In a week where many watched Lewis Moody talk about his diagnosis and if you didn’t then watch it, it’s not easy especially in a lunch break when you have to go back to “important” stuff but it’s a very brave and honest step to share a very important subject.
Sometimes it’s one of those weeks where several strands knit into an overall pattern, don’t worry that it may not be the right colour or that the arms are too long that’s not important in the big scheme of things. It’s the ex-players day where the great, good and it’s a run out all gather to swap stories and in some case share those life issues with someone who will offer support even if it’s well that explains why you could never catch a ball. As I find each week when I attempt to turn up and break a sweat at gym night even the various libelous comments show people care. There’s time to share the played with only one leg working and try glory snatched away cruelly stories, remember that time my pencil snapped, oh never mind.
Taking about club stalwarts, it’s a 300 appearances for Dan Burns, not massive numbers in the try count stats but if you follow the matches and reports, collected, caught and tackled by Burns references are countless. Always full graft from the fella when he steps on the pitch, he is a forwards lynchpin plus coaching at various levels where he is on hand to offer constructive encouragement (I have personally seen the benefit of this) and is always good for a chat. There are many in the club seen as role models, we are very lucky, Dan Burns for me displays all the things that this club stands for and is a true club role model to aspire to.
It’s a shock early attendance for me, as many enjoy lunch and a few refreshments it’s a subdued atmosphere as I wander around the pitch. On to the mount I arrive before Otley are out for the warm up but its quickly bags and cones for the sets of 4 as Billingham throw the ball about at the club house end. It’s fun in the sun with hardly any breeze which is a tonic for those returning from sunnier climbs mainly Greece and I am moved to take off one of my tops but not willing to show too much pale skin. I mount fills up with the usual suspects as Otley jog out in a Gold/black attire, Green and White for the home team with pink for the officials. The balcony swells with fed and watered supporters as Otley start proceedings playing towards the club house for the first half, game on.
Otley send up a high one and DB300 collects under pressure, Billingham opt to move the ball straight away, the width of the AGP means more ground to cover hopefully playing to the home fitness rather than the bulk pack based approach from visiting sides. The afternoon develops into an absorbing contrast of styles if you read further. As Billingham stretch Otley wide the forwards combine with the backs, Ryan Kirkbride with a rumble taking three in. Over then to a lively Anth Jackson, the first view of a pink arm aloft allows Billingham to move up the pitch. DB300 collects the line out and Billingham are off again, high tackle as a quick tap is taken. Otley look to get into the breakdown spoiling but Jamie Lanr keeps the tempo up, Peter Evan’s invites Jo Scarborough into space, Scabs balances his pace to lure the cover out wide then pops the ball inside as support runner Jamie opens the scoring. Luke Wilson adds the conversion, a bright opening from the home side 7 – 0.
Otley kick off and its knocked on allowing Otley to set up the scrum, even at an early point its clear that Otley thrive off the set piece. They look tight using the power game to build pressure and force mistakes; you need to move them around if you can. It’s a good scrum and the arm is aloft, kick into the corner then set up the catch and drive for the try, ruthless efficiency. Converted both doughnuts are off the scoreboard at 7 – 7, both teams having laid there perspective approaches out.
Billingham kick off and after a bounce Otley collect, quickly it’s a high kick up field as Billingham have to turn back, its spread across the pitch again but lost in the breakdown. Otley send the runners in, Billingham hold firm with a AJ counter ruck to force a knock on. Billingham get it out the scrum quickly as Otley pressure, its out to the stand side as the Green and White look to release the rocket Ross, forward pass. Otley drive the scrum and get the arm, as no advantage they pop the ball into the corner, from my viewpoint a cracking long kick just the right side of the corner flag. Pinned back on the try line Otley look to set up for the rolling maul but it’s out and the runner goes in, converted for 7 -14 it’s another penalty/set piece score for the visitors.
Billingham kick off with DB300 deciding he will collect his own sides kick off as well, it’s a switch inside and a high tackle. The man in middle confirms the next one is in the bin quite clearly, no arguments as the ball goes into touch. Billingham collect at the line out, a couple of tries up the stand side then arm up, Billingham play on switching to the dugout side, quick hands send the ball wide. Louie Groak pops a chip over the cover defence, it’s a foot race and Scabs nabs the ball to go in wide for the try, great interplay from the fliers. Unconverted it’s a veritable ding dong at Greenwood road, 12 -14 with a yellow to Otley after the try for a high tackle.
Otley send it high again, guess who collects as Billingham look to break up the pitch, there’s a half break but Otley a man down get a turnover and its now them looking dangerous as they send the runners up the middle. It’s lost as Billingham sweep up, put a clearing kick in which they then collect, with the ball out to Scabs he ducks one before he cops another as the arm goes up. With a free ball Billingham switch it to the dugout side with Louie ball in hand looking for the gap, it’s another deft chip and a foot race. With a kind bounce into the bread basket Louie goes in to clearly ground, converted the home team edge in front at 19 – 14.
From the kick off it’s a Harvey Headlam burst into space and shoulder down as the cover comes across, Billingham look to wing as Ross has a half change but Otley are shifting to cover those wings now and then counter ruck well to get the penalty. Its sent down the touch but Billingham steal the line out, looking to go wide as soon as they can, Eldon Myers side stepping through the line but Otley just get bodies in before its clean air. Arm up again and the man in the middle reduces Otley to 13. Otley dig in and Billingham look to capitalise which leads to exchanges as it all get a bit frantic, there’s a few knock on’s and a box kick. Billingham slowly gather a bit of mo, Otley are offside so it’s a tap as the forwards look to drive through, Hill and Campbell putting the work in to keep it available. Eldon shimmies through a gap to see the line but pops it back inside to feed AJ under the sticks, conversion good 26 – 14.
Otley kick off and Billingham look to spread wide quickly as the ball goes into touch off a Otley hand so it’s more of the same from the line out as Billingham look to the stand sided but Otley are well organised and get over the ball, no release it give them the chance to get into the corner. As Billingham are getting no joy containing the drive they opt for standing off following the line out then looking to seal off, it works to gain the scrum but Otley get the nudge and the penalty. They opt to stick with their strength so despite a reset they look to drive it over the line and as the scrum fragments the man in the middle has seen enough, penalty try and yellow for Ewan Brown, it’s a momentum shifter at 26 – 21.
There a few kick exchanges but both teams are happy to get to half time with the game finely poised and both at 14 on the pitch but Otley back to the full 15 first. As the mount faithfully go seeking second half viewpoints and refreshments those left recap on the near misses this season so far and the relative youth of the current Billingham squad, I wonder what the current average age/caps would be if you took DB, PE and EH out of the equation? The conversation includes what’s all the bull up at Kingston park, who’s playing who and who will come out firing second half, well you don’t have to wait long. Otley coaches wander up to our end good to chat to them as they stay off the pitch and send advice via intercom.
Its Billingham to kick off towards the clubhouse, not sure if Otley are back to 15 yet not time to count and we are off. Otley collect and opt to exit via a box kick, Joe Ross collects the ball and a high tackle. Line out, Otley look to seal off but the drive fragments so Otley get pinged infringing so back to the corner we go. Billingham collect via Hill split the drive with AJ spinning over the line with help from Ben Hyndman. It’s out wide but Luke strokes it over, the home side advance to 33 -21 I think still a man down.
Otley kick off to DB300 the receiver of choice, it’s a boot up the middle to clear which is returned so its stretched wide as Eldon is again asking the questions but its brought back for a knock on. With one man down the forwards reorganize and after a reset Otley are too eager penalty to Billingham, they send it down the line. Line out is lost and after 2 phases Otley box kick a high one that on one collects so it’s a hack through and a foot race. It’s an odd one because it gets another nudge towards the dead ball line in the try area, Otley clearly get a hand to it but the grounding is on the dead ball line (the dead ball line is out of play for a try) or even over. Small margins and depending on your view tricky especially if you are following play on field, decision try given, conversion good 33 – 28.
As the momentum shifts again there’s a subtle change in the Otley attack, Billingham kick off and DB300 is again in with the collect but Billingham loss it going up the middle and then compound it with a penalty which Otley pop up the line. At the line out Billingham get a hand in but Otley secure, play switches across to the dugout side rather than close passes and phases its along pass across three players to post into the space, Billingham cover but as the forwards line up its another long pass to bypass then and go in for the try. Conversion is good and Otley regain the lead to go a neck ahead 33 - 35, that conversion miss in the first half the only difference. There are plenty of penalties but both sides are going into the corner rather than the sticks so it’s still nip and tuck.
From the kick off Otley opt to box kick again, Ross collects and burns the opposition to go down the stand side, Otley full back gets a leg into touch. Otley collect the line out but the exit kick is charged down, Otley recollect and look to phase it up the pitch via the forwards, they make territory then Billingham get over the ball, no releasing penalty. Line out Billingham near Otley 22, there is then a quick succession of Otley penalties cumulating in a yellow and a kick into the corner. Billingham collect and set up as the mole turns into roger rabbit and is off the back like a shot to go over the line. Converted by Luke, Billingham edge ahead again at 40 - 35.
Otley kick off with Scabs bravely taking the ball into traffic with Eldon to Ross stand side, as Billingham switch back across Jamie is caught with the ball and Otley get the ball back. Line out is stolen and the action heads down the stand side again with a nudge through and a chase inot the far right corner. Cheers go up and the officials congregate decision 10 meter scrum for Billingham, Looks like an early nudge as Otley get the hand up so clear up the touch line. At the line out Billingham standoff again then seal off the ball, lots of talking points around this one, how do you legally stop a catch and drive other than this method? It’s a quick in and out at the scrum for Billingham then out along the line, Jonny Horner out wide sucks the defence across, back inside for Eldon to waltz up the middle and bag one. Another conversion for Luke to move the score to 47 – 35, must be about 12 or so left.
From the kick off Peter Evans clears the lines but a nice bounce sets the Otley counter up and running, it’s a kick over the top and chase. Billingham gather and then pop it up the line as each team looks for field position. Joe Browell cleans up the Otley overthrow and Peter send sit further down the field. Otley then put together successive phases to bring the ball up the field and draw Billingham offside so its into the corner we go. Despite a Billingham hand and Otley juggle at the line out its Otley ball and the forwards drive in then along the line as a runner goes against the grain and into space. Despite the attentions of Joe Ross knocking the ball from his grasp as he goes over the line and to ground it’s a try plus conversion. 47 – 42 so a converted try could win it and everyone is a bit jangly.
Billingham kick off, bounces over or via an Otley hand into touch, Otley line out but they can’t brake out so box kick. Jonny Horner clean take and into traffic, high tackle. Billingham move towards the club house, no messing at the line out short to Joe Spoors and its legs a pumping, support arrives to keep it alive and Otley get pinged. There are several Otley infringements so Billingham take a lineout then a tap but Otley hold out so Peter decides to send it towards the magnificently manicured training pitch to end the game.
What a belter of a match, a clash of styles but could have gone either way and loads of talking points. Good to see players from both sides with family and friends after the match plus a crowded club house with many a story being relived. A bucket load of top performances across the team with the young guns still gaining valuable skills against top opposition but this was one for DB300 - our spirit is our strength (plus a load of graft).
No time this week for what do you mean you haven’t read it yet?, Windows 2007, it’s about the graft, can’t even run in a straight line, I’ll pull your hair out next time, do we still have half time oranges, side before self, ambient lighting linked to your phone, still lots of spilling mistakes, have you seen my x-rays, what’s the team news Stu?, nice bush pruning and stay in your coaching area.
“My number one coaching philosophy is around relationships. That’s first and foremost for me, building strong relationships is what I value the most.” - Willie Peters HKR coach 2024-25 treble winners.

An innocent bystander.