Saturday started with the news that someone (an elite athlete) had run a marathon distance in under 2 hours, the same time it takes me to wander round for the paper on a weekend. With that average time he could actually keep pace with the train up to Newcastle. He must have been “in the zone”

This zone is a fabled state where all distractions are blocked out allowing a heightened positive physical or mental state, leading to a pure uncluttered performance. The focus is clear and none of the usual “can’t do this” or “it hurts” thoughts creep in allowing an optimum performance. Elite athletes and sports people refer to it a lot usually after a good result, likewise they can say that doubts got the better of them leading to a reduced performance. Apparently runners who are in the zone fail to see people shouting and waving at them from cars which is a little bit unnerving. It also happens to writers who suddenly get a rush of idea’s and the task of typing them becomes easy as they all fall together in a thought provoking narrative. I’ll let everybody know when this actually happens.

Back to a home game this week after the stand out defence at Blaydon caused Davy Crockett to mention “wish we had some of those boys at the Alamo” (allegedly). As typhoon warnings had curtailed the morning’s entertainment I was encouraged to sit in the warming sun for the first coffee of the day. However the weather looked changeable and I whipped the washing in before heading down to Greenwood road. Good attendances were mingling pre-match with two games to choose from with Harry’s Hill being a vantage point for both. Match reports that it was firmly above the high tide mark had not gone un-noticed as various

Billingham legends, alumni and regulars (do I have to mention you all?) gathered to enjoy the various weather the afternoon could throw at it. I have changed to a country set attire to mix in with the Border reiver look and as my lined green and white favorite hat heats the follicles too much. Luckily my all-conditions Billingham windows pen didn’t let me down however the paper has been rain soaked and dried several times, I may have to make some of it up this week!!!!!!

So its 2nds to right and 1st team to the left, I’m stuck in the middle with Dave and Ritchie (no similarity to a song if the solicitors are reading). Trying to report on both is quickly abandoned as the neck can’t take it captain. Lots of familiar 2nds players jog past to kick off first against the cherry and white with blue arms of Morpeth. The 1st team run out, Billingham opting to play towards the club house end in the first, Morpeth 1st team is cherry and white only, no blue arm flashes.

As news of a cancelled 1st team debut due to warm up injury reaches the hill, Billingham kick off with Morpeth forwards looking to break out and eventually a boot is employed to clear. As the game progresses both teams use varying kicks to maneuver into field position and create chances as the defence on both sides allows little scope in open play. Billingham look lively on both pitches with the 1sts making a half chance but runners is isolated leading to holding on, while on the top pitch Sam Wilson offloads to allow a half break. We have a period of calm with scrums being formed on both pitches. As Billingham 1st team forwards provide quick ball at the breakdown the backs look to combine with Joe Ross probing down one wing. The play quickly switches as Peter dinks a ball into the path of Pants “on Fire” Kirby who sails over the line to open the scoring. Unconverted the opening score warms the balcony crowd, 5 – 0.
Morpeth kick off high allowing the forwards to pressure but the safe hands on Whinney caress the ball safely. A down field kick allows Morpeth to cycle and set up the phases via the forwards, as they set up the chip kick to the wing goes sailing into touch, as the wing watches it fly over his head, disgruntled. Line out is looking solid with Dan Burns raising like the statue of liberty to take off the top, along the line Luke Wilson punches the defence line at pace and feeds Joe Ross who is hauled down just short. Billingham kill the ball but the penalty kick leaves Billingham in a good field position. Against the throw the ball is stolen and Billingham get a penalty and to the corner we go. The line out takes a couple of goes and Morpeth end up with the ball, a clearing kick is collected by Joe Ross. Again he’s goes close and judging by the noise the tackle was a bit high, for the first time the man in the middle reaches for a card, yellow. We go to the corner with the kick, Morpeth secure the line out but calamity the ball goes loose in the try “zone” and Kirkbride is quickest to the ball. Conversion sails over for 12 – 0.

Dan Burns secures the kick off with Peter pop it into touch to move Billingham up the pitch. Morpeth look to drive through the forwards but meet a robust Billingham defence, which creeps offside. A kick for line set up the phases again but a knock on curtails the advance. Hard work by the Billingham forwards to restrict the gain line and force mistakes, but Morpeth are camped just outside the Billingham 22 looking to create a gain somewhere. There is midfield collision which I think most greenwood road heard, Billingham think that it’s a good hit, the man in the middle thinks otherwise and has a word and a red card. Whinney looks dejected and debate rages on the hill but the man in the middle wears the sheriff’s badge so no point dwelling on it (but we will later). Morpeth take the penalty so we stand at 12 – 3 and 14 -15 for the rest of the game.

Billingham kick off long and pin Morpeth back into the 22, Billingham look to keep Morpeth moving around and gain a penalty. It’s to the corner and catch/drive folks, as the Billingham squad maul it over the line. The only question is who has actually scored and it’s Joe Evans, as confirmed by our on field reporter Elliot. Peter slots home for a positive reaction to going a man down 19 – 3.
Morpeth look for a sneaky kick off with a short nudge and the forward catch but it’s not 10, just so it goes back. Both teams now look to gain the upper hand as play centers around the midfield, with Peter having to clean loose ball up and Morpeth disrupting any opportunity. Defense looks to be winning the day with the chip kick the most likely option to unlock both defenses. A line out set Billingham away again with “Pants” burning down the line to go close, It’s a penalty close which is tapped and moves along the line. Luke takes the ball at speed to go over in front of the club house, conversion good 26 – 3.
The rest of the half sees Morpeth switch the ball around but the hard working Billingham defence hold firm. Morpeth hold on in the breakdown which allows Billingham to work up the pitch. Multiple infringements mean another flash of yellow for Morpeth but the play is scrappy and no further points appear on the scoreboard.

Of course the chat on the hill is the red card incident which most feel is more a reaction to the sound and the sight of the tackled player’s whiplash than the actual tackle or intent, but we don’t have the hindsight of multiple replays. The hill is quite populated so I take the chance to have a wander, even the duo of Scott and Moriarty (isn’t that an ITV crime partnership? if it isn’t it should be) are enjoying the ever changing conditions. So rather than wander down to feel the heat under the balcony it’s a full afternoon on the hill this week. I enquire about the 2nds score but no one seems to know, I’m even asked and I’m not fully watching it.

The top pitch is already off and running as the 2nd half starts on the main pitch, score unknown. On the AGP, Morpeth kick off towards the hill and it’s a long one that is pumped back down the line. Morpeth look to apply early pressure but Elliot takes the mark, and then with quick tap it’s up the middle at speed. A light shower forces a change of note pads and makes handling a bit iffy with pen and on the pitch, it’s all a bit stop/start as the ball to line seems to feature in the notes. From a scrum Billingham employ a strong counter ruck which results in a penalty, the line out is taken cleanly and a combination move gives Joe Evans sight of the line which he snaps up to ground the ball just inside the try area in front of the hill. The conversion stretches the score to 33 – 3.

As the rest of the game develops chances come and go but Billingham are forced into lots of defence. Right across the pitch they stick to their mantra of making it as difficult to make any gains as possible, Morpeth look to employ the forwards across the pitch using the popular tactic of a prop on the wing to run over the defender. There are little glimpses of a Billingham break, a nice out the back pass and a Joe Ross half chance that comes off the knee but it just doesn’t come off. Forced passes don’t quite connect and the 2nd out of the back pass doesn’t quite come off, Morpeth build momentum and knock on the door more than once. It’s another flash of yellow for multiple infringements as Billingham go down to 13 as Morpeth look to camp on the line, a brief interlude as Luke makes a break ends with a lose pass and Morpeth are back on the up. After several attempts the ball makes its way into the try zone and a try is awarded, given the reception I’m sure there may be some conjecture as to grounding. Conversion is good for 33 – 10.

A hearty kick off pins
Morpeth back into the 22 and great work from the forwards forces the ball to be touched back over the try line to give a scrum 10. In front of friends and family from the visitors who have now joined the hill, Morpeth get to the 8 as he is picking up to force the turnover, a couple of phases later and they are moving up the pitch with a kick over the top. Elliot gathers well and neat footwork puts Billingham back on the front foot. Looks like a grandstand finish in the sun that last scrum holds firm and the ball is dispatched out over the stand to end the game.

As usual another packed afternoon of rugby, not quite a flowing game but still full of action and endeavor form both team. Quite a mixed bag and I have a wet list to decipher as well as my usual un-readable notes, I’m sure that one bit says knackers, deep into the second half but I can’t sure. I think I was in the zone.
So no time this week for high on the hill with a lonely goat herd, Colin’s wise words, what no cake?, Still no Featherstone, pick a card any card, when did you sneak in, change of hat, missed out of the last program, 50p found on bench, club house approval, awaiting debut, happy birthday, new dad and blame Michael Fish.
Focus on what you can control and don’t waste energy on what you cannot

– Anon.
An innocent bystander.

#OSIOS