WILMSLOW 16 NEW BRIGHTON 17

 

Report by Paul Lewis

A cracking match with both sides playing some open and attacking rugby, a good referee ensured both sides maintained the regulation distances at the scrummage and lineout, which made for a refreshing change from recent weeks.

It took New Brighton just two minutes to open the scoring. Good work from the pack powering the ball up field then moving the ball quickly for winger Gaz Simpson, who broke a tackle and off loaded to the ever present Phil Buckley another dynamic performance from the hooker, to slip the ball to the supporting Paul Lewis who spun the ball across field to Ellis at centre, a pop pass to Mafi and the centre touched down for his first try for the club ably converted by Anthony Birley.

New boy Nick Aldersey at full back had an impressive debut, solid at the back and very sharp in attack popping in and out of the back line causing havoc in the defence.

The centre pairing of Sean Ellis and Simione Mafi worked well all afternoon for the Blues, adding a new dimension to their game. Wingers, Andy Signal and Gaz Simpson saw more ball than they have all season, and relished the opportunity - both going close on more than one occasion.

The home side did well to restrict the scoring and several forward drives were just about held out, in fact on one occasion Kati appeared to touch down but the referee was unsighted.

The home side stayed in the game with a well struck penalty from MacCallum and when Semi was yellow carded (for an over zealous response to the home side’s failing to release the ball), scrum half Mulchrone, the home side’s outstanding player, danced away from cover and found skipper Mike Clifford with a lobbed pass allowing the lock to touch down and take an unexpected lead.

This only served as a wake up call for the Blues and with veteran Mark Dorrington dominating the tight play they managed to launch attack after attack on the home line. Again all credit to Wilmslow who manfully kept us at bay but the referee eventually had to yellow card skipper Clifford for repeated infringement; for a moment they seemed to have cleared the danger when a penalty was awarded but the clearance only led to a nice piece of back work which saw the ball spun across the field and Nick Aldersey came into the line for the first of his two tries. The home side struck back well and another well taken penalty closed the gap to 11 -12 at half time.

The second half was an exciting and very tight affair mainly consisting of the Blues being just about held out, eventually another superb back movement saw Aldersey again on the score sheet exploiting an overlap engineered by Mafi. The score was 17-11 with ten minutes to go and the Blues looked likely to add to their score but from resolute defence the home side made a final effort and managed to touch down some 10 metres from the touch line; the crowd was silent as MacCullum struck what looked like a fair effort but it arched away to miss the posts.

This was a very good performance by the Blues, the pack were solid upfront with Mark Dorrington an unmovable corner stone, John Williams continues to improve, his tight game is coming on and his open play causes havoc amongst the opposition, hooker Phil Buckley and locks Paul Roberts and Paul Lewis were effective and mobile and gave good support to the powerful back row trio of Sale, Kati and Liku. Semi had another good game until forced off through injury which allowed for a return of Neil Cross for the last 20 minutes not as quick as he once was but still possessing a pass and ball control beyond this level. Anthony Birley at stand-off was the key man for the Blues orchestrating both attack and defence and able to shift the teams direction when ever it was needed.

Lewis Mullen came on in the last 10 minutes and managed to pour 80 minutes of energy into the final moments rattling up several tackles and helping keep the final home side onslaught at bay.

A good afternoon for the Blues and their supporters who enjoyed a pleasant lunchtime repast in the town centre and a feast of open rugby for afters.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 2s were badly affected by last minute cry offs and went down to Littleborough, hopefully with new signings they will be back to full strength next Saturday for the trip to Preston. The ones are at home to Northwich.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There is a mid week match at Hartsfield on Wednesday, a combined North Wales side take on Liverpool University in what promises to be a highly entertaining game, admission is free and kick off is at 7.30pm.

LYMM 14 NEW BRIGHTON 10

 

Report by Paul Lewis

Another close defeat to Lymm left the Blues with further problems on Saturday. Injuries to prop Lewis and second row Mahon threaten to further deplete the Blues front five for the upcoming match at Wilmslow.

The game started fairly well for the Blues taking the lead from a well struck penalty from Birley in the 7th minute. The home side with a number of changes from last season lacked some of the skills of the predecessors but had considerably more size and power. The tight was a struggle for the Blues and they were only just holding their own until successive injuries to loose head Lewis forced him off the field and the home side began to turn the screw. Taking the lion’s share of possession Lymm went close to scoring and when full back Ellis was adjudged to have blocked the opposing winger he was yellow carded. Gaps in the defence allowed the Lymm 10 to cross the whitewash and the home side opened up a half time lead of 7 pts to 3.

The home side dominated the tight play throughout the second half and should have added to their score but were held at bay by some resolute defence. In fact they only managed a converted try following a poor clearance kick and more good work from their spritely number 10. When Kati was yellow carded for a high tackle it seemed the threatened deluge was about to occur but once again the Blues showed tremendous spirit to hold out.

Not for the first time this season the Blues managed to find another gear in the closing stages. When the Lymm number 4 was yellow carded for persistent killing of the ball the Blues pack took on a new impetus and several players came close to crashing over before John Williams carried over from 5 metres. Birley’s conversion made the score 14 - 10.

The back line looked impressive if a bit disorganised, with the little ball they got, but were most impressive in defence, Simione Mafi showed great potential but never had any space to work in. The front five will need to be bolstered for next week and it is to be hoped that the physios can work some magic.


The First XV area away again next week, a coach will leave Hartsfield at 12.30pm, anyone wishing to travel with the team needs to contact me asap if they have not already done so.

 

The 2nd XV notched up their first win of the season against a determined Didsbury Toc H team, Neil Cross, Andy Wall , Tanni and skipper Conan Grehan all impressed but new signing Ian Ahern took the man of the match award with an impressive debut at Stand Off. This week the 2s entertain Littleborough seconds at home.

NEW BRIGHTON 12 LIVERPOOL ST HELENS 24

 

Report by Paul Lewis

 

A feisty encounter to say the least with two yellow cards and a red for tight head prop John Williams this was not a good afternoon for the home side.

 

A number of changes to the team led to some confusion in defence and the normally rock solid line out was shambolic. A much improved Liverpool side were worthy winners but this was not a game for the rugby purist.

 

The visiting referee gave some strange decisions, was inconsistent, and whilst rigorous in certain departments let far too much go, the home side became increasingly  frustrated and in the 70^th minute an off the ball incident unseen by the referee led to a free for all from which he dismissed Williams and yellow carded Tuliva.

 

The game had started badly for the Blues going 10 nil down in as many minutes and conceding a dozen penalties without reply. The visitors powerful centre pairing proving too much of a handful for the home side. Had the visiting kicker been on form the game would have been over by half time. As it was he wasn’t and they managed to claw their way back into the game with a try from Paea Liku, which was very well converted by the returning Steve Dean, one of the few bright spots of the afternoon.

 

The second half was extended by several minutes as the referee stopped the game for injuries both on and off the pitch. The game continued to deteriorate into a mess with both sides encroaching far too often to allow for any open rugby. The visitors, thanks to good work in the line, and a generous whistle at the tight won plenty of ball and stretched their lead to 24 – 7. Sean Ellis touched down in the corner from a clever cross field kick from Dean but the usual late rally failed to materialise, a line out 5m from the visitors line was tamely surrendered and the ball cleared down field.

 

Hopefully the Blues will be back to full strength next week and will need to improve their game as they travel to Lymm.

 

The seconds went down away to Ormskirk but once again managed to field a full team, full credit to Karl Davies. The 2’s have a mid week match under floodlights against Liverpool Hope University on Wednesday, kick off is 7.15pm.

 

LEIGH 26 NEW BRIGHTON 27

 

Report by Paul Lewis

 

The Blues started this season’s league campaign with an away win at Leigh. As the score line suggests this was a very close encounter and with 10 minutes to go it looked like the home side were all but there with a ten point lead, but as many teams discovered last season New Brighton should never be written off.

 

The game started well for the visitors and they opened up a 10 point lead thanks to a try from wing forward Kieran Hibbs following up some excellent work from fellow flanker Paea Liku. Kati stretched the lead with another try from a driving maul, both conversions went close in the swirling wind.

 

The home side struck back with two very well taken penalties from stand off Knapman before Anthony Birley stretched the lead with his first of the afternoon.

 

The two sides were well matched up front but when Paea Liku suffered what appeared to be a serious calf injury a reshuffled pack saw Joe Cardus drop back in to the second row, Keith Mahon switch to blind side and John Williams bring his able strength into tight head. From then on the visiting pack began to get the upper hand.

 

Half Time 6-13

 

As the game wore on the home side saw less and less ball. This was most fortunate as when they did get it their back line were well drilled and despite losing a man to the bin managed to score two converted tries to take a 20 -13 lead.

 

Another penalty made it 23 -16 for the home side and with 10 minutes left a strange decision from the referee gave the home side another penalty in front of the posts for an alleged laying over the ball which was clearly the wrong way around, both sides wore black shorts and dark socks which may have caused some confusion. In any event the score was now 26 - 13 and the home supporters were in full song as what seemed a certain victory loomed.

 

New Brighton came close to a reply when an impressive driving maul from outside the 22m line saw Kati break, probably too early, and be just held up. But a few minutes later a mid field turn over gave Birley some space and he chipped to the right corner for Pitt to pick up and slip the ball infield for a rampaging Ellis to touch down between the posts, Birley’s conversion made it 20 - 26.

 

With the clock ticking down New Brighton were awarded a penalty close to the line when a Leigh player was adjudged to have been playing the ball on his knees; rather than go for the expected lineout the visitors opted for a tap penalty and with Paul Lewis setting up a driving maul the forwards powered over and, yes you’ve guessed it, Kati touched down. The crowd was silent as Birley stroked home the conversion and the Blues were once again in the lead.

 

Several minutes of injury time followed and with the home side desperate to keep the ball alive Lewis managed to dispossess his opposite number and kick the ball off the pitch, the next pitch and along the motorway to bring the game to an end.

 

The 2^nd XV were beaten by a well organised Stockport XV but were able to field a full team and showed much promise for the weeks ahead.

 

Next week the 1st XV are at home to LSH and the 2s travel to Ormskirk.

 

Cheshire Vase – Round 1

 

Wirral 22 New Brighton 31

Report by Paul Lewis

 

The Blues progressed to the next round of the Cheshire Plate competition with a solid all round performance at Wirral.

 

A last minute change to the starting line up saw Wais Navunidakua step into the left wing berth in the absence of Gaz Simpson.

 

New Brighton always held the upper hand with too much power up front and speed across the back line for the home side. Kati bagged another hat trick of tries all from the relentless driving maul and debutant Keith Mahon crashed over between the posts to crown an outstanding debut at second row. Anthony Birley was magnificent with the boot slotting home a penalty and all four conversions.

 

Credit to the home side who refused to lay down and despite having very little ball managed four tries of their own, had their kicker been on form this could have been a close run affair.

 

Youngster Joe Cardus at tight head, another debutant to the team, was very impressive, solid at the scrum and mobile across the park.

 

Despite the number of changes from last season’s team the Blues worked well as a unit and showed much promise for the months ahead. Given the pre-season problems that Steve Dorrington has had to contend with he appears to have put together a highly capable outfit.

 

Front row men Lewis and Buckley combine to cause yet another turn over

The season starts in earnest next week when the firsts away at Leigh and the 2’s at home to Stockport 3’s.

 

Practise Match v Ruthin

Saturday 22^nd August 2009

 

Our thanks to Ruthin for travelling up to the Wirral to take part in this joint pre season practice match. Because of the loss of a number of players from last season’s squad, Steve Dorrington is going through a pretty extensive process of rebuilding his side for the coming campaign.  It was, therefore, rather more significant than the usual routine pre season pipe opener. 

 

It was an encouraging outing for the Blues. Dorrington fielded a squad of more than 30 players and overall the standard suggested that there will be quite some strength in depth. The result in these cases is not the primary objective and although the Blues ran out clear winners by a big margin their domination of the third session in particular might have been due in part to the relative size of their squad and consequently the fresher players. Nothing should be taken away from a lively set of Ruthin backs that had the visitors in a slight lead after two sessions so it was by no means an easy work out.

 

New Brighton were delighted to have the experience of Anthony Birley and Phil Gazzola back at Reeds Lane after some years absence. Marko Dorrington also made an appearance and good to see Steve Ashcroft available. Of the old squad Sean Ellis performed well at scrum half and full back at various times, Gaz Simpson was out there and of course the old war horse himself – Kati. There is clear evidence that the latter still has pulling power in the South Seas as there were no less than two Tongans and five Fijians on show. Of those, a scrum half referred to as Semi, appears to fill an urgent requirement for the Blues as he has an accurate pass and showed a developing rapport with fly half Antony Birley.

 

Importantly also, the Club is starting to see yesterday’s juniors starting to make their way on the senior stage. Andy Pitt on the wing grabbed himself a couple of well taken tries and eighteen year old Joe Cardus and Mike Smith are starting their apprenticeship in the murky world of senior front row play.  With mentors of the ilk of the Dorringtons, Phil Buckley and in addition, Phil Gazzola, who has been around as much as any, there is every chance they will both be contending for first team places in the not too far distant future. Andy Wall is the fourth member of the juniors to play. He is currently a lock but whether he will make that his position in the future will depend on how he develops physically but, as a young lad, he has time enough. What is not in doubt is that there will be a place in the squad at some stage.

 

Dorrington has good reason to be quite bullish following this match though he will have some hard decisions to make in selection for the Cheshire Vase match at Wirral next Saturday. It might take some time for him to settle on the optimum blend of what looks like a heady mix and we, the fans, will have to get accustomed to getting our tongues round the names of a number of new personalities who are certain to be in evidence in the coming weeks.

 

Doug Thorpe