Billingham Rugby Club

Great to see such a good turnout for the Lads V Dads games and the junior section doing us proud yet again with match after match taking place with Green and White style of flowing rugby across the pitches. The first “grown up” (well maybe not) game was the infamous 3TM playing against our very strong colts section (with a couple of oldies). The tone of the game was set with comments on a social network site laying out challenges through Robbie Brumpton self elected spokesman for the young uns (had a half decent game despite that). The Colts took the lead with a flukey try when and blatantly backward pass went wide loads of skill was shown and some kid ran very fast (not allowed under Law 13/b of the game) and should have been disallowed by Ray the Ref (Referee on his Nanas side) as Scott Hutchy was blatantly impeded by an unseen force preventing him tackling. 3TM used a different tactic and raised their game to mediocre ensuring one of their key play makers “Coggy” Canham was clearly identified by wearing a blue shoe protector on his head. This tactical change by potential England boss Michael Whiteline Sudron worked yet again as Guzzler Guz Showed his usual deft skill and gently bulldozed his way over through a bunch of squealing teenagers. Half time was fast approaching with Naz warming up with a bottle of Bud and a Benson and Hedges. Half time came and Elgie took on the role of team medic handing a bottle of Jack Daniels around the team.
A battle of scrum halves was taking place Kirby on Kirby neither a real nine but Mrs. K did point out how Kirby the elder was remarkably clean. Donaldson started cheating back by running about forty yards despite being unable to walk at closing time on Christmas night we are told and if the rest of 3TM had not been concentrating on roughing up a couple of opposition players might have scored (but I doubt it). The Foals, sorry Colts pulled further ahead with another try and then young Sudron who realised he would never outpace his dad decided to do one of them drop thingies and was dead lucky when the wind blew the ball over.
All in all an excellent game in the spirit of the Boxing day game with Ray the Ref giving a score of 3TM 5 Colts 13.
However 3TM lent the Colts two players @ five points a man plus VAT 20% = 5 + 10 + 3 = 3TM 18 V Colts 13
I therefore declare the winner of this game was Billingham Rugby Club






Dave Blake Memorial Game

The teams took to the field with the “oldies” having to beg borrow and steal players with Wagger Daley making a surprise return so soon after his horrendous arm injury. Add to this Mark Baxter always welcome at the club, Barry Magrath accompanying AJ Amos and Whiteline Sudron playing about his forth game of the day it looked a very experienced pack. The backs saw the oldest first team scrum half Woody plus four pints at dinner time go up against the youngest first team nine Danny Finney without beer. The Hyndman brothers Chris and Anth lined up against each other and seemed intent on seeing who could tackle hardest and make most yards against each other and as one Shep played the other boosted bar takings with Ma and Pa Shep, Westcough, Jacqui, the President Sayersis etc. etc in fact nice to see a packed club room once again. Keenan managed to tie his own bootlaces but looked a little jaded from the night before but still did his bit managing a rum, sorry run or two. After the fun of the other games it was obvious that this was going to be a serious contest with massive hits going in and some flowing rugby. Judge Budge ran the line and had trouble with spectators crowding the touch line but as is club rule was not abused as we do not do that to officials (apart from ones called Snowdon) Referee Mark Armstrong should have yellow carded Peter Evans who had cut through the Oldies defence several times as he kicked the ball away after the oldies scored. Claire Evans thought a card was a bit harsh until it was explained it should have been for being Peter Evans she agreed. A couple of players returned to the “Joes lot” from other clubs and were given the usual welcome as Chris Ker flattened “Armo” and Danny Dixon was screwed (metaphorically) by the front row and Hutchy relishing his role as battering ram. It was good to see Jack Smith back and welcome back ex players like Martin Ker (who we hoped had his kit) and many others and remembering players who are no longer with us. The young uns won out in the end but the real winner yet again was the club, a full bar, loads of banter and good cheer, old acquaintances renewed, experienced players giving tips to younger ones. I did feel a little old myself as most of the oldie team were colts when I returned to BRUFC This is the spirit we need to nurture in the club house and long may it last.
MOM Joe’s Lot Danny Sayers
MOM Oldies Kev McCabe