In a week where Andy Burnham raised eyebrows relating to Stew Evans all time XV choices it’s a home game for the Green and Whites plus ex-players day which always provides some good stories, some of which we can actually publish! It’s also a very busy time of year with fixtures competing with a range of other events but there is always someone to chat with, various people to catch up with and a good range of views to warm the soul. It’s a bit cooler and autumnal which means that the scout leader shorts are packed away awaiting warmer days, thank goodness most will say.
After a slow start it seems that the Red Bulls momentum is starting as they look very completive based on early results, which then hopefully feeds down through the North East ladder. There is still the MDP conundrum (saving the thoughts until the match report) where they have the means to field a very strong squad across the leagues and rack up large score lines which look good but do they really develop a adaptable squad? There is also the on-going concern that teams throughout the club are getting meaningful games, the Lions having a great run out away to DMP last weekend then match called off this weekend doesn’t really offer that development ladder but let’s see how the season goes. Not to be left out the thirds look to continue with regular fixtures in a league environment, always stacked with recognisable faces putting in a shift so another option for games if you ever needed one.
Saturday beckons and I arrive slightly early (for me) to get parked but I must admit it was a bit sparse but time to watch the warm ups. More new faces in the squad to try and recognise plus the returning Lauchlan Hill who I’m not sure is one of the older members of the team now, perhaps the Evans age is balancing the average. People start to mingle as the kick off approaches and no need for floodlights this afternoon as CH has arrived fully fluorescent (straight from work) on to the mount. Billingham have had quite a testing run of fixtures since the end of September with Ionians the latest top half team to visit Greenwood road so can they cap off October with a few points, time will tell. It’s a sunny day but feels cool, slight breeze looks to be across the pitch from the stand side, conditions good but low sun and a fluctuating breeze could play a part.
Ionians jog out in the quarter strips, followed by the Green and white as the officials in pink and black shorts compliment the on field numbers, a jovial antipodean in the centre I understand. As the mount fills with the regulars and my phone pings with “I’ll be there” Its Billingham to kick off away from the club house and towards the mount, game on. Long kick into the 22, Ionians collect and send it back quickly, Harry Rickard gathers Billingham look to set up after a couple of phases a bobbly pass is knocked on. Man in the middle doesn’t like what he sees at the scrum arm up, Billingham kick to touch sets up the first line out. Both sides compete and Ionians come up with it then knock on so scrum, Billingham feed. It’s a steady set which allows Billingham to move it quickly, Joe Pickering asking questions. Support is very mobile, Euan Oakes making sure the ball is available as Joe Syson fizzes the ball out, its advantage being played so its back for the penalty once it slows up. Line out ball with options, off the top and Ben Hyndman loops round to take the ball into traffic, Billingham steadily send the runners in attempting to break the defensive line, Ionians are up to the challenge as the ball is lost and they exit for a breather. From the line out its Billingham on the front foot again, arm is up for no releasing, free ball for Billingham so it’s a speculative kick through from Billingham too long for a runner and too wide for a drop goal but back for the penalty. Hill up and collected as Billingham look to drive well countered by Ionions, two phases then a floater by Luke Wilson collected by full time moustache twirler Seb Williams-Parry who beat the cover and opens the scoring in the corner. A tricky wide one for Luke goes begging and the home side remove the doughnut early 5 – 0.
Ionians kick off high and the pack chase well to pressure Billingham, its collected but breaking out is slowed down so it’s a box kick up the pitch. Ionians look dugout side first Seb in on the tackle, then recycled across the pitch quickly as Ionians sweep across with off the shoulder runners stand side plus missed tackles allow Ionians space and numbers to respond immediately, conversation wide so it’s all square no doughnuts 5 – 5.
It’s a good chase from Billingham at the next kick off to pin Ionians back, as the ball goes loose towards the back of the breakdown Billingham look together but despite appearances it’s not beyond the back foot so not contestable, Billingham pinged frustratingly but officials are on the doorstep. Kick to touch goes half way giving Ionians a great platform, clean off the top and the backs sweep across plus dummy runners in the line to block, looks like a re-run of the last one as Ionians go into the 22 then put a foot in touch. Billingham look to hold, Line out ball is collected, slowly set up to Peter Evans to exit up the dugout side aided by Ionians getting a hand to the ball just before it went out. Line it is good and it’s Joe Syson weaving break up then supported by the forwards, hard graft as Ionians cover but Billingham keep the gains going. Looks like men over stand side as Billingham move the ball out wide, Ionians intercept with the home side all moving up the field, it’s a 65 run in under the posts and conversion as the visitors cash in 12 – 5.
Billingham kick off to just outside the 22 this time, Ionians waste no time and pump it up the pitch, Harry R with a clean collect and brings it up the pitch. Offside runners from Ionians and arm is up, peters out so back for the penalty. Man in the middle is very descriptive with the explanations so no doubt there. Line out for Billingham is stolen then Ionians cough it up at the breakdown allowing Anth Jackson to left and shift it away. Good combinations from the home team move the ball about, Harry R eager to make the extra man great to see. Ionians in over the ball for the turnover but the man in the middle asked for hands off so this allows Billingham into the corner. Catch and drive from the home team, well countered by Ionians and no forward momentum but ball is retained, arm up as Billingham look to move it. No advantage played as we go back for the penalty, Luke tees one up but not to touch as he pings a cross filed kick and Seb leaps to catch then takes a swinging arm high as he goes over for his second. Quick thinking by the Capt (make it so) who adds the extras to even up the scoreboard 12 -12.
Ionians kick off as the versatile forward Adam Brown collects “Burns style” and Billingham look to settle it down, Ionians note the set up and charge down the box kick which rolls into touch. Billingham still deep in their own half collect the line out and after successive phases with little gain box kick up field and into touch. Ionians next foray ends in a forward pass but they get a nudge on the first scrum to reverse the feed then steady the next one to set away the runners, steady momentum from the visitors as they go stand side to dugout side, tackle into touch with the line in sight. Line out ball as Billingham look to take at the front and it looks like some interference in the air arm goes up, Ionians comment and loose another 10, line drawn. Joe Browell up at the line out, continuing to show top commitment and performance in the national 2 cauldron, Billingham look to speed up the play Harry R again with a strong run the hands over to the forwards. Ionians look to match the runners as the phases stack up, Billingham work hard to retain and then get a penalty. Line out is good and its Ben H looking for a gap, then as the ball is worked into the middle Ionians steal looking to set up the break. Man in the middle or touch judge spot something and the arm is up, Ionians pulling back a Billingham player but they disagree so its walk another 10. Luke opts for the sticks and slots one over, not collected cleanly beyond the mount due to the low autumn sun but the home side edge ahead 15 -12.
JB collects the kick off the Billingham look to move it round the corner via the forwards, but its Ionians over the ball after a couple of phases and it’s into the corner. Its long to the tail of the line out as Ionians look to develop the drive, somehow Jacko ends up with the ball breaking out, not sure how, nor do the officials arm up. Into the corner again, Billingham steal this one but take it over the try line and are caught, scrum to Ionians, they must fancy this. Scrum is solid to Ionians test the line multiple times, it’s moved around but Billingham defend robustly and drive Ionians back in the tackle. After a massive defensive set, ball is to Peter E who leathers it up the dugout side, Ionians collect with a foot in touch, line out Billingham. The half plays out around halfway, kick are exchanged with Adam Brown at full back but no further scoring as the whistle sounds. Both teams jog off, scoreboard finely poised but defending the potential try just before half time means the home team are still ahead. The man in the middle stays out and recaps via headset whilst keeping mobile.
It’s all lively on the mount at half time people leave to relive and refresh, people arrive and it seems to get a little cooler. We muse over the finer points of life, how the Boro are doing, what was in the budget and if the clairvoyant group should be allowed to take part in the quiz, hosted by Dan the quiz man (both on a Thursday night at the club). Well done to the U15 Hawks team who completed their virtual bike ride on Thursday night, it certainly made the refreshments taste sweeter watching them claim every mountain plus Sando could share some friendly advice on the best cream for chafing.
Second half and Ionians are out early they kick off towards the mount, Euan with the collect and we are off. Billingham send up the high ball and retrieve, then arm up so this allows them to kick for touch. Line out went well in the first half but it’s usually not wise to say it as Ionians get a hand in and this leads to kick exchanges as both teams like for an early advantage. Both look to build phases but it’s Ionians in the Billingham half who look to switch the ball, its numbers out wide which is wasted by a greedy runner but that pulls the cover across. Ionians recycle and send it back to the stand side and go in right at the corner flag. Conversion creeps under cross bar just but the visitors fire one early 15 – 17.
Billingham kick off towards the club house, collect and box kick exit from Ionians which Harry R collects and sets away the attack, arm up high tackle. Line out is collected and the forwards put in the hard yards then release the backs on the stand side, it looks close but Ionians are over the ball. No hands requested, hands in results in arm up and yellow flashed to reduce Ionians to 14. The kick to touch sets up the catch and drive from the line out, Ionians counter so Jacko picks, then quick recycle as Billingham look out wide but it’s a gap for a rushing Luke to go in under the posts. Converted Billingham respond 22 -17 plus a man up what can they do?
Ionians kick off with JB collecting, Jacko looks for a quick dart then Nathan Rickably with a strong run, looks like advantage as Billingham secure. Peter E with a kick across and Seb gathers in stride rounding the cover, and away. Inside to Harry R then great work o at the breakdown to make the ball available, Joe Syson to Peter E over to Euan Oakes push a defender off and break the try line. Conversion is across the posts but a flowing move from the home team with support across the pitch. 27 – 17.
Ionians send up a high one and chase hard, a bit of a kerfuffle and they get the ball back in the form of a penalty. Line out and they knock on, but a good nudge at the scrum and the arm is up again, this allows Ionians to set up and its controlled attacks which are countered until a missed pass find the big 12 to get over line, conversion is missed but the 14 men narrow the gap 27 – 22.
Billingham start to ring the changes with the impressive Euan Oakes taking a rest and the evergreen and second best moustache on the team Nathan Myers on. Kickoff is returned by Ionians, Billingham look to set up and its Louis Groark off down the blindside into space and the cover to beat so he goes lateral, looks like a quick re-cycle and Nathan is on the ball, one hand off as he draws men in. Looks like Billingham can move the ball quickly but slowed down so the second yellow for Ionians, to go to 13 for a very short while. It’s a tap and go as Billingham look to use the advantage of numbers but also get another arm up so a possible long pass intercept gets brought back. Tap again as the forwards look to the try line but again it’s the “old heads” Peter E with the pass and Luke at pace to go under the sticks. Converted the home side look to build a cushion at 34 – 22.
Ionians back to 14 for the kick off and Billingham knock on so it’s a scrum Ionians feed, well inside the Billingham half. First one gets reset didn’t look like a straight drive, second one Ionians are too eager and go before the ball is in, free kick and it’s up the line, Ionians line out not straight so it’s a Billingham scrum. Ionians are up for it again nudge is controlled this time and they get the arm up and go for the line out, clean take but the ball goes loose at the breakdown, Jamie Lane pounces its a hack up the dugout side touchline and he’s off after it. Nice bounce for collection but he doesn’t think he’ll make it, Hill on the supporting run. Then Billingham recycle and switch out to Harry R who opts inside, Elliot Husband inside but Ionians cover. Ball is made available; no slowing down this time and Jamie spots a gap to finish off the try. 41 -22 following the conversation as home side keep the ball moving to fully exploit the man advantage.
With time ticking the rest of the match was mainly spent in the Billingham half, Ionians back to full numbers looked for quick tries to put pressure on with Billingham working hard to limit any chances. Ionians definitely had chances with numbers out wide on several occasions and successive penalties plus continuous defence effort caught up with the home team in the dying stages. The Billingham defence like the first half made it really difficult but they didn’t really get a chance to get the ball and clear, it was wave after wave of Ionian runners. The man in the middle was very clear and the penalties were racking up, Jacko off for a high tackle so Billingham forced to “bulk” up the scrum with Elliott at 8. Despite the Ionians not driving straight the width and extra man allowed the try out wide, unconverted for 41 -29.
As the man in the middle was asked about the location of Mickey mouse’s hands, Billingham have time to kick off, Hull collect and send a runner up the middle, a missed tackle and Jamie Lane brings the runner down. Elliott like a true forward then gets over the ball, arm up which allows Billingham to kick to touch and amble slowly to the line out. Ionians steal the line out and set away looking to grab those late points, they knock on but an earlier offside is given. Into the corner, its series of penalties that are all racking up. It’s the catch and drive from Ionians in the corner which goes down but the man in the middle confirms collapsed and it’s a yellow to Billingham and a penalty try. 41 – 36.
No time to restart the final whistle sounds, two men to the good you would have backed Ionians getting something if it had continued, a converted try would have grabbed it but it’s the home side with the win. What a cracker plus point for both teams, hats off to the squad as this was built on commitment in defence, support in attack and team work throughout. I hope that many shared their comments to the players after the match or in the clubhouse, it’s never easy in this very challenging league but the application and graft around the pitch from this young squad was top drawer, the “oldies” were pretty good too.
No time in this report for to boldly go, pumpkin soup, exercise bikes, oh this is high energy, Marty’s favourite word?, didn’t go to University, every night is quiz night, got to be quick to get curry, coffee?, Saturday night pick up, BVB and more boxes than boxing day.
"Star Trek has never been solely about mission success but about how the crew responds to failure. Starfleet officers face setbacks, mistakes, and bad luck, and they work together to adapt and keep going." – Sir Patrick Stewart
An innocent bystander.