Match report by Steve Dorrington

 

Vale of Lune 20 New Brighton 12

 

New Brighton Lose away to Vale of Lune

 

As predicted the men of the Vale of Lune came out fighting and never stopped for 80 minutes.

 

It was the Blues, who shone in the first 30 minutes, playing some patient build up play into a howling gale and should have had 2 tries in the first 20 minutes. Prop John Brotherton had the ball knocked out of his hands as he was going over the line through an aggressive tackle from the Vale no 6. On the 20 minute mark Josh Bates was held up over the line and eventually turned over.  As the bodies were peeled out of the ruck it got worse for Josh, who wash rushed away to hospital for surgery on a dislocated ankle and ruptured ligaments.

 

In Vales first attack on the Blues' line on 30 minutes they were gifted a try when a loose line out throw went straight to the Vale no 6 at the back of the line out who walked over the line to score.  Their trusty full back added the extras. Vale were on target with a penalty seconds later to extend their lead to 10 points and just before the half time break they scored another simple try following a first phase move from a scrum, where the backs simply moved the ball wide and scored due to a dog legged defensive line, again that irritating fullback added the extras.

 

Half Time Score: Vale of Lune 17 New Brighton 0

 

New Brighton turned around with a strong wind at their backs and immediately were on the offensive and time after time were thwarted by a resolute Vale defence, with Kati always looking dangerous near the line, Ali Childs fell just short and prop mark Dorrington stopped in his tracks close in.

 

On 50 minutes the Blues finally got over the line and skipper Kati came up with the ball following a fabulous driving maul, which the Vale defence was unable to drop or spoil.

 

The game was well and truly New Brighton’s at this stage but the Vale defence had other ideas, they were well up for the battle and tackled their hearts out.

 

On a rare excursion into the Blues half the Vale were awarded a penalty which Mr Metronome converted with ease.

 

On 70 minutes having made tactical changes, the Blues scored again through Captain Marvel Kati from another driving maul and the extras were added via Joe Bowmer.

 

On 77 minutes Steve Dorrington entered the game to join his brother to gain a collective 900 first team appearance, what an achievement for the 2 New Brighton big lads.

 

The game finished a poor result for the Blues - Vale of Lune 20 New Brighton 12

 

Steve Dorrington applauded both teams for their efforts on the day as the conditions were extreme to say the least.  Steve commented that the difference in the teams was that Vale seemed to want the win just that bit more and they had on the day a fantastic kicker, which was at the end of the day the downfall of the Blues.

 

Steve was pleased with Captain Consistent Kati for a powerful performance, who was supported by fellow Tongan Loa Toupou and the powerful Paul Campbell.  Joe Bowmer also did well on the wing and showed flashes of genius with ball in hand.

 

When asked about the Dorrington's achievements Steve replied, yeh great, but I would rather have had the 2 points in the bag.

 

All of the Blues players, officials and supporters wish the popular Josh Bates a speedy recovery

Match Report by Doug Thorpe

 

New Brighton 20 – 37 Chester.

 

Team Sheet: 1 Mark Dorrington, 2 Lewis Mullen, 3 John Brotherton, 4 Adam Baird, 5 Paul Campbell, 6 Jez Lamb, 7 Wayne Clayton, 8 Kati Tu’ipulotu, 9 Alan Hesketh, 10 Ian Kennedy, 11 Josh Bates, 12 Joe Bowman, 13 Loa Tupou, 14 Sean Ellis, 15 Steve Dean.Replacements: 16 Tom Goulston, 17 Steve Dorrington.

 

The late withdrawal of a number of players left Coach Steve Dorrington with the unenviable task

of re organising his team, involving six major changes in the backs alone. That included three positional changes and the recall of the veteran Ian Kennedy to front line action at No15. A totally committed performance from the Blues Nos 1 through 15 never allowed Chester, currently outright leaders at the top of the table, the opportunity to exploit a situation in which they should have been able to run riot.

 

Loa Tupou’s move from flanker to centre and Josh Bate’s appearance on the wing from back row bench replacement gave the team a mixed and not very well matched appearance on the field. Great credit to the forwards for leading the resistance, scoring all three tries – Kati rounding off each in his own personal style. Paul Campbell and Adam Baird were in control at the line out and Mark Dorrington demolished his opposite number in the tight. Ian Kennedy showed that some of the old flair was still around and Loa Tupou did ask questions of the defence but the previously untried combination in the centre field was rarely able to mount attacks in which there was any great cohesion.

 

Chester facing the wind and the rain in the first half took the lead with a try on 8 minutes after recycling the ball through a number of phases, progressing up field before moving it wide to Abiero for the right wing to round it off. The Blues continued to be under pressure and although Chester had failed to score from a series of forays a second try did follow on 20 minutes from a catch and drive from a line out some 5 metres out, credited to prop Steve Roberts. 10 points ahead against the wind half way through the first half and the Chester supporters are scenting blood. Abiero waltzed over for his second try on the half hour but in the meantime some good approach work from Kati gave Steve Dean the chance of a penalty goal which he promptly banked and Kati was on the scoreboard on the stroke of half time with a try resulting from a well

controlled lineout catch and drive for the reliable Dean to claim the extras.

 

Half Time Score: New Brighton 10 – 15 Chester.

 

By the 46th minute Gareth Martin had crossed the line for Chester for a try converted by Tom Foden and Kati had replied with his second try after organising the drive from a lineout. A determined defence by New Brighton was not enough to prevent Chester from progressively increasing the lead with tries by John Piggott and Tom Weightman and a conversion and penalty goal by Tom Foden. Bringing the score 37 points against 15 at the end of the third quarter.

 

The New Brighton defence was not breached again in the last 20 minutes and again Kati pulled one out of the hat. A penalty to touch set up the position but there was the catch and drive followed by two scrums at 5 metres to be controlled before Kati pealed off successfully from the back to barge over for his third try of the match on 68 minutes.

 

Final Score: New Brighton 20 – 37 Chester

Report by Stevo

 

Blues Shine in Grim & Windy Tyldesley

 

The Blues shook off their reputation of a home team that cannot play away.

 

With the wind dominating affairs the game plan had to be adjusted in the rushed pre-match warm up. Tyldesley had confirmed a 3.00 kick off in the week, yet with only 10minutes prior to kick off the referee announced a 2.30 kick off.

 

From the kick off it became apparent that handling would be very difficult in the wind and the Blues resorted to an upfront type of game. This well organised full blooded display simply ripped the heart out of the Tyldesly defence.

 

With only two minutes gone a scrum just inside the opposition’s half got up on the tight head side, Kati fed Ali Childs who outpaced 3 players to score a try from 40 metres out, Steve Dean added the extras.

 

The Blues were soon on the score sheet again following a well delivered line out, a superb throw from in form hooker Phil Buckley, found the athletic Paul Campbell, the two props lowered Campbell who was hit by Kati and his supporting arm of warriors to drive the maul over the line. Steve Dean slotted the conversion with ease.

 

Following wave after wave of Blues pressure a scrum was awarded 10 metres out from the home teams line and the 2 props Marco and Beefy demanded an 8 man drive which the Blues pack delivered with ease for Kati to finish off the push over try against a tiring yet gameful Tyldesley pack.

 

Half time score Tyldesley 0 New Brighton 19.

 

The second half started in the same format yet the referee within minutes of the restart had mysteriously sin binned a man from each side much to the bemusement of  the crowd.

 

The game now completely one sided, but the Blues making silly errors of allowing the referee to interject missed chance after chance, until again from uncompromising forward pressure the ball was moved wide for the excellent Full back Mullet-Jones to finish, ever so well, that man Dean added the extras to improve the Blues' lead to a 26 point margin.

 

The Blues then introduced Tom Goulding replacing Mark Dorrington at loose head prop, Tom did really well, especially in the scrum and ruck areas. 

 

Sean Ellis was given a run at 9, replacing the hard working Ali Child.  Sean another guy not to be outdone, tried extremely hard, popped up everywhere and did not disappoint.

 

With fifteen minutes to go Kati was taken off for a much needed rest and was replaced by the experienced Steve Dorrington, who immediately had impact upon the game with the Blues gaining their 5th and final try of the game as Tight head prop John "Beefy" Brotherton crashed over following Dorrington's off load from the base of a ruck. Dean added the extra's.

 

Final Score Tyldesley 0 New Brighton 33

 

Steve Dorrington said after the game that he was pleased with the away win, it was difficult out there today you know, the wind was an absolute nightmare and caused handling problems for both sides. We got to grips with the conditions and ground down Tyldesley, who by the way never gave up, to their credit.  Steve had particular praise for the forwards who controlled the game well in that wind. Steve stated that he was also extremely pleased with the ground that the backs made when required to run and is looking forward to seeing that backline run free with the ball on a still day. The defence in the backs was much improved and the organisation and defensive alignment was perfect, the poor old Tyldesley backs took a bit of a hiding in the tackle.

 

The man of the match award went to John Brotherton for a full blooded performance in the front row, his control in the maul, tackling on the fringe and his bullocking runs throughout the pith, well in beefy!

 

Next week the Blues are at home and entertain league leaders Chester, we are expecting a large crowd for this one, so don’t miss out for the 3pm Kick off.