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news
| • MEL'S BUYING ON SATURDAY |
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| Date: |
08.03.2010 - 16:01 |
| Author: |
EagleEye |
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Message from Mel Hanley
I and the Coaching Team would like to thank the lads who have made 4 long journeys during the past 5 weeks. These coming about due to postponements in December and January.
Some players have made all those trips and can’t be thanked enough. Even 3 out of 4 is a big ask, so well done to all the lads who have given their time to keep the Black Red bandwagon rolling.
The latest journey and our longest to New Brighton was a 5.5 hour nightmare; involving a 2 hour delay on the M6 hard shoulder awaiting a puncture repair. Thanks should also go to an unknown Polish juggernaut driver, who with great skill avoid Norman Reilly and I as we slowed our vehicle down to assist the stranded Reay’s coach.
Despite the hardships of the journey we put in one of our best performances of the season.
May I also confirm that the rearranged Broughton Park date is 3/4/10 and Leigh on 24/4/10. Hopefully, two sunny days when we can get the barbeque started and look forward to some long, hot summer days.
It is now looking more likely that our Cumbria Cup tie with Workington will be on the original date of 17th April; however before booking your hotel please await confirmation.
Mel
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| • NEW BRIGHTON: A JUNCTION TO FAR |
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| Date: |
08.03.2010 - 09:20 |
| Author: |
EagleEye |
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New Brighton 25 : 15 Aspatria
The Black Reds endured a nightmare journey to the Wirral. The trip took near 6 hours to complete following a breakdown on the M6. The game finally kicked off at 4.30 pm, under the New Brighton lights.
The exhausting journey did not appear to have a major impact on Aspatria who started brightly. Steve Moss at fullback had two darting runs in the first few minutes to signal an attacking intent. New Brighton had the first opportunity to open the scoring on 8 minutes. Aspatria conceded a penalty near enough in front of their own posts. Instead of taking an easy 3 points the New Brighton pack opted to try and muscle the ball over the line. The Black Red defence held and after holding off some ferocious attacks an opportunity arose to clear the ball up field.
As the half progressed, Aspatria were every bit a match for the home side. Both missed long range penalty attempts as they clawed for some advantage. A full half hour had passed before Aspatria opened the scoring through a Kristian Borthwick penalty. The penalty was awarded as New Brighton desperately tried to slow down a Black Red assault and in the process their influential captain Kati Tuipulotu was sin binned.
Aspatria’s numerical advantage would be brief. With minutes left to half time two Aspatria men walked to the bin. First up was centre,  Heinie Jonker for illegal entry to the ruck and a minute later he was followed by Steve Moss for a late challenge. New Brighton punished both offences with successful penalties to take a 6:3 lead into the second half.
The second period started with New Brighton at full strength facing the 13 men of Aspatria. They were on the attack immediately and were quick to take advantage. On 4 minutes the home forwards mauled to near the Aspatria line and after sucking in the defence released the ball to the back line for an unopposed run to the line. The gap opened to 11:3.
Even back to 15 men, Aspatria were finding it difficult to hold New Brighton and they fell further behind on 12 minutes when again the home back line out paced a stuttering defence. The grounding of the ball looked dubious but the referee did not agree and the score moved out to 18:3 with New Brighton looking comfortable. It was a comfort that did not last long as Aspatria came roaring back into the game with a score of rare quality. On 25 minutes the impressive Moss fielded the ball close to the Aspatria try line. The full back shaped to kick but this was a simple ruse to wrong foot the approaching New Brighton chasers. He then set off on a trade mark gallop that took him past six missed tackles and well into New Brighton territory. The ball was off loaded to centre, Steven Douglas who made ground and chipped ahead. Enter fellow centre, Jonker who plucked the ball from the turf and charged 15 meters for the score of the season.
With the deficit now 18:8 Aspatria were back in the game but simply could not get the score that might have given them hope. As the game moved into the final 10 minutes further controversy ensued. New Brighton mauled the ball over the Aspatria line; no doubt about that. Aspatria felt the ball was held up but for a second time the referee did not agree and awarded the score. At 25:8 the game was finished but not Aspatria. With one last effort the magnificent Black Red pack, with second row Norman Reilly prominent bludgeoned the ball into the home 22 and earned a penalty. No time for an attempt at goal so the ball was sent to the corner for an Aspatria line out. The pack secured the ball and moved towards the New Brighton line to allow back rower, Jacques Rowe to crash over. Jack Clegg converted from the touchline to bring the score back to 25:15.
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| Date: |
05.03.2010 - 12:17 |
| Author: |
EagleEye |
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Games on Saturday February 20th & 27th 2010
Apologies for the omission of a report last week. The shock of Northwich's adverse result at Vale of Lune causing writers block..
The last two weeks results were a truely mixed bag. Vale of Lune scored 8 points on both Saturdays and beat Northwich but lost to Lymm. Tyldesley beat Sandbach but then went down to near neighbours Leigh. Our leaders Lymm were given a decent game at Aspatria but won both this game and the match at Vale of Lune.
LSH won at Blackburn but their game at Northwich was postponed due to waterlogging.
Altrincham Kersal defeated New Brighton last week but lost their local derby at Broughton Park who played themselves back into the runners-up reckoning with two wins. Wilmslow did well to beat Burnage but were unable to overcome New Brighton up on the Wirral. This was a win that New Brighton needed after sliding down the table in recent weeks. Aspatria go bottom after losing at Blackburn who will be cheered by finally breaking their duck after a difficult season on & off the field.
Lymm are now 6 points clear of their nearest challengers but the adverse results by Northwich and Altrincham Kersal sees these two and Liverpool St Helens joined by Broughton Park with just 2 points covering the four of them. In matches left between these 4 Northwich still have to play away games at AK, Lymm and Broughton Park as well as the LSH game at home. LSH have nearly all away fixtures left but play Broughton Park at home this coming Saturday. Broughton Park entertain both Lymm & Northwich in the run-in. Altrincham Kersal have home games against Northwich and LSH but they look to have the best fixture list remaining with 7 games to play and should clinch the runners-up spot sometime near to the end of April. That said, there is a lot of water to go under the bridge and a lot of upsets still to come before we reach that position.
Aspatria and Blackburn look doomed and Tyldesley, despite sterling efforts of late, have a 5 point gap to close on New Brighton that looks almost impossible to bridge.
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| Date: |
28.02.2010 - 13:37 |
| Author: |
EagleEye |
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Blackburn 15 : 10 Aspatria
This battle for the league’s wooden spoon was no less committed than if the championship itself was at stake. Unfortunately, the desperation both sides clearly felt resulted in a game of low quality, providing damming evidence as to why the combatives are well adrift at the foot of the table.
In the first half Aspatria had the advantage of a stiff breeze blowing straight down the pitch. In the early stages of the game they used the conditions well both in attack and defence. First blood came on 8 minutes. Blackburn had defended a succession of attacks but their solid defence was unpicked by an accurate chip kick into the home dead ball area by scrum half, Jack Clegg, there seem no immediate danger but the home full back allowed the ball to bounce away from him and Aspatria back row, Jacques Rowe was first to react, diving on the ball to score. Steven Stoddart converted from wide out to give the Black Reds a deserved 7 point lead.
On 11 minutes it was Stoddart who increased the visitor’s advantage with a drop goal from 30 meters. At this stage Aspatria were clearly dominant and they would later regret not turning a clear superiority into points.
As the half progressed, Blackburn urged on by a sizeable crowd gradually clawed their way back into contention. Several times Aspatria would be glad of the breeze in their favour as Stoddart cleared hard pressed defensive lines with some towering kicks. It was perhaps justice that Blackburn broke through as a result of such a kick. On 21 minutes Stoddart cleared the ball from the Aspatria try line to near half way. The Aspatria chase was not good allowing Blackburn a quick throw in. The home backline quickly reformed to take advantage of this possession and move the ball across the pitch. The Aspatria defence simply did not react allowing the Blackburn wing man to finish a well executed move in the corner. Against the breeze the touchline conversion was missed.
The home side continued to press but for the most part the Aspatria defence was comfortable. Blackburn’s only reward for constant pressure was a penalty on 32 minutes, bringing the score back to 8-10 where it remained until half time.
The first half had been littered with handling and technical errors. Both teams seemed to have a determination to mess up any possession that came their way. There was nothing wrong with the commitment of either team; this was a full bloodied affair but the catalogue of errors was hard to watch. Regrettably, this pattern was about to continue for the next 40 minutes.
Blackburn now had the advantage of the breeze and used it to pen Aspatria back in their own half for long periods. Over the 40 minutes Blackburn had the lion’s share of possession but looked unable to string more than 3 or 4 phases of play together and constantly let the visitors off the hook when scores looked likely. Aspatria struggled to get hold of the ball and when they did they invariably had little shape or ambition to trouble their hosts. Blackburn, achieved one moment of quality on 20 minutes. From a penalty close to the Aspatria line a scrum was called and the ball moved quickly wide. This looked a well rehearsed move with the home standoff running an excellent line back towards the Aspatria pack. Tackles were missed and the try scored. Aspatria might have pointed to a line out minutes earlier from which Blackburn obtained their field position. The referee awarded the home side a penalty that most observers felt should have gone the other way. This proved to be the only score of the half allowing Blackburn to emerge with their first victory of the season 15-10.
Mark Bowe was adjudged Aspatria’s man of the match for his tackling stint and go forward attitude
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| Date: |
26.02.2010 - 13:20 |
| Author: |
EagleEye |
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Rugby Times today reported that Sale Sharks are looking to prise Rob away from the Falcons where Steve Bates has limited his chances to play. If the Sharks fail then it seems that both Wasps and Bath are waiting in the wings should Rob decide to exit the North East.
Rob below with Lee and Our Mark
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| Date: |
25.02.2010 - 18:37 |
| Author: |
EagleEye |
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| Date: |
23.02.2010 - 16:58 |
| Author: |
EagleEye |
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| Cumbria Rugby's annual Floodlit U23s tournament will take place at Bower Park on Wednesday March 10th. This will be a quick fire competition kicking off at 6.30 pm |
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| Date: |
23.02.2010 - 10:06 |
| Author: |
EagleEye |
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The club's search for a Cricket Captain is over following the appointment of Colin Noble. The club will be preparing a match strip in early May and hope to play a series of friendly 15/15 games against local opponents. As usual the games will be followed by a family BBQ and where possible timed to coincide with televised sporting events eg World Cup, England Tour Down Under.
Coldog is looking to maintain a list of all those who fancy a game and may even organise a practice session. His powers should not be under estimated; who else could get club captain Jasper to give him a lift to the changing rooms after a particularly heavy training session. Clearly, Jasper is angling for the opening bat position.
If anyone out there has a pub team, a works team or just 11 mates please get in touch to arrange a fixture. |
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| Date: |
02.02.2010 - 11:25 |
| Author: |
EagleEye |
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| • SPORTSMAN'S DINNER LINE-UP ANNOUNCED |
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| Date: |
28.01.2010 - 09:04 |
| Author: |
EagleEye |
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ANNUAL SPORTSMAN’S DINNER ~ ~ FRIDAY 14th MAY ~ AN EVENING OF RUGBY MAYHEM
PRESIDED OVER BY THE FINEST PRODUCT TO COME OUT OF MARYPORT SINCE THE FISH PACKING PLANT CLOSED ~ ~ MR HOWARD NICHOLSON
YOU WILL BE REGALED WITH TALES OF DARING DEEDS BY A MAN THAT YOU PROBABLY THOUGHT WAS DEAD ~ ~ MR RAY FRENCH
YOU WILL BE FASCINATED BY THE FLASHING WIT AND INSIDE KNOWLEDGE OF A MAN WHO CLAIMS TO KNOW NOTHING ~ ~ MR STEVE HANLEY
YOU WILL BE FED BY A CATERING COMPANY WHERE THE BOSS THINKS A MICHELIN STAR IS AWARDED FOR CYCLING PROFICIENCY
TICKETS £25 PER HEAD WITH TABLES AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO DON’T WANT TO EAT ON THEIR KNEE’S
LATE BAR AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO CRAWL HOME ON THEIR KNEE’S
TICKET SALES ARE BEING HANDLED BY A MAN WHO WOULD ONLY RECORD DETAILS ON THE BACK OF A FAG PACKET IF HE HADN’T GOT A BUS TICKET AVAILABLE ~ ~ MR MEL HANLEY
TELEPHONE: 07739199531 or 01697320328
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