ran most of it laterally and into the hands of a solid Blaydon defensive line, and more often than not were unable to guarantee their own ball at the set-pieces.
The home defence were however caught napping by an early Ilkley raid down the left, finished off nicely by left-wing Struan Connor, and took 5 minutes to respond. It came in the form of a line-out drive finished off by hooker Cameron Bell, and was then followed by 2 more first half efforts.
Jack Davidson stormed into the Ilkley 22 on 20 minutes, an infringement followed, Blaydon opted for the scrum and promptly drove the visitors backwards for Keith Laughlin to touch down and Jamie Guy add the extras.
Another prolonged attack saw the ball moved one way and then the other until a long pass went out to Frazer Wilson who charged the line to set up a score for Davidson and make it 17-5 at the break.
The pattern continued and 4 minutes into the second period Laughlin, who as usual was ‘everywhere’ in the loose led a line-out break only to be stopped short. Prop forward Anthony Harvey was next to attack the line but likewise was held up and finally centre Alex Clark went over near the posts for the bonus try, Guy converting.
Try No5 started typically started with the visitors being robbed of their scrum ball leading to much possession in the Ilkley 22, Matt Jenkinson held up over the line before Laughlin touched down for his second and 2 more points for Guy.
In the closing minutes Blaydon were still looking dangerous and when Wilson was given possession just outside the 22 the right-wing simply put his head down and charged full pelt at the visitors line and went over despite the attentions of 3 defenders.
Having done little else since the 3rd minute the visitors at least had the satisfaction of also having the last word when No8 Sam Waddington scored in the final play.
John Brennan
Saturday 17th November – Blaydon Team News
Blaydon V Ilkley
Kick Off 2pm
Team selection
From the Touchlne – Blaydon Vs Ilkley
Welcome back everyone after our short and restful break in which most of us no doubt enjoyed the Internationals on TV. The weekend was then naturally dominated by the Remembrance Services for our fallen heroes and in particular the Great War. If you look at the Memorials in both Swalwell and Blaydon it is drastic how many young men,and no doubt members of Blaydon Rugby Club, died in the two World Wars. How lucky are we to have benefitted from their sacrifices.
On a lighter note it is our privilege to welcome our visitors Ilkley Rugby Club to Crowtrees for what I believe is their first fixture against us. I do hope you enjoy your visit and we look forward to visiting you in March
Their Club was founded in 1899, although there are records of a rugby club in Ilkley much earlier than that time
At the turn of the century the Club played in the Yorkshire Division 1 league until gaining promotion to the North 2 East League in 2008. However life was difficult at the higher level and after two tough years the club was relegated back to Yorkshire Division 1 at the end of the 2009/10 season.
At the close of the 2013/14 season the Club Won the Yorkshire Shield as well as being promoted once again to the North 1 East League.
In 2006 efforts began to raise sufficient money to replace the old grandstand and clubhouse. It took four years of tremendous effort to get the cash together but in September 2010 a contract was signed to build a new clubhouse and changing rooms at an estimated cost of £1.6million. The new facilities opened in August 2011 and according to their webpage they have done a wonderful job and have facilities to be proud of. They currently stand mid table with 4 wins and 22 points, but only 7 points behind us, so a win today is as vital for us as ever to keep pressure on the teams at the top of the table
Many thanks to all the volunteers on Bonfire night which was a great success for the Club and much enjoyed by the many spectators.
Our next home game is Kendal on 1st December, which is Mark Wilson’s first club, followed by the derby match with Alnwick on 15th December, which is being sponsored by Penny Petroleum. On the 15th we are having our President’s and Past Players Xmas lunch beforehand, with details being sent via email and social media. Anyone not aware please email Linda Barlow on linda_barlow@hotmail.co.uk as spare seats are now in short supply.
Enjoy the game
Bill Locke
From the Director’s Chair – Blaydon Vs Ilkley
I would like to give a warm welcome to our visitors Ilkley for today’s home clash. We had a first team week off last week to rest the walking wounded but our second team had a big fixture against Novos. It was one of the strongest second teams Blaydon have been able to field for some time which shows the strength in depth we are now developing within this young squad. After a scrappy opening our boys settled in to our high tempo style of play really challenging the opposition and starting to run the try’s in. We ended up 81-0 winners, but the most pleasing thing for me was that we were ruthless enough to keep them scoreless. It was a job well done. Shame the England lads could not get the correct result but it just shows how tight the International games are these days. Everyone I spoke to had a differing opinion of the “was it a try or not” incident. But it really look like Eddie Jones and his team have got over their blip and are back on the road building for the World Cup. A special mention must go to old Blaydon boy Mark Wilson for 2 stunning performances for England and hopefully many more to come.
Blaydon recently experienced a similar blip losing 3 games in a row, but the boys reacted extremely well in our last home game versus Wirral. We started extremely well, straight out of the blocks with 3 well worked scores, two from Dan Marshall and another well worked team score finished off by Jack Appleton. Wirral then built in confidence with simple but effective play which piggy backed them up the field. They came back making a real game of it but we showed huge character to see the game off at the end with great team defence eventually winning 29-24. A win in the bag, a good confidence builder and a springboard for us pushing on until the Xmas break.
Hope you enjoy the game, then watch the international with us in the bar.
Kaizen
Blaydon 29 Wirral 24
Blaydon finally got back to winning ways but having made a blistering start to lead 26-3 gradually saw their lead whittled away and by the end it was down to a fragile 5 points.
With their backs running riot a try scoring bonus point was in the bag after just 18 minutes but by the interval the visitors had pulled back 2 tries and with a superior pack were threatening to turn it round.
Alex Clark burst into the Wirral 22 in the 3rd minute to hand on to Dan Marshall who zipped past a bewildered defence to touch down under the posts for the opening score with Jamie Guy adding the conversion. Six minutes later winger Frazer Wilson made a searing break leading to a short scrum from which Keith Laughlin broke off to send in Marshall for a second try with a neat diagonal run.
On 11 minutes lock-forward Jack Davidson went over from close range, Guy converting, to make it 19-0, three tries having been conjured from three attacks.
James Annetts landed a penalty for the visitors but Blaydon quickly secured their 4th try when they elected to run from their own line with some excellent passing for Jack Appleton to race in from 30 metres, and Guy once more on target.
And then the cracks began to appear with Wirral spending a long period in the home 22 culminating in a try for prop-forward Ryan Higginson on the half-hour. Blaydon were now regularly under the cosh in the scrums and leaked another try right on the interval, live-wire Wirral fly-half Annetts strolling through a massive gap and adding the extras himself to make it 26-17 at the break.
Guy extended the Blaydon lead with a 53rd minute penalty but the home side were no longer an attacking force, constantly finding themselves on the back foot mainly through failures to secure possession and then losing Dan Taylor to a yellow card.
Scenting victory the visitors piled on the pressure and were rewarded with a Matt Dalton try and Annetts conversion to narrow their deficit but Blaydon valiantly held on for a much needed win.
John Brennan