New Brighton 31 Burnage 32

 

Report by Stephen Owen

Team: 15. Sean Ellis, 14. Gareth Simpson, 13. Mafi Simione, 12. Matthew Hale, 11. Vincent Dutton, 10. Paul Lewis, 9. Alan Hesketh, 1. Joe Cardus, 2. Tevita Haunga, 3. John Williams, 4. Paul Roberts, 5. Andrew Wall, 6. Stuart Gratton, 7. Philip Buckley, 8. Keith Mahon
Replacements: Andrew Signal, Thomas Cubbin, Conan Grehan.

A rapidly and constantly New Brighton side came within 8 minutes of registering their first win of the season in a hard fought game at Hartsfield which featured nine tries. However, as is so often the case, the scoreline does not tell the full story. As our President referred to in his programme notes, this was always going to be a challenging day at the office for New Brighton against a strong Burnage side that began the day in fourth place in the league having won their first three games this season.

Front rower John Williams proudly had the honour of leading New Brighton on to the field on the occasion of his fiftieth appearance with the team showing a total of eleven changes, six positional, from last week. Kati’s pre-match address in the dressing room clearly had a galvanising effect as a totally committed New Brighton side started strongly, creating an early running opportunity for Mafi but was called back by the referee. Early signs were encouraging. Early Burnage pressure was weathered as the Blues drove into their opponents half for fly half Paul Lewis to open the scoring after ten minutes with a beautifully struck drop goal. Shortly afterwards on thirteen minutes, a rolling maul resulted in Burnage driving over for an unconverted try by hooker Zak Hammonds.

New Brighton’s stand off, Paul Lewis was increasingly influential as a clever kick ahead almost resulted in a score for winger Vinnie Dutton. From the resulting lineout No 8 Keith Mahon skilfully gathered the loose ball, spun and drove over the line to make it 8-5 to the Blues. Paul Lewis added the extras. Roared on by the vociferous touchline support from the coaches and a healthy number of spectators, New Brighton were winning plenty of ball and playing attractive running rugby. However, it was Burnage who went into the lead on 29 minutes with a try by No 8 Oli Hewitt. Full Back Dave Rees added the extras. Despite the Blues being down to fourteen men following a yellow card awarded to Joe Cardus New Brighton were playing with confidence and on thirty three minutes regained the lead when influential fly half Paul Lewis slipped the ball to the ever dangerous Vinnie Dutton who scored in the corner. The score was increased by a superbly taken conversion from the touchline by Paul Lewis to ensure New Brighton lead at half time for the first time in a match this season.

Half Time Score: New Brighton 17 – 15 Burnage

Kicking off the second half with the sun on their backs New Brighton carried on where they had left off and some great recycling work took them back into the Burnage half. Brighton were building up a head of steam and a series of forward drives culminated in a feed to Prop Joe Cardus who turned on the gas to score in the corner and increase Brighton’s lead to 22-15. Paul Lewis added the extras with another magnificently struck touchline conversion to make it 24-15. Disappointingly, as so often happens in these situations, straight from the restart Burnage took advantage of some poor tackling to get back into the game with a converted try on 52 minutes to bring the score back to 24-22. Dangerous throughout the afternoon with ball in hand, Burnage launched another raid into Brighton territory and a couple of missed tackles later went into the lead on fifty seven minutes with a converted try.

Undaunted, New Brighton then delighted the Hartsfield faithful when a probing kick from Paul Lewis found touch. From the resulting lineout the ball was fed by Alan Hesketh to Vinnie Dutton who slipped it to flying centre Mafi to score the try of the day close to the posts. The resultant conversion from Paul Lewis once again took the Blues into the lead at 31-27. It was now all hands to the pump as New Brighton replacements came on to help repel a further forward drive by the heavier Burnage eight who rumbled towards the home side line. With the clock ticking down the final minutes agonisingly slowly and with time added on by Mr Murray for injuries to be played, the last ten minutes saw the Blues unable to extend their lead with two missed penalties. Once again Burnage applied the pressure. A penalty to Burnage resulted in a catch and drive by the forwards who crashed over for what turned out to be the decisive score on seventy two minutes to go back into the lead at 31-32. With the coversion missed a final brave attempt by New Brighton to save the game just failed as referee, Mr Murray ended proceedings.

Final Score: New Brighton 31 – 32 Burnage

A great game of rugby played in a good spirit between two evenly matched and committed sides. Speaking after the game George Probert summed up the feelings of many. This was another improved performance, the best of the season yet. The shape of the team is more settled and there are wins to come. Another week of hard work and the Blues should rightly travel to next week’s opponents Kirkby Lonsdale in good spirits.

Broughton Park 42 New Brighton 21

 

Report by Doug Thorpe

Team: 15. Luke Thomson, 14. Gareth Simpson, 13. Vinnie Dutton, 12. Matthew Hale, 11. Tom Cubbin, 10. Sean Ellis, 9. Alan Hesketh, 1. Joe Cardus (John Williams), 2. Phil Buckley, 3. Tevitan Haunga, 4. Paul Lewis, 5. Paul Roberts, 6. Stuart Gratton, 7.George Sale, 8. Keith Mahon (Mike Smith).

Once again New Brighton save the best of their game til last but not before a lively Broughton Park had the result and maximum league points safely sewn up by half time. Park dominated the first half, racking up five tries, three converted, and a penalty goal with ease, as the Blues struggled in both set piece and loose to get and retain possession. Tries by Jamie Harrison, Paddy O’Donnell and Kit Brammer with a conversion and a penalty goal by Ronan O’Brien had Park with a 20 point lead before a break on the left wing, in which both Joe Cardus and Paul Lewis featured, on the half hour created the only viable scoring position the Blues had managed. Park surged back on the counter for George Mosey to add to visitors’ discomfort by touching down under the posts. Wing Ade Titiloye crossed the line to round off a dream first half for Park and O’Brien again grabbing the extras.

Half Time Score: Broughton Park 34 – 0 New Brighton

What was said at half time can only be a matter of speculation but the result is a matter of record. Phil Buckley rallied his side to show that a streak of bloody mindedness is there even though it surfaces all too slowly. From the restart the Blues move into Park territory, a lineout won against a Park throw and New Brighton were on the rampage. A yellow card reduced Park to 14 men and the Blues took advantage with Keith Mahon bursting through for the visitors first score and Paul Lewis stroking over the conversion. They fell to a O’Brien penalty goal only minutes later but the pendulum was swinging.

The forwards were driving well, Alan Hesketh always probing behind and the backs now able to do something with a supply of good ball. An attack carried forward by Tom Cubbin before handing on to Gareth Simpson gave the big wing the space he needed and the conversion brought the score to 37 points to 14 on the 57th minute.

A scrum won against the head created an opportunity for Sean Ellis who angled through the defence for the line and give Paul Lewis an easy conversion. Score 37 – 21 on 62nd minute.

It was left to Broughton Park to claim the final honours with a try by O’Brien set up after sustained pressure on the Blues line.

Final Score: Broughton Park 42 – 21 New Brighton

 

New Brighton 19 Altrincham Kersal 33

 

Report by Doug Thorpe

Team: 15. Adam Pitt, 14. Byron Power, 13. Sean Ellis (Luke Thompson), 12. Matthew Hale, 11. Andy Signal, 10. Simione Mafi, 9. Alan Hesketh, 1. John Williams, 2. Phil Buckley, 3. Joe Cardus , 4. Paul Roberts, 5. Paul Lewis, 6. Paea Liku (Tevita Haunga), 7. George Sale, 8.Katilimoni Tuipulotu.

New Brighton are going through a rebuilding process having played 25 players in the three games to date with numerous positional changes and no less than three players sporting the number 10 shirt. Progress is being made as this was the best performance so far for the Blues against a side which is on song, narrowly missed out on promotion last season and clocked up 73 points in their first two games. It is all likely to take time but the portents are good. Alan Hesketh designated Man of the Match for New Brighton controlled things well at the base of the scrum and scored a couple of great tries, Tevita Haunga was on hand to charge over for a try on his 1st XV debut and Byron Power, drafted in at the last minute to cover for Vinnie Dutton, was impressive.

New Brighton were forced onto the back foot from the start. A poor kick off gave the visitors the advantage of a scrum on the centre spot and within 5 minutes where 3 points ahead from a Sean Rogers penalty. Further discomfort came 5 minutes later as Chris Stewart romped over to push the score to 8 points to nil and the Blues looking decidedly fragile.

Paea Liku, who had taken a nasty knock in the first minute of the game, left the field to be replaced by Tevitan Haunga and it was the big Tongan who rounded off the first scoring opportunity for the home side. Paul Lewis added the extras and at 7 points to 8 on 15 minutes and the whole aspect of the game had changed. Altrincham Kersal threatened after the restart but a penalty kick to touch had them back defending. New Brighton controlled matters through a series of phases and set scrums until Alan Hesketh, spotting the gap, sold an outrageous dummy to romp over from 22 metres to the delight of the home fans. The try was unconverted but the Blues were in the lead by 12 points to 8 on 25 minutes.

The visitors regained the advantage almost immediately with a converted try by centre James Conville from a move started from a lineout deep in the Blues half after a relieving kick had gone into touch on the full. The same player was on the score sheet on the stroke of half time from a move started from a quick throw in from touch which left the Blues trailing by 8 points at the break.

Half Time Score: New Brighton 12 – 20 Altrincham Kersal

A storming start to the second half led by Kati, Mafi, Ellis and Haunga was weathered by Altrincham Kersal, the pressure being relieved when a knock on gave them the advantage at a scrum on their 5 metre line. A penalty goal on 50 minutes made a possible fight back by New Brighton unlikely and a converted try by scrum half Peter Nicholls on the 70th minute made it remote.

New Brighton had far from folded and the visitors had worked hard for their points. Alan Hesketh’s second try, converted by Paul Lewis, reduced the deficit on the 76th minute but a Rogers penalty goal on the final whistle made Altrincham Kersal comfortable winners.

Final Score: New Brighton 19 – 33 Altrincham Kersal

George Probert, commenting after the match, said “A K are a good outfit, their forwards are strong and aggressive and they have some very talented speedy backs. Whilst losing our first home game is a disappointment I am pleased with the progress we are making, a much improved team performance over last week against a much stronger side. Luke Thompson, who has been injured for the last few weeks, got a run late in the second half and it looks like he hasn't lost his form. Byron Power making his first team debut coped well with the step up and Matt Hale showed well at inside centre. My man of the match Alan Hesketh was on great form. In training this week we will be working on developing our game plan and in particular we will be working on our defence.”

New Brighton are away at Broughton Park next Saturday. Broughton Park lost 21-10 to LSH on Saturday but had a storming 46 – 22 success at Leigh the week before. LSH themselves had suffered a 40 - 18 defeat at the hands of Altrincham Kersal a week ago.

Match Photos

Wirral 26 New Brighton 10

 

Report by Doug Thorpe

Team: 15. Adam Pitt, 14. Gareth Simpson, 13. Andy Signal, 12. Simione Mafi, 11. Vinnie Dutton, 10. Sean Ellis, 9. Alan Hesketh, 1. Conan Grehan, 2. Phil Buckley, 3. Joe Cardus, 4. Paul Roberts, 5. Paul Lewis, 6. Stuart Gratton, 7. George Sale, 8. Paea Luku
Replacements: 16. Katilimoni Tuipulotu, 17. Colin Jones, 18. Matt Hale.

An inauspicious start for the Blues’ League campaign as they went down to newly promoted Wirral by two converted tries and four penalty goals to a converted try and a penalty. After a very reasonable performance by a largely second string in the Vase last week at Sandbach, the added fire power of the senior players was expected to deliver the goods. But full credit to Wirral who were well up for it, they were sharp, they created their chances and banked their scores in the first half to set up a commanding lead. As Kati came on from the bench New Brighton respond with more control, stopped haemorrhaging points. He scored his try and improved the score marginally on the position at half time.

New Brighton had slipped into arrears in less than 5 mins when a loan defender, lacking support, failed to release the ball after being caught in possession and Harvey converted the ensuing penalty. However, the pack were working well, Ellis was bringing his centres into the game and both Signal and Mafi made ground against a very ‘in the face’ defence. A penalty to touch in the corner put the Blues into their first scoring position. Wirral survived a series of attacks by forwards driving and backs looking for a way through before conceding a penalty which Paul Lewis easily converted to bring the scores level on 20 mins.

Wirral backs always look threatening and enjoyed their finest period of the game as they ran in two tries, both converted, and kicked another two penalties in the 20 minutes before half time. The first try by wing Baker who intercepted a poor pass, got behind the defence and could not be caught and the second when again Baker claimed a loose ball, this time he opened up the gap and fed Childs for the scrum half to coast in. Fly half Broadbent smacked over the penalties, one from 45 metres and the second 30 metres out and five metres in from touch. Not the easiest of kicks and they kept the scoreboard ticking to the deepening concern of the visiting fans.

Half Time Score: Wirral 23 – 3 New Brighton

The Blues opted for a scrum as Wirral were penalised under their posts. A decision which paid off as Kati forced his way over on 48 minutes and for Lewis to add the extras to bring the score to 23 points to 10. The remote possibility of a dramatic come back faded completely as Broadbent added a final penalty to his tally on the hour.

Final Score: Wirral 26 – 10 New Brighton

George Probert commented after the match that after the 20 minute onslaught at the end of the first half the lads did not fold but had the heart to pull themselves together, get a try on the board and maintain their line intact in the second half. “We have a stern test next week against Altrincham Kersal so we will be working during the week on a number of points thrown up by today’s game. We will be at home and we are approaching this and every other game in the League with confidence.”

 

Sandbach 13 New Brighton 10

 

Report by Doug Thorpe

Team: 15. Tom Cubbin, 14. Gareth Simpson, 13. Andy Signal, 12. Sean Ellis, 11. Vinnie Dutton (Brett Williams), 10. Paul Lewis, 9. Alan Hesketh, 1. Conan Grehan 2. Phil Buckley, 3. Joe Cardus (Matt Hale), 4. Paul Roberts, 5. George Sale, 6. Mike Smith, 7. Stuart Gratton, 8. Kieth Mahon (Adam Pitt)

George Probert, having taken over the mantle of Chairman of the Rugby, had his first game in charge of the Blues ending in a narrow defeat in this first round Cheshire Vase game at Sandbach. With a number of senior members of his squad unavailable, including the iconic Kati, Simione Mafi and Mike Gazzola among others, he had fielded a young and largely inexperienced side. Mike Smith,Tom Cubbin, Stuart Gratton and Matt Hale all made their debut at this level and 19 year old Joe Cardus starting what could be a very promising career at prop at senior level.

Defying the odds, the Blues, starting against the wind, made a lively start, pinning the home side in their own half for most of the first quarter. A break from the side of a maul by Sale, taken on by Cardus who moved a nicely weighted pass to Dutton presenting what was probably the best scoring opportunity for New Brighton in the first half. The flying wing was unfortunate to be stopped just short of the line. Defences though were generally on top and though the Blues moved the ball wide with some enterprising open rugby there was little evidence of a clear break.

Sandbach nosed into the lead with an unconverted try near to the half hour mark from a move which started from winning a long ball to the end of the lineout and ended with George Oakley crossing in the corner.

Half Time Score: Sandbach 5 – 0 New Brighton

Five minutes after the break replacement Will Cargill taking over at fly half increased the home lead with a penalty goal which Paul Lewis cancelled out soon after with a penalty at the other end.

Under the guidance of Will Cargill the Sandbach backs were showing more direction and their heavier pack was dominating the later stages. Inevitably that was converted into points as Cargill himself waltzed over to extend the margin to a comfortable 10 points on 55 mins. Uncharacteristically, he missed the conversion.

The Blues came under severe pressure and survived some close calls in the final quarter but a breakout from deep, well finished by Andy Signal for a try converted by Paul Lewis brought the Blues within striking distance of an unexpected victory. That was not to be but a half empty pot now begins to look very much half full.

Final Score: Sandbach 13 – 10 New Brighton

George Probert was delighted with the performance on the field. He said:”I did not think lads could achieve such a close result, but they played well and it will give us enormous confidence as we move into the League programme next week. Discipline was exemplary, the penalty count was very low, only 3 or 4 I think, and no yellow cards.”