New Brighton
Football Club (R.U.)
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New Brighton Football Club (R.U.) |
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September Match Reports Season 2000-2001 |
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| October Match Reports | ||
English National League Three North |
DONCASTER
11 - 3 NEW BRIGHTON Team
Sheet: Report: The "Blues" left Reeds Lane to journey across the Pennines in sunshine. The journey along the M62 went without a hitch and the team coach arrived at the newly named Castle Park (Home of Doncaster Rugby) in good spirits. All talk in recent years about "wait til we get our new Clubhouse", well there it was for all to see. £2.4 Million of it. No fairy tales here, the real McCoy. A hugely impressive building full of all the most up to date facilities. As kick off approached there was the customary buzz in the crowd as both sets of spectators anticipated the forthcoming battle. As the New Brighton team trooped out onto the pitch to tumultuous acclaim from their large band of supporters, the sun disappeared, the sky went dark and the heavens opened. As it turned out, we had already seen the best part of the days events. The game was only
minutes old when Mark Dorrington, having picked up a
spilled Doncaster line out ball, charged up the field
only to be brought back by referee Rob Sheard who
adjudged Doncaster to have been fouled. Up stepped Liley
with the kick As the rain poured relentlessly down, the "Blues" gained a lot of possession and for long periods pinned the home side in their own half. Paul brett, Emrys Evans and Kevin Brookman all came close but with frenzied tackling by Doncaster and some strange tacktical options by the "Blues" the home side hung on. From a wild clearance
the home team surged up field for the first time in15
minutes or so. Now New Brighton found themselves
defending and from a collapsed maul the Referee saw
something nobody else did, up stepped Liley The game now was littered with errors, stoppages and incessant wheeling of the scrum, resulting in a farcial period when the crowd, now becoming agitated, was treated to 9 scrums, one after another, interlaced with 5 stoppages for minor injuries. Relief came when
Doncaster collapsed the scrum, the "Blues" got
the penalty and Paul Brett made it We were now into the 6th minute
of 1st half injury time. Doncaster were again defending
bravely when from a turnover they broke upfield only to
be halted 15 metres out. From the ensuing collapsed maul
the ball somehow popped out on the "Blues"
side. Scrum half Rhys Hughes, amazingly, decided to run
ball, got caught, turned over and from the following ruck
Doncaster Rob Ward crashed over in the corner. Liley
missed the kick and the half time whistle blew. Half Time: Doncaster 11 - 3 New Brighton The second half started with the forward battle raging up front, the "Blues" tried to turn possession into points, more near misses followed, but now with their tails up Doncaster seemed more in control as they contained the now predictable "Blues". With the heavens now sobbing their hearts out, the game was deteriorating into another farce of reset scrums and injuries with the referee making things even more complicated with some strange decisions. This culminated with the Sin Bin greeting Bellis from New Brighton and Eves from Doncaster. As the game progressed (if that's the word) it seemed every time the play stopped there was a Doncaster player requiring attention. The number of stoppages was amazing to the point of absurdity. Any semblance of entertaining rugby, seemed to have disappeared, as the referee blew the game to it's painful end 9 minutes into injury time, but not before he sin binned Nick Allott in the dying seconds. Final: Doncaster 11 - 3 New Brighton At the final whistle not even the Doncaster supporters could raise much of a cheer, just a sigh of relief. On this showing, both teams will have to do better if they are to stand any chance of promotion. Back home, in the sunshine, the 2nd's beat Doncaster 10 - 7 . |
| Day's Results, and Table |
English National League Three North |
TYNEDALE
10 - 16 NEW BRIGHTON Team
Sheet: Report: They went knowing that only their best would do, to lose could seriously dent their promotion aspirations for this season. The 400 miles round trip was daunting enough, little did they know that they were to be confronted on arrival by an enthusiastic crowd of home supporters. Tynedale were up for this one, they want to make an impression on this league and on this performance they surely will. For a change the weather was kind, it threatend to rain, it tried to rain, but it didn't. Perhaps this was the omen The Blues needed. The game opened in lively style with New Brighton seizing the initiative, running the ball wide from the Northerners big pack. Time after time they broke the gain line only to be brought down short by some desperate tackling. Something had to give and on 12 mins Tynedale conceded a penalty 35 metres out. Paul Brett converted to make the score 0 - 3. The battle raging up front was very intense as Tynedale fought to get back into the game. The RFU Referee was kept on his toes to keep the lid on this one and several "Waggy Fingers" were admonishment for for bone crunching tackles as the big hits rained in from both sides. No quarter given by either team. After 20 mins The Blues pressure paid off again as the backs, still hammering away at the home line, were awarded another penalty for Tynedale going over the top and killing the ball. Paul Brett once again did the business. Score 0 - 6. As the game progressed Tynedale appeared to have weathered the storm and were playing it tight to keep The Blues out. Gradually, the home team gathered in confidence and came close to scoring themselves. But, now it was New Brighton's turn to defend and defend they did, Geoff Jones, Steve Bellis in the forwards, new boy Emrys Evans, Marcus Coast and Tom Mapp knocking them down in the backs. On 38 minutes The Blues were rewarded when, wide out, Paul Brett charged down an attempted clearance for Keven Brookman following up to touch down for the first try. The conversion sailed narrowly wide. Half Time: Tynedale 0 - 11 New Brighton The second half started at the same relentless pace. New Brighton, now playing into the wind, keeping the ball tighter now and using every opportunity to drive the big Northumbrian forwards back towards their own line, stretching them to their very limits. On 53 minutes, Tynedale, after sucking in The Blues forwards in a driving maul, were awarded a penalty for The Blues preventing quick possession. Moses, their No. 10, popped it over to make the scores 3 - 11. On 64 minutes, The Blues, defending in their own half, won the ball and from the ensuing maul drove Tynedale forwards back some 40 yards to set up a chance for Emrys Evans to crash over wide on the left to give New Brighton their second try. Paul Brett failed with the conversion, Score 3 - 16 Both teams were beginning to show the signs of fatigue as the game went into the last quarter. But, this Titanic struggle was not over yet. The Blues replaced loose head prop Mark Dorrington with young giant Phil Gazola. This spurred the Tynedale forwards who seemed to gain a second wind and swarmed back at The Blues, keeping them pinned back in their own 22. Only more ferocious tackling them at bay. With three minutes left, Steve Johnson replaced Julian Williams on the wing. Now well into injury time something had to give and from the 5th penalty in as many minutes, Tynedale's huge Tongan Flanker, Steve Otuvaka crashed over for a well deserved consolation try, Moses converted and the final whistle blew. New Brighton looked relieved, they deserved their win, but, the result should have been out of reach long before that last try. Final: Tynedale 10 - 16 New Brighton |
| Day's Results, and Table |
English National League Three North |
NEW
BRIGHTON 53 - 0 Whitchurch Team Sheet: Report: From Tony
Atherton Yet to concede a try in 160 mins of rugby, The Bkues have generated a buzz about Reeds Lane that promises to make them serious challengers for promotion in this their third season in National League Division Three. Phil Gazzola and Iain Taylor started at loose head prop and hooker respectively and whilst Taylors throwing in to the line-out wobbled at times, his imagination in attack showed what a good footballer he is. Gazzola, was as solid as his mighty frame suggests and will undoubtedly be challenging for a regular start as the season unfolds. It would be absurd to say that The Blues are totally satisfied with their game. However, Geoff Jones was delighted with the attitude that enabled his side to score eight tries without reply. "I feel that things are coming together" said Jones"Confidence is high and the work rate is improving". Adam Butt opened the scoring after two minutes, which effectively killed the game as a contest. Paul Brett added two more tries before Emrys Evans completed the first half try count. Brett converted three and added a penalty to make the half time score 29 - 0. The Blues took the foot off the gas for periods of the second half. But, tries by Fox, Brookman, Coast and Taylor, with Brett adding two more conversions, gave The Blues their second League victory of the season. Next week New Brighton travel to undefeated Tynedale. The newly promoted Northumberland outfit will be a stern test. However, we are confident that The Blues will continue their winning ways. Tynedale will test us , they gained promotion last season undefeated. We are aware of their strengths and will be looking to stretch the game to counter their big forwards. With Richard Shuttleworth, an Australian flanker, and Mark Stitch, an Australian under 19 International No. 8, expected at Reeds lane this week, we can feel reasonably satisfied with the strength of the squad. From Geoff Stone On a perfect day for rugby, New brighton strolled to a 53 - 0 win over a disappointing Whitchurch side. The margin of victory could and should have been greater against an opposition that, on this evidence, will struggle to keep their National League status at the end of the season. In previous seasons Whitchurch's forwards had held their own. That strength was no where to be seen on Saturday as their scrum was sent retreating and wheeling at any opportunity. Before the kicking tee had been retrieved following the kick-off, Adam Butt crashed over in the corner following a slick handling movement involving all the backs. Although Paul Brett missed the kick he soon had opportunities to make amends when converting both of his own tries, both from the touchline, and adding a penalty for good measure. It was approaching the half hour before Whitchurch got into New Brighton's 22. But, after duly being repelled, Marcus Coast broke through in the centre before sending Emrys Evans over between the posts. Half Time: New Brighton 29 - 0 Whitchurch. Seven minutes into the second half Steve Fox was driven over following a line-out, and then Kevin Brookman was at hand to add a sixth when Rhys Hughes and Steve Fox combined after a tap penalty. Tries by Marcus Coast and a last minute effort from Iain Taylor on his debut finished the scoring. Final Score: New Brighton 53 - 0 Whitchurch. |
| Day's Results |
English National League Three North |
NEW
BRIGHTON 12 - 9 SEDGLEY PARK
Team
Sheet: Report: Sedgley Park kicked deep from the kick off and put the home side under considerable pressure for the first 15 minutes of the half. A rather nervous looking New Brighton did well to withstand the onslaught and restrict the opposition to a single penalty goal during that period. Defences dominated, but the New Brighton pack were getting the better of their opponents in both set pieces and loose, while the backs looked the more dangerous. The pressure eventually turned into points with Paul Brett kicking 3 penalty goals before half time.
Half Time: New Brighton 9 - 3 Sedgley Park Sedgley relied heavily on their forwards and the monstrous kicking of fly half Stephens to set up attacking positions in the Blue's half which were eventually rewarded with an excellently taken drop goal by Colin Stephens and a well kicked penalty by the same player. New Brighton were restricted to a single penalty goal after the break, though there was some fine attacking play, which should have produced at the very least one try, frustrated by poor finishing. Sedgley also had their moment when Chris Radecanu was held up over the line in the dying minutes.
The New Brighton pack performed well and none more so than Nick Allott who had a great game and provided the steadiness and control which was, in the end, decisive. The young Australian full back Adam Butt had a fine debut and Emrys Evans, at centre, showed that he will certainly be making a valuable contribution in this seasons campaign.
The Blues must count themselves a little lucky to have notched up a very significant win, but, on balance they were the better side and justice was done.
Final: New Brighton 12 - 9 Sedgley Park |
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| October Match Reports |