Main Club Sponsor - Billingham Windows
Back

Login

Don’t have an account?Register
Powered By
Pitchero
News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
Match Report - David Munns Style

Match Report - David Munns Style

Mike Brown24 Mar - 13:34

“Caught by the fuzz” – Supergrass - 1994

In a week where the RFU and Premiership rugby continue to stifle grass root ambitions by keeping struggling clubs in the “big” league and not allowing others to have a go it’s all systems go at Greenwood road for the penultimate home game of the season. Last week’s fixture saw the Green and Whites gather praise and points with an away win and the add momentum build late in the season. Unfortunately I was on a family visit so shocked the punters in John Lewis Wembley celebrating when the final score came in on the ever faithful Billingham rugby app. On its return leg the team bus was then allegedly involved in some traffic kerfuffle and ended up being pulled by the police on to the hard shoulder, after investigation it turned out all was well just a case of mistaken identity. Apparently the photo fit of a suspected culprit in the stop and search looked exactly like Stu Evans but on questioning it was established that the actual suspect never wore shorts so case closed and the bus travelled home.
Work progresses on the bar area with the addition of an extended range of beverages complete with light up pumps of all colours plus some new drinking jars, it’s quite a beacon of hope after a gym session and discovering missing trousers after shower. I switched back into shorts but sorry I’m not a fan Stu and then narrowly avoided an attempted slam dunk of empty deodorant that went horribly wrong. Making my way up stairs I was greeted by the illuminated bar area which was impressive but kept in check by Matt’s usually demeanor, apparently he is next for light up overhaul but I think he’s alright as he is.
It’s the business end of the season with the front runners looking established and the mid-table obscurity taking shape but it’s all very fluid at the base of the table with two becoming four teams locked in a tussle with another not really safe yet. I know we all do look at other results and run in’s of others but the green and Whites are fully focused on what they need to achieve and can influence, it’s a full club effort with the back room support in data analytics and the treatment room working overtime.
Unlike the sun we saw during the week its a changeable damp swirly match day, not too much traffic or parking so I check to see how early I am just in case, early enough to catch the last warm up drills not early enough to make the bar illuminations. The mount has a few hardy souls pitched up on the benches which are soon to be swelled by the usual subjects in various attire plus the odd brolly. I obviously didn’t read the email well enough and have opted for a waterproof jacket in red more based on the weather report than “wear Green, support the team”. Flags confirm the swirly wind as Chester take to the AGP in red tops with white shorts very similar to the Boro strips of old, the green and Whites trot followed by the officials in sky blue. Nikki O’Donnell in the middle today ably supported by Rebecca Rees and Simon O’Neil running the lines for this key National one clash, game on at Greenwood road.
Chester kick off towards the club house and into the dugout side bottom corner, Billingham collect Peter Evans pumping the ball back up field after a couple of carries. Chester bring it back and look along the line towards the stand side, forward pass giving the first scrum of the match. Billingham put in and solid to allow the quick hands to find Joseph Scarborough out wide, he quickly evades two tackles to fly up the wing then a nudge towards the posts to chase. Jamie Lane in hot pursuit as Chester cover and Billingham look to pin them in. Chester regroup and it’s a box kick exit to touch, a very lively end to end start. Its Tom Campbell up at the line out which is fiercely contested throughout the afternoon, a strong rumble from Liam Armstrong with Ed Graham on the clear out as Billingham makes in roads up the pitch. It’s a cross kick which Chester catch for the mark just inside the 22 they lash a banana up field and Billingham clear to touch. Line out is overthrown as Billingham collect but it’s a loose pass in the middle and Chester are over the ball then switch to the stand side where a foot in touch with the try line open delays the opening points. It’s still tricky with Billingham backs to the wall, its catch and drive to allow space for the exit and despite a Dan Dixon burst Billingham get pinged. Chester forgo the field position for the sticks to get the scoreboard moving at 0 – 3.
Its Luke Wilson putting boot to ball from the centre spot long, Chester collect, settle it down and exit via a high box kick, Billingham gather it Dan Dixon with a strong carry and Jamie tidies up the loose ball to keep posetion as Billingham cross to hand the ball to Chester. It’s shanked into touch then from the line out as Adam Brown lines up a tackle Chester get pinged for crossing. Line out Billingham Chester poach it, Dan Dixon gets a charge down then the next line out is not straight, lots of action from both sides and the notes are looking a right mess. One pattern is emerging Chester are quite happy to box kick out for territory then look to disrupt as Billingham look to move it back up the pitch. Billingham look to air the ball to the flyers with Joe Ross the next to stretch the legs, it’s a bit side to side as a long pass goes to ground. Chester react the quickest and nudge the ball through with runners chasing. As Billingham look to cover, a wise man once said “never trust an egg to bounce as you think it will” the ball bounces backwards just before the try line and Chester collect to ground. Luck of the bounce but the visitors were on hand to pounce and try converted they move to 0 – 10.
Billingham kick off and Chester secure then box kick, Anth Jackson with the collect and Billingham move it up the pitch, Chester are pinged for not releasing and Jamie wastes no time in having a quick snipe. Matty White then bursts the defensive line and quick hands to Scabs who is bundled into touch. Line out is over thrown by Chester and Edgy cleans up getting well over the gain line, as Billingham gather a little bit of momentum the ball is dropped. Billingham pressure the scrum and from the reset Chester punt down the line, straight into touch so it comes back. It’s a line out and drive from Billingham with Elliott Husband slotting a nudge through but Chester collect and box kick to exit. At the line out Edgy is at it again with a round the corner rumble, Billingham keep posetion then spread along the line, Louis Groak with a well timed run through the seam feeds Elliott who pops Rossy at pace into the corner. Tricky angle out wide for Peter but the home side banishes the doughnut for 5 – 10.
Both sides get forward exchanges in the next passage of play, Matty White having a blinder in both defence and attack but its Chester with a slight advantage as they nudge it through into the bottom desperation corner, dugout side. Billingham look to collect and drive out but Chester seal off and then from the scrum the arm goes up. They opt for the sticks again, do they know it’s going to be tight? 5 – 13.
If you are part of the shots crew really sorry for the lack of “Burns collects” references you may want to switch to “box kick” for the rest of the report. Following the obligatory Chester box kick following the kick off its Billingham on the front foot as they spread the ball across the pitch and Chester infringe by not releasing. There is a lack of clear breaks as AJ, Liam and Brown crash the ball in the Chester defence standing firm but being pinged. It’s a scrum to Billingham central which provides a platform as the runners go in, the defence is finally breached by Peter Evans just to the side of the post giving an easier kick 12 -13.
It’s a massive kick to halfway from the mount end recently converted ball by Mike “boomer” Brown (Socials mastermind) to Chester so they can restart, the kick off setting a romping Matty White off up the pitch, As Billingham look for that half time momentum shifter its lost on the stand side and despite some late pressure Chester box kick into the half time break. 12 -13 at the interval, fabulous ebb and flow from both squads so far.
Half time sees many of the mount seeking a good club house vantage point and refreshment for the second half, many comment that it seems a little flat but that may be due what is at stake. There is of course the raffle ticket draw and a warning to a camper van that has blocked access to liven up the crowd plus the run in planning to see who is at which remaining match. An early prompt for the usual readers get on the socials for the bus seats quick plus there is the option of a supporters bus for Harrogate last game of the season but get on it fast places are selling like hot buns. Nice to see the officials communicating with the players throughout the half, knowing why you were in the wrong is always helpful even if some of the looks of surprise on the players are very surprising.
Its Luke to set the second half away as we look up at the weather it’s no blue Hawaii today, the Green and Whites play towards the club house as the kick off is quickly returned by Chester. Not wanting to hang about Billingham take it quick, Liam onto a charging James Watson as Chester rip it out and set away across the pitch. There is a fair amount of blocking by Chester dummy runners in the background restricting the cover tackler’s movement across the pitch as they develop the wide channels but it breaks down deep in Billingham territory. Sad to see any player leave due to injury but Browne wanders off disappointed not to get another full match under his belt, Dan Dixon returns to the fray. Billingham scrum is on the front foot as Chester look to get the ball out as quick as they can, still dangerous with the runners but a forward pass allows Billingham to regroup. Uncle Mo looks to be favoring Chester at the moment as they build pressure as a nudge rebounds off a Chester foot, Billingham knock on and Chester get across the gain line in the phases. Billingham make them work hard but they get closer and closer until a dive from a breakdown close to the line gives Chester a hard fought try. Converted it’s the visitors who garb the first of the second for 12 – 20.
Chester knock on from the kick off and it’s a free ball which unravels so Billingham go into the dugout corner as the club house raises its voices. Billingham collect and look to drive over via the rolling maul, its stopped as Billingham go round the corner in search of the try. AJ from the breakdown is stopped as an arm goes aloft, free ball as a kick pass goes dead. High tackle and Billingham opt for a scrum a solid Billingham nudge sets AJ for the pick and go. Rather than a trademark burrow, its over ground wombling free for AJ as a strong hand off allows space to ground. Conversion goes past the posts as the home side strike back 17 – 20.
Chester kick off finds Matty White but Billingham look to have strayed offside at the breakdown as the arm is up but the Chester reaction to AJ is deemed ungentlemanly, penalty reversed. Kick goes stand side but its line out lost with Chester on the front foot, side to side to look for a gap they get a scrum due to running into the ref and despite a Billingham nudge retain the ball and go close several times before being held up whilst driving over the try line. The drop out is held by Chester despite a booble but is then ripped out in the tackle, scrum with Billingham feed ends up in a Chester steal and a penalty. Chester opt for points and dispatch the kick between the posts for breathing room at 17 – 23.
Back to the format, Billingham kick off and Chester box kick to touch, line out ball needs Jamie to clear up the bouncing ball round the fringes as Billingham hunt to get within reach. The club house react as play continues but its brought back for a high tackle and yellow is shown as Chester go down one. Quick tap and go see’s an overload stand side, Billingham look to have made a loose pass but it’s a Chester hand with the try line beckoning. No option but a second yellow for Chester as Billingham go into the corner, Line out is good but the ball pops out the drive and Chester clear, next line out is not straight so Chester swap players in for scrum time. Jamie is active even though its Chester ball and Billingham get the nudge on as Dan Dixon gets over the ball and into the corner we go. Billingham catch and drive set up with Tom C and Burns in the middle of it all, ref is right on hand to signal held up and drop out. Billingham collect and look to stretch the line with Scabs up the line, it’s all a bit frantic as the ball is dropped, Dan Dixon aware to drop on it. Ben Walton then with a half chance as Billingham knock on. Chester feed but not the best posetion for them, Billingham put the pressure on with a strong push and the arm is aloft for advantage. To the corner again with Billingham setting up to driving maul the ball over as AJ retains at the base and grounds out wide. Unconverted Billingham move to 22 – 23 with numbers advantage time still to play but really I can’t call this at the moment, writing it down is hard enough.
Tom Campbell collects the kick off as AJ breaks up the middle with an overlap wide, breakdown recycle is clean so it’s the stand side as Scabs pops a ball through to chase it goes dead or the take out after the kick may have been considered. 22 drop out for Chester goes too far for contest as Peter E retrieves and looks for a gap, out to Rossy on the wing who glides past one then inside back to Peter who gets into space and commits the cover before popping back to the young legs of Rossy to run it in, plus going as near to the posts as possible. Peter pops the ball between the posts to garb the lead for the first time in the match plus I believe that is also the 4th try at 29 – 23.
It’s still all to play for as Chester kick off and Billingham knock on to set up good field position, a converted try could seal the deal. From the scrum Chester move the ball wide behind the forwards screen, Scabs tackle out wide and Groak gets hands over the ball to allow Billingham to kick down the pitch. Billingham secure from the line out but lose in the breakdown and infringe so back in Chester hands but a kick won’t do it this late so it’s into the corner. Its overthrown as Billingham look to exit and put some distance inot the kick but its Chester using the combinations to move up the pitch. Chester retain the ball and the forwards look to make something happen, its last chance saloon as Billingham defend multiple attacks, the ball is knocked loose and Jamie picks up behind the posts, a short delay to check as ref says seconds remaining. I half thought it’s on here with the wingers available but he calmly sends it towards Greenwood road to close the game.
Another absolute cracker of a national two game at Greenwood road, the effort to minimize the Chester chances was massive graft they are a very dangerous well drilled young team that posed some real challenges. It was a nail biter no doubt about it and the Green and White got over the line, lots of smiles mixed in with the battered bodies coming off the pitch. The club house was bouncing and fully illuminated I think everyone who came through the door got a cheer. When you see the graft and heart on the pitch, the 3 senior teams continuing to confound better financed sides, the colts flying high, the girls teams development, the young talent in academy/national sides both men and women and the youth structure I makes you think why doesn’t the local Premiership side want engage?
Always happy to play number 16, come down and join in, Our Spirit is our strength.
No time in this report for just a matching pair, keyboard boogaloo, dropped pants, I’m too old for this, have you missed one out?, from pitch to gym, sustain then overcome, did someone win something this weekend?, Look Newcastle, final whistle celebration in John Lewis kitchen equipment section, glass collection and do they come full?
“Never be comfortable, never be satisfied.” – Shaun Edwards.
An innocent bystander.
Further reading