October Match Reports Season 2001-2002

Report:
Doncaster is some 70 miles from Hartlepool and just over an hours drive in a fast car. The distance between their two leading rugby clubs however is a chasm. Having demolished the Teesiders with a 69 point haul at Reeds Lane just seven days ago, New Brighton travelled to Yorkshire believing that they could get a result from this D-day clash with the Tykes to re-launch their stuttering season. It was not to be. Suffering a 51-10 defeat away to a very good Doncaster XV the Blues must now regroup and rebuild their dented spirits for what is going to be a long season.

New Brighton 7- 0 West Hartlepool on 1 min.

Karl Davies returned to the front row and Loa Tupou came in to play on the wing as James Moore, who impressed so much last week when he came on as a late substitute, started on the other wing. John Sewell, recovered from injury, returned in the back row, Mark Dorrington started at loose head and Jez Lamb as blindside flanker with Tim Morton and Adam Kettle, respectively, rotating to the bench. Similarly Anthony Birley came in at fly half with Steve O'Connor rested as the replacement this week. Alistair Atkinson moved to the second row with the news that Jay Stirrett recurring knee injury is likely to keep him out for some time

Stunned by the early try West Hartlepool gathered to make a fight of the action, but their resistance was only short lived. A penalty from Brett on 6 minutes put a further dent into their resolve and signalled a procession of New Brighton scores as the Reeds Lane men fired to produced a feast of tries and running rugby to delight the fans.

James Moore showed fine pace to score on 8 minutes with Riaz Fredericks adding his second try on 13 minutes. Brett converted both to open up a 24 point lead in the first quarter of the match.

New Brighton 24- 0 West Hartlepool on 24 mins

Enjoying real forward dominance the Blues were able to settle into the style of play their coaches have been working so hard to achieve this season. Campbell scored on 25 minutes with Brett adding the conversion. Bret was in the thick of things again on 32 minutes to score out wide. This time he failed to add the extras.

With the half drawing to a close Marcus Coast powered through the opposition back line to score under the posts allowing Brett the easiest of kicks to take his tally to 18 points and the Blues to 43.

Half time New Brighton 43 – 0 West Hartlepool

Within 2 minutes of the resumption an Anthony Birley try, conversion by Brett took the Blues to the half century leaving West to contemplate the long drive back to Teeside

There was some encouragement for the visitors when Campbell was sent to the sin bin on 52 minutes. Taking advantage of the extra man West scrambled a crash over try out wide. The conversion failed and within 2 minutes of Campbell's return Sewell powered in to score adding further misery to Hartlepool. Brett added the conversion, but failed to add the extra just four minutes later when Jez lamb scored out wide

Loa Tupou was an influential presence on the wing, Although not going on the score sheet himself Loa Tupou made a series of impressive breaks for the Blues to set up positions that others scored from. Playing in a Jonah Lomu out wide Lou added another dimension to the New Brighton attack and could well prove a very influential player as the season unfolds. Lou was replaced by O'Connor on the hour with Turley and Kettle also getting a late run out.

With the result long since decided Paul Brett rounded off proceedings scoring and converting to take his personal tally on the day to 29 points. Brett deservedly won the man of the match award but was closely pressed by James Moore who continues to impress with his pace and flair.

FINAL NEW BRIGHTON 69 – 05 WEST HARTLEPOOL

New Brighton were expected to win this one against struggling west Hartlepool, but the manner of their victory was something special and a further conformation of the fire power they have in their back division. Brett continues to rack up the points and is an inspiration to his side. Next week the Blues travel to Yorkshire to face currently unbeaten Doncaster who are favourites for the championship. This is a huge game for the Blues whose season will be well back on track if they can win this one.

New Brighton chief, Alistair Saverimutto said after Saturdays encounter; "This was a good result, but a game we expected to win. What was encouraging was the way the team performed. If the forwards function as well in Yorkshire next week we will be in with a chance of winning this one and the championship will be back in our sights. Clearly next week is the biggest game in our season so far."

Report:  Falling down is not the problem. Failing to get up, however, is a problem! New Brighton certainly fell down at Liberty Park on Saturday where a 31-7 defeat to Nuneaton saw the Blues bow out of the National Cup for another year. Following their disappointing start in the league this season the question on everyone’s lips is, can the Reeds Lane men pick themselves up and return to winning ways or is this destined to be a season for rebuilding

In recent years Nuneaton has proved a difficult hunting ground for the Blues but with a strong squad selected this was a game they expected to win. Jay Stirrett returned to the senior side following a knee operation in the summer. Riaz Fredericks also made his return in the centre allowing Emrys Evans to move back to No.7 birth and new signing Loa Tupuo to move into a Jonah Lomu role on the wing. Jon Sewell was ruled out with injury and with Karl Davies still unavailable Alistair Atkinson moved to the back row. Trefor Moore was called in to make his debut at hooker and Mark Dorrington rotated to the replacements bench giving Tim Morton his first start of the season. Highly promising youngster James Moore was promoted to the bench after impressing in several second team outings. Steve Johnson returned on the wing after injury.

On paper this was a strong Blues XV until the last minute when it was all change with the Moore brothers declared ‘unavailable’. Paul Saffy was hurriedly recalled to hooker forcing Tupuo out of the line up on the two foreign player rule. Despite the late selection set back New Brighton enjoyed the best of the early action when they kicked off in near perfect conditions.

Adam Kettle made an early impression with a powerful surge down centre field within 2 minutes of the start. A promising move forced the play deep into Nuneaton’s territory. Kettle threw a clever floated pass out wide to full back Brett who had joined the attack on the wing. Brett beat his man and had only the full back to pass for a dramatic opening. In the event Brett chipped the ball past Jody Peacock and accelerated in chase to the line. The fullback turned to join the race and colliding with the speeding Brett sending both men crashing to the ground. A defensive boot sent the ball dead and the chance was gone.

New Brighton continued to enjoy the best of the early play and were given another opportunity to take the lead when Campbell was fouled in a line out on 11 minutes. Brett came close with the kick but the miss sent out a signal for Nuneaton to step up a gear. With the home side front five digging deep in a big forward effort Nuneaton began to take control of the game. Prop Rich Moor was outstanding for the home side as he appeared to disrupt everything the Blues tried to set up in the forwards.

It was nearly fifteen minutes into the when Nuneaton crossed the New Brighton 10 yard line with any real purpose, but when they won a line out on the Blues 22 the warning signs were clear for all to see. Andy Goodhall took a good possession from the throw to set up a Nuneaton forward drive to the line. No 8 Damien Evans was credited with the touchdown and full back Jody Peackock added the conversion.

Nuneaton 7 - 0 New Brighton on 16 mins

New Brighton made some effort to reply but were clearly faltering up front and unable to secure any meaningful possession to launch their backs. As the half progressed Nuneaton’s effort forced the Blues onto the back foot with a determined exhibition of driving forward play. It was only stout defence that kept the home side out with the Reeds Lane men fighting a rear guard action pinned their own half

Half Time:  Nuneaton 7 - 0 New Brighton

New Brighton opened the second half brightly enough to win a scrum near the home side ten metre line. The ball came spitting out from the side of the scrum and was spotted by blind side winger, Lee Wakelam, who raced in to collect a good possession. Wakelam ducked and jinked to force a position nearer centre field. He set up a good platform for his forwards to win a fast possession which set RiazFredericks on his way. The move picked up pace with Coast who made good yards before feeding Steve Johnston wide on the far wing. Johnston put the pedal to the floor and raced around the defence for a fine score. Brett added the extras encouraging the travelling fans to believe their side wereplaced to come through and win this tie. It was not to be!

Nuneaton 7 - 7 New Brighton  on 46 mins

Having conceded the early second half points Nuneaton rallied and New Brighton faltered. The Nuns took control up front to command the all-important possession. Garry Marshall finished off a fine home team move to put Nuneaton ahead. With full back Jody Peacock off the field stand off Lee Cassell took up the kicking duties. He failed with his first attempt on 63 minutes but was well on target just three minutes later converting a fine Craig Dutton try.

Nuneaton 19 – 7 New Brighton on 66 mins

With the game rapidly slipping away from New Brighton things went from bad to worse. Almost directly from the restart Nuneaton were again powering into New Brighton territory to launch winger Alistair Barron on a dazzling run that saw him score out wide, Cassell failed to add the conversion but the lid was all but nailed down on New Brighton’s cup run for this season.

Nuneaton 24  – 7 New Brighton on 68 mins

To their credit the Blues stuck at the task but without any real passion or fire. Brett fielded a long high kick ahead from Nuneaton and the counter attack looked on, but disaster followed when a misunderstanding in the Blues back division saw winger Sandy Barron pounce on a lazy Blues pass to seize possession giving him an open run to the posts. He must have thought Christmas had come early as his try under the post was the type of gift Father Christmas would be proud of. Cassell added the conversion stretching the lead to 26 and end the competition

Final: Nuneaton 31 - 7 New Brighton

Nuneaton looked to be a good team, especially on their second half performance, but the truth is that they will probably be a lower mid table league side this season. On this showing New Brighton were very disappointing and the signs are there to suggest that they are not solving their early season problems and certainly not coming together as a cohesive unit. What was lacking on Saturday was passion and fire of previous seasons. The Blues seemed content to be going through the motions with no real evidence that they really wanted to win this game. On the other hand, a journeyman Nuneaton played with passion, cohesion and fire showing a team spirit sadly lacking with the Blues on this day.

There were few stars for New Brighton on this performance. Kettle tried hard but as yet lacks the maturity and steel to make the decisive breaks. Alistair Atkinson was perhaps the pick of the pack with Fredericks and Coast satisfactory in the centre. Johnston was sound on his wing but the player coming through Saturdays encounter with real credit was youngster James Moore. Normally a scrum half Moore came into the fray as a late substitute on the wing and showed real pace and passion during the few minutes he was in the game coming close to scoring a consolation try late on in proceedings.

The Blues fell down at Liberty Park last weekend but have a golden opportunity to pick themselves up for the visit of West Hartlepool to Reeds Lane next Saturday. The Teeside outfit have only one league victory to in some 42 outings and must surly be the right opposition for the Wirral men to return to winning ways. Failure to take the points next week will set the alarm bells ringing in every corridor at Reeds Lane. With a trip to Doncaster just two weeks away the honeymoon is over for the New Blues who must now start to produce the form and passion expected of the Wirral’s senior side.

Report: New Brighton’s roller coaster season took another down turn on Saturday with an 18-11 defeat at Blaydon. Once again the Blues introduced new players into their line up for this difficult away trip to Tyneside. Tongan Loa Tupou made his debut at number 8 in a new-look back row with Jon Sewell at 7 and Adam Kettle at 6. New north Wales prop Gerallt Evans coming in at tight head. Steve Johnson joined the injured list and Julian Williams was rested allowing young Ian Murray to make his debut on the wing. Trefor Moore, brother of Richard provided cover at hooker as Karl Davies was unable to travel. Emrys Evans returned to his centre spot replacing the injured Riaz Fredericks and Christian Saverimutto returned at scrum-half.

The day started well for New Brighton and they were unlucky not to take the lead when a sweeping move saw Coast make good ground to set Wakelam on a run. The combination of a possible wrong option at the end of the move and determined defence from the home side saw the move fall just short.

New Brighton continued to attack and got their reward when Brett landing penalties on 22 and 29 minutes to put the Reeds Lane men ahead.

Blaydon 0 - 6 New Brighton on 10 mins

Battling hard in the forwards Blaydon laboured to gain field position and earned penalties on 33 and 35 minutes to level the scores. New Brighton continued to show more initiative but their moves continued to break down as the penalty count against them mounted. A decision against New Brighton in front of their posts right on the half-time whistle gave Blaydon the lead for the first time

Half Time Blaydon 9 - 6 New Brighton

Blaydon started the second half in a determined mood and they were now starting to get the better of the exchanges in the loose. New Brighton were solid in the scrum and generally had the better of the lines-out but too often came unstuck with overambitious passing when more straightforward tactics would have served them better.

After 10 minutes of the second half Tim Morton and Antony Birley were introduced for mark Dorrington and Steve O’Connor respectively, but the pattern of play did not change perceptively.

Blaydon 18 - 11 New Brighton 9 on 34 mins

With time running out New Brighton brought on Jez Lamb for Alistair Atkinson and stepped up the pace and began to take control of the game but the scores failed to come. As the game entered the final 10 minutes of play New Brighton at last began to function and built some good positions only to see their initiative thwarted by dogged defence and a series of penalties that increased the tension and the pressure on the players. Blaydon determined to slow the plays and stop the game at every opportunity. Tempers began to fray as the stop start nature of the final 10 minutes saw New Brighton in control of everything except the clock and the penalty count.

On 37 minutes the Blues superiority told when Whakelam at last broke through the defence to score out wide. Brett narrowly failed with the conversion but the scene was set for a grandstand finish. It was not to be as the home side continued with their delaying tactic ably assisted by regular blasts of the whistle as the penalty count rose to 36. Battling to the end the Blues were not able to break the grip of the home side and eventually lost out in a very disappointing game.

Final Blaydon 18 - 11 New Brighton

There can be no doubt that Mr. Saverimutto has put together a side with huge talent and ability. Pre-season wins over second division Preston and Orrell together with last weeks impressive cup victory over Harrogate are testimony to the quality of the side. However, it is in these victories that the key to their league failure so far probably lies. Mr. Saverimutto’s Blues are a quality team able to play the fast expansive game of the higher divisions, but as Tranmere are finding in the second division of the football league, teams at this level often play the long ball with very big forwards chasing.

New Brighton are in the third division of the National League. Teams at this level can get away with the limited aspiration of big forwards battling down the centre of the field seeking to occasional driving play to force a try and relying on penalties to win the day. Indeed, New Brighton teams of the past were well able to play the tight game and edge the results by the odd score. If New Brighton are to recover from their disappointing start and win promotion this season they must come to terms with the limited game plans of many third division teams and overcome the dramatic variance in refereeing interpretations at this level.