New Brighton
Football Club (R.U.)
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New Brighton Football Club (R.U.) |
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March Match Reports Season 2000-2001 |
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| Season Results and Match Reports | ||
English National League Three North |
NEW BRIGHTON 37 - 0 NUNEATON Team
Sheet: Report: New Brighton showed great form in their 37-0 win over Nuneaton on Saturday. The manner of their victory left Blues fans wondering how their team had conspired to lose by 20 –08 just three weeks ago in the Midlands. With Sedgley winning at LSH and Stourbridge beating local rivals Dudley Kingswinford New Brighton are beginning to run out of options in this season's title race. Jay Stirrett held his place in the second row but Marcus Coast withdrew due to important work commitments on Monday. Steve O'Connor was retained at no 10 and Julian Williams was called in at 11. In near perfect conditions the game kicked off to see Nuneaton take early control. For the opening three minutes the Blues hardly had sight of the ball as Nuneaton dominated the early possession. A preview of what was to follow was given on the five minute mark. New Brighton won possession from a scrum and began a forward drive down the left wing. When the early ball was presented scrum half Hughes launched his backs on a penetrating play that swept across the field from left to right. O'Connor fed Brett who linked with Evans who in-turn launched speedster Williams out wide. It was a good move to get even better when Lamb arrived in support having covered the width of the field to get to the ball. Lamb drove forward purposefully to create a good position on the visitors 22.
Both sets of forwards were steaming, apparently with points to settle from their previous game three weeks ago Following several further flare ups referee Edmonds was in action again on 15 minutes dispatching Nuneaton's No 7 Paul Reece to the sin bin. The game up front was uncompromising as the big men battled for ascendancy. On 28 minutes a good possession launched a powerful Blues thrust up-field. Bellis carried well to drive deep into the defence. New Brighton kept the ball alive well and worked it to Jones who powerd in for the first score on 28 mins. Brett failed with the conversion Score 5 –0 on 28 mins Phil Gazzola sustained a leg injury in the try scoring play and was replaced by Steve Dorrington. The Blues were now growing in confidence and varied the play well before setting their backs on a sortie down the left flank. Brett made early ground and good hands from Pearson threaded a difficult pass to Evans who put punch o the play. Lamb & Stirrett were fast in support to set the ruck and a fast ball saw the New Brighton backs speed the play 50 metres across field in a flowing move that drew the best from Hughes, O'Connor and Brett. When speedster Julian Williams collected the ball the defence was at full stretch and had no answer for the sheer pace of the Blues winger who crossed to score out wide. Brett failed with the conversion 10-0 on 32 mins Nuneaton were now under the cosh as the Blues drove and probed their defence. Jones, who was afire with passion twice came close to breaking clear with Bellis supporting well. It was inevitable that the penalties would come and so they did. In the first instance New Brighton twice kicked for touch seeking to work a score from the line out. It was not to be as the Midland defence held firm. When a further penalty was offered Brett strode up to kick the points to complete the first half scoring.
Half Time: New Brighton 13 - 0 Nuneaton New Brighton had enjoyed the best of the first half, indeed Nuneaton had not once entered the Blues 22 in the first 40 minutes. The Blues started well from the resumption and built a good position centre field in the Nuneaton half. When O'Connor cleverly delayed his pass the Midlanders defence was caught in two minds, a late pass threaded to Williams forced the gap and when Jez Lamb popped up in support there were just no defenders left to stop the big man crashing over for a fine score. Brett failed with the extras. Score 18 - 0 on 43 minutes It was not until the 47th minute of play that Nuneaton were able to enter the Blues 22 and that was only momentarily until Mapp seized a loose ball and kicked up field to restore the position. The forwards were still niggling and the encounters up front bruising and uncompromising. A further flare up on 49 mins saw the third yellow card of the day this time to Blues' Geoff Jones. Taking advantage of the extra man Nuneaton cranked their game up and pressed hard to open their account. The pressure was severe and drew the best from the Blues defence. 25-0 on 54 mins
The Blues were now playing very well and in virtual total control, Lamb and Campbell were impressive around the field making good ground to force a scrum in the visitors 22. It was now the turn of the Dorrington Brothers to grind home the front row scrummage advantage. Clearly struggling under the pressure 32 – 0 on 75 mins Enjoying his best form for some time Lamb was twice involved in the play that followed the restart.New Brighton cleverly worked the ball up centre field before launching a blistering attack out wide on the left. Taylor saw the gap and raced 30 metres for the final score of the game. Final: New Brighton 37 - 0 Nuneaton
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| Day's Results, and Table |
English National League Three North |
Sedgley Park 26 - 10 NEW BRIGHTON Team
Sheet: Report: New Brighton's roller coaster season took another turn on Saturday with a 26-10 reversal at Sedgley Park. On the balance of play Blues supporters might agree that Sedgley deserved their win but, and it is a very big but, had justice been done 14 minutes from time it could all have been so very much different. The Blues trailing 18-10 with the wind at their backe were coming back into the game when an outrageous elbow from Parks towering 6'7" lock, Raducanu, poleaxed the Seasiders skipper Geoff Jones. The incident went unpunished, Park rallied, the Blues faded and the game was lost. This was always going to be a difficult task for the Blues. With 6'7" Steve Fox unavailable at his brothers wedding, prop Hue Thomas and No 10 Clint Beachamp failing fitness tests and big Nick Allot having one more day of his suspension to serve, New Brighton could justly claim that they were perhaps not up to par. Liverpool Universities ever improving Jay Stirrett was promoted to the second row to partner Paul Campbell who himself was returning after breaking his hand two weeks ago. Steve O'Connor was called into the No 10 spot after a 6 month injury lay off with Tom Mapp dropping back to his preferred full back position. Playing into a stiff wind the Blues got off to the worst of starts with Sedgley scoring from the kick off. A storming opening from the home pack drove deep into Blues territory, a couple of half tackles and the score was threatening just seconds from the start. Blues defenders appeared to have halted the drive close to their line but a second effort from Sedgley's juggernaut pack forced Raducanu over for a try converted by Stevens. New Brighton were out gunned in size and weight up front and in a crunching cup tie atmosphere the game unwound into the pattern of Sedgleys big pack powering into the Blues defence with wave after wave of forward drives. The Wirral men held firm with Jones, Brookman and Bellis resolute in the tackle. Mid way through the half New Brighton earned a line out within striking distance of the Sedgley line. Jay Stirrett rose above the Sedgley lineout to catch brilliantly. Immediately Blues forwards committed to a drive of their own. The maul rolled left then right but the momentum was maintained and for once it was Sedgley's big men on the back foot. With the play just 5 metres short Brookman broke from the side to power over for an impressive score. Brett hit the conversion well and the ball sailed high and true drawing the cheers from the visiting fans, but with the luck New Brighton were having on this afternoon it stalled and held in the wind to drift inches wide. Sedgley fired up their effort taking the game straight back at the Blues. When they earned a line out just a few metres short of New Brighton's line the signs were ominous as their big men gathered for the effort. Hooker Steve Byford threw the ball in but an impressive leap from Stirrett managed to get a deflecting hand in sending the ball over Raducanu to be collected by the ever alert Jones who powered down field to relieve the pressure. Sedgley pounded away at New Brighton's defence but the Blues held firm. Stevens missed a penalty for the home side on 20 minutes. The action continued in similar vain with New Brighton looking quite comfortable in defence soaking up everything the home pack could throw at them. As the game progressed the Blues began to run the ball wider and were looking dangerous. When Mapp joined the line to come speeding through only to be felled by a crude high tackle from Raducanu, referee Richard Glynne-Jones stopped the play to show the yellow card and send the offending lock to the sin bin. Mapp was shaken but stayed on the field after extensive treatment. It was at this point that the Blues lost the initiative. To the dismay of their travelling fans they failed to overcome the combination of a 14 man Sedgley effort and the wind. The home side scored with two Stevens penalties before the interval.
Half Time: Sedgley Park 13 - 5 New Brighton Blues spirits were high as the second half kicked off. Now with a stiff wind at their backs it was their turn to have the best of the elements. Sedgley, however, had other ideas and started the half in blistering form Failing to take advantage of the wind New Brighton tried to run from deep positions to remain penned in their own half. Time after time the conditions called for a siege gun boot up field to relieve the pressure, but for some reason a succession of Blues players were reluctant to kick long and conspired to remain trapped in their own half. Inevitably the pressure told. From a position on the Blues 22 Sedgley first moved the ball infield from a scrum but clever work from Stevens reversed the attack to run wide to the wing. For once the Blues defence was caught flat footed. Sedgley pace man Moon raced out wide on the left wing. Marco Dorrington made a valiant effort to cut the speed man off but his 19 stone was never going to have the legs of the winger who sprinted home for the try. Stevens failed with the conversion. Score 18 - 5 on 48 minutes Sedgley had enjoyed the balance of play to this point. But, with the exception of the opening minute and Moons try they had not looked like scoring. The stage was set for New Brighton to power back into the game to grab the win their promotion hopes so desperately needed. With 20 minutes remaining Coach Connor threw the mighty impact substitute Carl Turley into the fray replacing Paul Campbell. Turley's effect was immediate. A series of power plays forced the ball down the left wing to establish a position in the Sedgley 22. Sensing their chance New Brighton lifted their game to pin Sedgley deep in defence. Dorrington, Davies and Gazolla led the charge as the Blues enjoyed a spell of sustained pressure. They were not about to let the opportunity go and sent their fans wild when the try eventually came as a rolling maul crashed over the line. Bellis was awarded the score but it could have been any number of the blues pack who were in the move. The action had been fierce and fast with both teams drained by the effort. It is at this stage when games, and sometimes championships, are won and lost. Both teams threw their all into the battle when the incident that turned the competition and sunk the Blues occurred. Breaking out of defence Sedgley ran the ball amongst their forwards. The towering Radecnu powered across the half way line making good ground when Geoff Jones ran in to tackle. Seeking to drag the giant down Geoff went high into the contact. Sensing the danger Radecanue turned slightly, raised his elbow before and crashing into the unfortunate Jones driving the leading elbow into the face of his tackler. The crowd reaction was immediate, as a second yellow card would have dispatched the offender for an early bath. Amazingly the play continued with no whistle from the referee or flag from the touch judge. New Brighton eventually halted the drive and the game stopped for motionless Jones to get treatment. He was down for several minutes. Referee and touch judge conferred but there was no intervention and the offence went unpunished. It was a defining moment in the match. With 12 minutes remaining, the scores at 18-10 and the strong wind in New Brighton's favour had Raducanu walked the result would almost certainly have turned for the Blues. However, Raducanu leading elbow went unpunished, Sedgley rallied and the Blues faded. It was a cruel irony when Sean O'Hare spotted a hole in the defence to race over for the score that nailed New Brighton's coffin. O'Hare was released by the Blues just two seasons ago to move to the Park. Stevens added a late penalty to round off the day for Sedgley. On balance Sedgley were perhaps worthy of their win over the depleted Blues, but the discussion about what might have happened had Raducanu walked 12 minutes from time will continue long after this championship race is over. Final: Sedgley Park 26 - 10 New Brighton
The Blues must now pick themselves up for yet another crunch game at Reeds Lane on Saturday for the visit of Nuneaton. Having lost to the Midlanders last month New Brighton will be keen to set the record straight and return to winning ways to keep their promotion hopes alive.
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| Day's Results, and |
English National League Three North |
Nuneaton 20 - 8 NEW BRIGHTON Team
Sheet: Report: Nuneaton on their own turf always posed a tough test for the Blues, but with Coast, Thomas and Allott unavailable the task proved a 'Bridge too far' for the Wirral men. It could and should have been a different story. New Brighton kicked off with the wind at their backs and appeared to be doing well against a good and very big home pack. In the opening minutes there was the usual exchange of penalties. Warwick Masser scoring for Nuneaton and Brett narrowly missing for New Brighton. The Blues looked lively in these opening exchanges and looked the better team. Nuneaton player coach Chris Tarbuck halted a powerful break by Brett on 12 minutes. The dynamic No 7 was to have crucial influence on the game. In 'sticky' conditions the Blues struggled to build any meaningful attacking positions with Tarbuck and his big forwards intent on slowing down any quick play. Brett had two further penalty attempts, but failed narrowly on both occasions. The first defining moment of the game came on 20 minutes when Tarbuck floored Blues' No 10 Tom Mapp with a late tackle. The offence drew a yellow card from the referee Doug Chapman and gave Brett another penalty chance. This time he struck straight and true to level the scores. Score 3 - 3 on 21 minutes. Seizing the opportunity, New Brighton stepped up the pace taking advantage of the extra man. As ever, Jones lead from the front with a series of penetrating runs, Fox and Campbell were fast in support as was Lamb and Bellis. When No 10 Mapp took a good ball close to the home 10 metre line, the defence was stretched thin and the opportunity beckoned. Mapp, needing no more invitation, showed the ball to his opposite number before cutting inside to break through for a fine score. Brett failed with the conversion. Half Time: Nuneaton 3 - 8 New Brighton For the first 15 minutes of the second period things seemed to be going well for the Blues. They were handling the pressure from the big home pack and were clearly gaining the ascendancy. Two elements then combined to halt their progress. First was a hand injury to 6' - 6" second row forward Paul Campbell. The line out 'King' soldiered on but was dramatically effected by, what transpired to be, a suspected broken bone. When New Brighton earned three successive lineouts in the Nuneaton 22, Campbells injury was to prove costly. Reducing their lineout to three men, the Blues somehow contrived to come away with no points to show for their efforts. Again, these were to be defining moments in the game. Two of the lines were won from kickable penalties. It proved a costly error. However, the Blues were still ahead and in the driving seat when a moment of controversial action turned the game. Referee Chapman adjudged Blues Tom Mapp to have high tackled his opposite number and sent the New Brighton man for a 10 minute spell in the 'Sin Bin'. It was all the encouragement that Nuneaton needed. Exploiting the extra man, scrum half Dan Bailey scampered over for the score that tied the game. Warwick Masseur kicked the conversion and Nuneaton were ahead. Score 10 - 8 on 65 minutes A 14 man New Brighton fired up to fight back. Jones intercepted and broke from the half way line to feed Brett who made good ground before laying off to speed man Julian Williams. It was only a splendid tackle from Nuneaton's Chris Tarbuck that halted the move. New Brighton were unlucky, but Tarbucks covering play was magnificent. Turley replaced the wounded Campbell, Taylor replaced Davies and Mapp returned from the 'Sin Bin' as the game entered its final and decisive phase. Nuneaton launched an attacking play from a line out in the Blues' 22. With just 4 minutes remaining the their big men progressed the move ever closer to the right of the New Brighton posts. When a home forward appeared to break off the side of the maul he was 'nailed' by Geoff Jones. Referee Chapman adjudged that the player was still in the maul, whistled and awarded a penalty try to Nuneaton. Blues' winger Steve Johnson made a remark that upset the referee to progress a bizarre series of events that could well prove very costly to the Blues' promotion drive. Masser kicked the conversion to notch up the obligatory 7 points for the penalty try, and the game restarted with another penalty for Nuneaton, from the centre spot, as a consequence of of Johnsons remark to the referee. With only moments remaining in the game, Nuneaton decided to try a kick for goal. Masser struck the ball well and it sailed high and long in the wind. Spotting the danger that the ball might carry for a score, New Brighton props lifted 6' - 7" Steve Fox high in the air. Reaching even higher, Fox deflected the ball around the posts to save any possibility of conceding points. However, the ball flew over the dead ball line and with Fox the last man to touch it a 5 metre scrum was awarded to Nuneaton. Nuneaton won possession and after a couple of drives set up stand off Masser for a drop goal attempt that he struck sweetly between the uprights to complete the blues misery. Final: Nuneaton 20 - 8 New Brighton Next week the Blues travel to Whitchurch for a 'must win' clash with the Shropshire lads.
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| Day's Results, and Table |
A Nuneaton scrum centre field just 30 metres our looked to be very dangerous but, anxious to take the advantage, the Midlanders were penalised for pushing early in the scrum allowing Bellis to power out of defence from the free kick. Blues forwards were fast in support and drove the play up field into the visitors half. Emrys Evans ran well to chase a kick ahead catching full back Jody Peacock in possession. Lamb and Stirrett were fast on the scene to keep the motion going. Hughes fed O'Connor who cleverly reversed the angle to press on the blind side. O'Connor at full speed offered to pass out wide but straightened up to break the defence and run in for a fine score. Brett kicked the conversion 
Nuneaton failed to control their-own ball allowing the mercurial Jez Lamb to snap it up and power over for an opportunist score. Brett added the conversion