Newsletter 10 Mar 2010
Latest Match Reports - 4
Semi Final Draws Durham County Cups
SECOND TEAMS CUP
Darlington Mowden Park v Durham City
Blaydon v Westoe
Final Tie 1 May neutral venue
THIRD TEAMS CUP
Sunderland v Gateshead
Westoe v Horden or Durham City
Final tie 17th April neutral venue
FOURTH TEAMS SHIELD
Bishop Auckland II v Gateshead
Yarm II v Barnard Castle II
Final Tie 10th April neutral venue
Submitted by Ron Williamson on 7 Mar 10Bishops' Under 16's Lose Close Encounter
Lanchester U16s 17-15 Bishop Auckland U16s
Bishop Auckland Under 16's narrowly lost away at Lanchester 15-17, but all their players were disappointed at the final whistle as they has totally dominated the second half, but were unable to convert all the possession and territory into valuable points.
From the start, both sides attacked at every opportunity making for an open and exciting contest. It was the home side that took the lead after sustained pressure resulted in their first try. Although under pressure in the scrums, Bishops' scrum half Tom Robinson was providing good ball for the backs. Bishop's fly half Chris Griffiths was in determined mood and running hard at Lanchester's defence supported by centres James Maddison and Tom Foulger. Bishop's No 8 Alec Clarey was also making strong runs but brave tackling from Lanchester thwarted his early runs. Bishop levelled the scores when Griffiths took a quick tap penalty and passed to Clarey who powered over for his try.
Lanchester were quick onto the attack and only some brave defence from Gareth Morley, Kieran Bedford and Shawn Fleming prevented certain tries. Lanchester continued to apply the pressure and were rewarded when they scored their second try to lead 10-5.
Bishop levelled the scores again when scoring a brilliant team try which was scored by Morley. Having secured possession in their own half, the ball travelled down the backs line, from the next ruck the ball was recycled and another flowing move down the backs resulted in Morley receiving the ball, his dash for the line enabled him to outpaced the covering defence and score the try.
From the start of the second half, Bishop's were totally dominant. Strong runs from Jonathan Poulter, James Woods, Clarey and Griffiths kept the pressure on the home side. Unfortunately, Bishop kept turning the ball over when in good attacking positions and were not threatening Lanchester's try line.
Bishop were now securing excellent lineout ball with James Beadle and Callum Knight combining well and all of Bishop's forwards were driving into rucks and maul winning quality possession. Again Griffiths was looking dangerous with his elusive running but again Lanchester's defence was resilient and steadfast.
After all their hard work and against the run of play, Bishop gifted a try to Lanchester which they crucially converted to lead 17-10.
Bishop's hit straight back with a superb individual try from Chris Griffith. Receiving the ball from Robinson, he broken through a number of tackles and rounded the full back to score. Unfortunately he missed the conversion to level the scores. Bishops' continued to press for the winning score and winger Keegan Huston was inches away as he dived for the corner with the last play of the game and only a last ditch tackle prevented the winning score.
Team:- C.Abbott; K.Bedford; S.Fleming; J.Miller; K.Huston; T.Foulger; J.Maddison; C.Griffiths; T.Robinson; J.Woods; J.Beadle; S.Heslop; J.Charlton; J.Poulter; J.Wilson; C.Knight; G.Morley; A.Clarey
Submitted by Mark MacNair on 9 Mar 10U14s Away to Chester le street
Chester le Street RUFC 36 : Bishop Auckland RUFC 29
Forwards : Nathaniel Walton, Lee Jefferson, Logan Gray, Luke Handley, Liam Stephens, Callum Howe, James Scrivener, Leon Kierl, Charlie Wilkinson
Backs : Joe Edmonds, Chris Chapman, Jamie Abbot, Bradley Yates, Luke Thompson, Stefan Walker
Subs : Joe Linder, Serena Handley, Alex Attle
Bishop soaked up pressure from Chester right from the start, with Nathaniel Walton getting stuck straight in on his first match since injury. Bishop seemed to be holding fast until Chester seized a weak spot in the Bishop back line and opened the scoring. Bishop responded and fought their way deep into the Chester half, where Chester gained possession and outpaced the Bishop back line to score under the posts.
Bishop again pressurised the Chester backs, and from a scrum, Callum Howe forced his way through and off loaded to Leon Kierl who planted it between the posts for Bishops first try. Luke Thompson converted .
In true fashion Bishops woke up and showed fighting spirit with wave after wave of attacking on the Chester backs from James Scrivener and Chris Chapman. From a scrum just inside Chester half, Chapman collected and surged forward, off loading to Kierl for another try. Bishops seemed to be getting a good exchange of passes and things looked promising with players running at the Chester backs. A moment of lethargy and lack of concentration set in, allowing Chester to regain possession and again outpace the Bishop backs to score under the posts.
Bishops immediate response was from Kierl, who outpaced the Chester tackling and off loaded to Thompson for Bishops third try. For the rest of the half Chester were pinned in their own half by sustained Bishop pressure, with some good strong running from Logan Gray.
Half time score Chester 19, Bishops 17
Within one minute of the second half starting, Bishops were again caught asleep, Chester scoring another try and conversion. Another period of lethargy and lack of concentration followed, until Howe broke through putting pressure on the Chester backs. From a line out there followed a moment of pure magic from Bishop. Joe Linder collected from the line out, fought off several tackles, off loaded to Kierl who rounded several Chester players, then off loaded to Thompson who stormed over the try line.
Chester responded with immediate pressure and scored another virtually unopposed try down the Bishop wing. Bishops showed true grit and did not buckle under the Chester pressure. This was rewarded when Kierl intercepted a Chester pass, rounded several players and outpaced the Chester backs to score his third try, which was converted by Thompson.
The final moments of this game saw Bishop pinned down under their posts from relentless Chester pressure. Bishops would not accept defeat and some good aggressive play gained ground in the Chester half. Thompson surged forward and from the resulting scrum, gutsy performances from Walton and Scrivener gained several very late line outs. Chester buckled under the sustained attacking and tackling from the Bishop forwards, and from the very last action of the game Kierl opted for a tap and run. Thompson just couldn’t make the try, despite Howe’s best efforts to follow up.
This was a very good Bishop performance. Four key players were absent and new faces in the squad did themselves justice. An unexpected bonus was a full squad, plus subs to choose from. Let’s hope we can keep these numbers up!
Submitted by Malcolm Howe on 8 Mar 10Under 14's - Team Update
Firstly the news that because of family and work commitments our longstanding Team Manager Dave Randall has resigned. Since its conception 4 or 5 seasons ago Dave has been an integral part of our team and should be very proud of the time and effort he's put in over the years, helping to develop our team from a rag tag bunch of kids to the squad of young men we have today. On behalf of the team, brabbs and myself I'd like to say a big thank you to Dave and Donna for all your support and wish you both all the very best for the future.
The season so far has seen last years impressive squad numbers dwindle to the point that we struggled to get a team for match days. Since then the focus has been on player retention and recruitment and now the weather is finally improving all the hard work seems to be paying off with numbers at training increasing week by week.
Its not just players we are recruiting either...
Mark Hall, who joined our coaching team in January, is very quickly turning our forwards into a force to be reckoned with and bolstering the whole squad with a brutal team spirit.
Marc Kierl has kindly volunteered to take over the reigns as Team Manager (with a little bit of persuasion but I'm sure the bruising will go soon).
John Handley and match report specialist Scott Waterhouse have both dusted off their boots and are helping at training sessions.
Last but not least Carolyn Wood our lovely First Aider.
Training is on every Wednesday 6.30pm-8pm and Sundays 10am-12pm (food provided Wednesday after training)
All players are expected to be showered and changed after every session BEFORE entering the clubhouse.
Submitted by Max Wood on 4 Mar 10
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