In a week where I was reminded that it was the start of metrological spring it’s another packed week of fiscal drag, quiz night at Greenwood road, International women’s day and mother’s day. Wedged in between this is the continuing voyage that is National 2 as Billingham entertain Sheffield Tigers who are well placed and comfortable mid table in 6th. Billingham look to gather points and bolster the for/against column in the run in, no mid table safety for the green and whites it’s all in the balance. Billingham lie 13 on 27 with Ionians on 32 then Preston on 38 before the games today.
Due to the body giving up again no recent gym sessions or usual attendance so I have been reliant on the socials to keep me informed. Quiz night looked a winner, some very good team names although I note that quiz master Bob Holdness has left himself go. In addition to the usual hidden words I’ll try and sneak some game shows in just to fill in the blankety blanks. Despite the promise of spring the morning is various shades of grey with a spot of rain breaking out early afternoon so it’s which big coat to select as the discussion regarding blazer or not rages in the chat group.
It an early arrival to Greenwood road, looks like the weather may have reduced the crowd but it’s bolstered by Billingham Golf club who always bring a full lively contingent. Wandering round as the 1sts limber up it’s a lovely catch up and a chance to watch the Lions kick off early on the side pitch, looking paced with talent; even the touch judge is in fine fettle. It’s very good running rugby from both sides as the ref keeps it moving and a flurry of early penalties set his bar very high. Many choose to stand between two pitches but my back and neck can’t take the pace so I opt for the mount and chat to the hawk. Billingham Lions look impressive in the scrum, a Tigers kick evades a clean catch but James Watson tidies up and a flowing move is finished off by a Martin Hopley stretch.
There’s been a little reshuffle in both team and supporting club officials due to illness and some game down in that London town but the cover has been drafted in. DJ duties is obviously a key component and a stand in for DJ Revell was a struggle but using the word association method its Mike on the mike, who pumps up the volume as the players jog onto the field. Sheffield in black with orange trim and numbers, followed by the white and green with the 3 officials in spring like Shropshire blue.
The countdown is over, its game on as Billingham kick off towards the club house and Tigers don’t mess about, gathering the ball then retuning with a kick to touch on the stand side. It’s a clean line out takes as Billingham work through the phases and the first infringement is spotted giving Billingham a range finder from halfway. Heading to touch but within a hands reach Tigers collect and return up the line, Dan Dixon with toes in pitch and arms extended collects and sets off at a lick. Billingham look to clear the breakdown quick which is quite a task given the Tigers attention and test both wings. Its all happening at the club house end as Ben Walton is released up the middle and clattered by the tigers defence which will be repeated several times over the afternoon. Its Billingham on the front foot as Tigers defend the line, successive phases develop but Tigers counter ruck and kick to clear. Billingham collect from the line out but Tigers quickly seal off and as the maul is called the ball shows no signs of appearing. The first scrum of the day indicates a Tigers strength despite an early nudge and the man in the middle raises his arm. It’s a kick to touch to set up good field position, clean ball for Tigers and along the line as the backs cluster in formation and a trailing runner is released at speed through a gap. It’s a clean run in but the work to offer options made the difference as the visitors strike first, converted its 0 – 7.
Billingham kick off with Tigers securing a couple of breakdowns later the box kick is sent high and Tigers retrieve. Its quick ball to bring the backs into play, strong running the defence covers well and it’s into touch. Line out ball allows Billingham to move it out to Mathew Kirby at pace which Tigers cover so a tricky nudge through employed, Tigers collect but it’s a foot in touch whist balancing so it’s a line out deep Billingham ball. Dan Burns secures and its towards the line we go with the ball moved rather than risking the Tigers shutdown. Tigers look to get over the ball but lent against other bodies at the breakdown it’s a straight arm. It’s a kick to the corner and we are back into Billingham looking for the gap and forward momentum and Tigers committing as many bodies as they can to slow down. Full graft from both teams as the cms are measured and the club house raise their voices to point out various finer points. The man in the middle is all over the breakdown and its an arm aloft and a yellow as the Tigers defence goes a bit too far. Tap and go as the forwards continue to knock on the door then out as Peter Evans side steps and pops the ball to Mike Whinn to ground, Ryan good with the extras and no pointless this week for either team at 7 – 7.
Tigers kick off and it’s a bobble in collection but backwards so we continue, Conner Foley with a snipe around the breakdown but otherwise it’s hard work as Tigers slow the ball down. The man in the middle spots that the rolling away is becoming slow so it’s a free ball for Billingham that’s taken up the dugout wing but quickly peters out. With Tigers a man down Billingham opt for a scrum and as the forwards muster on the other pitch Kev V puts in a strong run for the Lions to bag a try. It’s a steady scrum that provides a good platform as Billingham air the ball it’s a dancing Peter Evans who makes the break and a long pass out to the wing. A couple of breakdowns later Billingham look to stretch Tigers but it’s a patient job as the defence is tight, Connor F manages to spot the line and ground. Ryan continues his impressive form as the home side double their score 14 – 7.
For the rest of the half it’s Billingham who have to dig deep as the roles reverse as they have to defend deep, Tigers must have had room on the team bus for the kitchen sink as they decide not to wait until the end but throw it in regularly. From the kick off further kicks are exchanged as no one wants to get caught deep leaving Tigers well in the Billingham half. From the line out a loose pass leads to a rushed clearance followed with a Burns intervention at the line that gives Tigers an attacking scrum. Its strong successive drives by the forwards as Tigers look to pummel their way through, wave after wave it doesn’t look like it will every go wide. It’s a penalty which Tigers opt to tap and go as the wrestle towards the line continues until Billingham are draw offside, in a slight change it’s a kick to the corner. Tigers look to set up but Billingham counter ruck to gain the ball and then look to break out, Peter Youll pumping the legs when held to get the extra gain. Its then swiftly pumped up field as Tigers circle back and set up but knock on. Tigers pressure the scrum so it’s out quick as successive penalties and combinations work the ball up the pitch. As Ben Walton cops another one and the man in the middle indicates its high the option is taken for the sticks and Ryan’s fluorescent boots pop the ball over as Billingham move to 17 – 7.
Still time for Tigers to turn the screw again before half time and a pivotal uncle Mo moment, clear breaks have been hard to come by and both teams look resolute when the backs are against the wall. Tigers send in the forwards time after time, there’s another Ben Walton crash, scrums are taken and reset. At one scrum the ball pops out collected by Billingham but the man in the middle opts for a reset which soaks up the time. It’s all in Billingham territory but they withstand the onslaught to get to half time without any further score, a massive shift from Billingham to keep Tigers out, not without debate from both sides.
It’s time for a stamp and shuffle as the Lions are playing and various refreshing interludes are taken. It’s down from the mount to try and warm up a bit plus Sherpa Usher arrives to join the happy band. I wonder what the team talks are like at half time but I don’t have the bottle to listen through the keyhole so I’m sorry I haven’t a clue. It’s time to climb back to altitude as the second half beckons as the chase begins for the tigers and Billingham continue to look for that winning combination.
Tigers kick off with the green and whites playing towards the mount, collected Billingham look to move out retaining the ball but not much ground made. Looking down the stand side it a couple of passes then a bouncer through up the wing. It secured after a couple of bounces as the Billingham chase looks for a chance and the kick to touch goes straight out. Billingham take cleanly and set up to work across the pitch slowly gaining up the pitch. The ball is then switch quickly with Peter E looking for a gap, with the back line looking eager he pops the ball to Matt Kirby running a cracking line who accelerates through the defense and in. Out wide and against Ryan’s favored lefty it’s tight by a whisker for 22 – 7.
Tigers kick off and Kieran Clarke, impressive work rate all afternoon puts in a strong run to gain momentum. A few more phases and it’s a bobbler kick that Tigers leave to roll into touch plus form the lineout it’s a bit of a juggle too. The scrum is holding a bit more steady and both teams are taking the change to counter ruck, it’s back and forth until Tigers infringe and Ryan takes the sticks option, keeping it ticking over at 25 – 7.
In a re-run of the last kick off Billingham secure the ball and KC drives it up, Tigers are too eager at the breaks down and Billingham move up the pitch. It’s a loose line out forcing Connor F to tidy up and a kick through allows Tigers to set up, its wing to wing as they look to stretch Billingham but the wingers close down the space and Billingham turnover the ball at the breakdown. It’s quickly out along the line with Burns popping up at outside centre to feed Matt K who is felled well into Tigers territory. Adjudged high by the officials is a further yellow for the Tigers. It’s into the corner for the line out as Billingham set up not to allow Tigers to seal any drive. It’s a cheeky short frontline drop shot to Mike Walton who draws the defence in and pops back to Ed Graham who dives over the line. It’s right in the corner so another tricky kick for Ryan as the breeze swirls, un converted the bonus point try is secured at 30 – 7.
Tigers kick off as Billingham move it across the pitch looking for the gap but no release at the breakdown so it’s a quick uncle Mo shift you could say runaround now as Tigers kick for the corner. It back to the graft as Tigers set out the phases punctuated with penalties and rack up the pressure. Billingham look to make them work for every blade of plastic grass as scrums, phases and tap penalties all come and go. It’s narrow and up the middle plus given the early success of the backs you do wonder why it doesn’t go out wide but one interception may go the length of the pitch so its up the jumper time. When it does go wide the pass is long, behind the player and into touch. But it’s a temporary respite as Tigers seal off the maul following the line out and the ball is back to them. Tigers back on the front foot and its out wide early to a flying winger, its over the line but held up as the Billingham back line gets hands under. Drop out from under the sticks allows Tigers to set up and the forwards go into the routine with gaps now appearing. Its close then hands go up and following officials consultation is a try. In front of the posts the conversion is good and Tigers double up to 30 -14 and in the comments from the pitch it’s all us now.
I think that everyone is possibly consulting their timepieces and I can confirm when I look at mine Mickey Mouse is saying there is time left so off we go. Billingham kick off, Tigers secure and the impressive 15 is allowed space to run then chip up the middle. Billingham collect and look to settle things down via the forwards but its soon punted back with a Billingham chase. Tigers steal a line out and are looking to get an early score to make it interesting, they seem to be camped in the Billingham half with the kitchen sink back in play. There’s a few loose passes but it’s all grind, when it does go into space Billingham close down quickly, Louis Groak tackles out wide. The club house are in full voice and both teams empty the remaining tanks it all looks a bit frantic form the far end. The penalties start to mount up as Billingham make changes for the greater good, the man in the middle is fully involved. It’s a yellow for Whinn late on as Tigers continue bother the white line, they must be really close. They opt for a kick to touch form another penalty, the catch and drive is contained but it’s finally over the line for the try. Players are shaking hands as the conversion is missed and it’s a home win for 30 – 19.
What a cracker in the overcast conditions and its very handy points for the green and whites, but hats off to both teams, what a shift with no passengers. Caught up with some legends afterwards in the buzzing bar area for a chat, I didn’t get the club house end for the second where all the action was but saw the before half time hold out. The voyage of discovery continues with more matches to come, it’s a rollercoaster just got to ride it.
Richie’s chip and I left just as the England match started after a few conversations we reached the door to the car park, then a massive cheer went up, I’m hoping that England scored a try or was it that we had left the club house?
No time this week for just you and the bird then, waiting for a tinkle, made to stretch, double gloveage, excitable, have you seen the extension yet, anything to play for !, calm down, calm down, one for the purists, in front of the telly and anyone in Norton?.
The most we can hope for is to create the best possible conditions for success, then let go of the outcome. The ride is a lot more fun that way.
Phil Jackson

An innocent bystander.