South Lancashire/Cheshire Division 1
New Brighton 24 – Winnington Park 7

Report by Stephen Owen

New Brighton 24 (5) : Tries: Cook (1) Hesketh (1) Tuipolutu (2) Cons: Thompson (2) 
Winnington Park 7 (0) : Tries:  (1) Cons: Hewitt (1) 

Team: 15. Brett Williams, 14. Joe Silcock, 13. Jack Harris, 12. Ned Brookes, 11. Vinnie Dutton, 10. Alan Hesketh, 9. Luke Thompson, 1. Joe Cardus, 2. Stuart Gratton, 3. Aaron Jones, 4. Mike Gazzola, 5. Will McCaig, 6. Paul Roberts, 7. Phil Buckley (Capt), 8. Katilimoni Tuipolutu
Replacements: 16. Mike Smith for Will McCaig, 17. Damien Cook for Brett Williams, 18. Barry Rylance for Jack Harris 

Watched by a healthy crowd at Hartsfield on the occasion of the Past Players Reunion lunch New Brighton returned to winning ways and took the points. The Blues also gained a bonus point for scoring four tries which could be crucial at the end of the season.
Prior to kick off the tolling of a bell nearby could be heard around the ground which, in hindsight, seemed to set the scene for a first half which struggled to come to life as both teams incurred the displeasure of the referee on a regular basis. Early New Brighton pressure on the Winnington Park line was repulsed by the visitors and on 12 minutes, on a difficult day for kickers, New Brighton missed a penalty and an opportunity to take an early lead.  Shortly afterwards, on the 16 minute mark, a strong forward drive by New Brighton saw Number 8 Kati cross the line for a 5 points to nil lead. With Winnington Park also spurning a penalty opportunity there was no further addition to the score as the half time whistle sounded.

Half time score: New Brighton 5 – Winnington Park 0

The second half was barely underway when play was held up for on field treatment for New Brighton second row forward Will McCaig who sustained an injury and unfortunately had to leave the field. New Brighton were forced to shuffle the pack with replacement forward Mike Smith going to hooker and Stuart Gratton reverting to flanker. New Brighton made ground and it was the replacement Mike Smith who was just held up after some strong driving work by the New Brighton pack propelled him over the Winnington Park try line. From the resulting scrum, Number 8 Kati broke, fed replacement back Damien Cook, on for a blood injury to winger Joe Silcock, who crossed the line to extend the home side’s lead to 10 points to nil. A subsequent transgression saw New Brighton reduced to fourteen men after the award of a yellow card and the visitors took full advantage as they swept downfield and scored their try, converted by centre, Callum Hewitt. With New Brighton back up to full complement and beginning to gain the upper hand, Number 8, Kati just failed to hold the ball as he crossed the Winnington line. The visitors’ relief was short lived however as they were penalised for feeding at the scrum and Kati picked up and drove over for his second try. Scrum half, Luke Thompson, thumped over the conversion from wide out. With only minutes remaining on the clock New Brighton attacked again and the ball was taken over the Winnington Park line by standoff, Alan Hesketh, returning from an enforced lay off to make the game safe for the home side. The conversion was drop kicked over by Luke Thompson and the whistle sounded to bring the action to a close.    

Full time score: New Brighton 24 – Winnington Park 7 

As President Ben remarked in the match day programme, good to see so many familiar faces at the match having long exaggerated chats about “The Good Old Days.” Good also to see Joe Cardus and Alan Hesketh return to action on the field, Mathew Cook running the line and Steve Dean, Sean Ellis, Joe Sale and Andy Signal supporting the lads and hopefully able to return to action shortly.

Next Saturday’s game is away at Orrell Anvils, kick off 2.15pm.

 

 

 

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division 1 
Ashton on Mersey 21 – New Brighton 18

Report by Stephen Owen

Team: 15. Damien Cook, 14. Ben Brunt, 13. Brett Williams, 12. Ned Brooks, 11. Vinny Dutton, 10. Jack Harris, 9. Luke Thompson, 1. Mike Gazzola, 2. Phil Buckley (Capt), 3. Aaron Jones, 4. Paul Roberts, 5. Will McCaig, 6. Stuart Gratton, 7. Charlie Ward, 8. Katilimoni Tuipolutu 
Replacements: 16. Barry Rylance for Ben Brunt 17. Mike Smith for Charlie Ward 18. Phil Gazzola for Will McCaig 

Ashton on Mersey 21 (7) : Tries: 3 Cons: 3 Pens: 0

New Brighton 18 (13) : Tries: Dutton (3) Cons: 0 Pens: Thompson (1)

A close game at Banky Lane, home of Ashton on Mersey Rugby Football Club saw the home side snatch a last minute try to take the match and condemn New Brighton to their second league defeat of the season. Injuries and late withdrawals necessitated a number of changes both in terms of personnel and positioning for New Brighton who nonetheless gain a losing bonus point  and looked as if they might just take the points for a win but for that late score by the home side.

New Brighton once again started well and on three minutes were ahead with a penalty from scrum half, Luke Thompson. Following the restart the visitors gathered the ball and a quick pass from Number 8 Kati found winger, Vinny Dutton who left three defenders trailing in his wake to score the first of his tries. Ashton on Mersey then took the game strongly to New Brighton by using the forwards to good effect, retaining possession well and camping out in the visitors’ 22. Some stout defending by Mew Brighton managed to initially keep them out until a miss move in the centre saw the ball fed to the Ashton Number 8 who scored a try which was then converted. The rest of the first half was fairly even until the 37^th minute when confusion in the Ashton backs saw the ball reach flying New Brighton winger Vinny Dutton who repeated the earlier medicine and scorched in for a second try.

Half time score: Ashton on Mersey 7 – New Brighton 13

The second half started with an injury to New Brighton winger Ben Brunt who departed the field with a dislocated right shoulder. New Brighton were seeing and winning plenty of ball but displaying, as in recent games, a tendency to rush what they were doing and consequently lost both the ball and any opportunity to pressurise their opponents. An interesting variation at a lineout saw New Brighton hooker and Captain Phil Buckley charge up the touchline into the Ashton 22. From the ensuing lineout, having secured good possession, New Brighton failed to make their pressure tell by succumbing to “whitewash fever” with a couple of rushed attempts to breach the defence were repulsed when the occasion demanded cool heads and an organised, controlled forward drive which had worked well up until then. Once again, Ashton reclaimed the ball, drove down the field and scored a converted try to give them the lead by 14 points to 13. With the game entering the final fifteen minutes New Brighton worked the ball out to that man Dutton again who somehow wriggled out of two tackles to blast over the line for his third try to restore the visitors’ lead and set up a nail biting finale. With the game being played in the New Brighton 22 an attempted New Brighton clearance kick was charged down which nearly resulted in a score for the home side. Ashton were awarded a 5 metre scrum near the New Brighton line but crucially knocked on. New Brighton’s lineout looked solid with Paul Roberts once again taking everything in the air and doing his utmost to disrupt the opposition. With the game entering its final minute and the New Brighton faithful almost on the point of requiring oxygen from Frank, could they hold out? The answer came swiftly. A lineout was won by Ashton who fed the ball across the line culminating in the ball being taken at pace and a try being scored virtually under the posts. The conversion was a formality. The score was 21 – 18 to the home side. With the last play of the game a desperate attempt by New Brighton to force their way to the Ashton line saw the ball kicked into touch by the defenders and the game was over.

Full time score: Ashton on Mersey 21 – New Brighton 18

Congratulations to our hosts. From a blue perspective a disappointing end to a game which the players know was there for the taking. Once again, specific areas to work on this week and to use as motivation for next week.

Past players lunch is set for next Saturday’s home game, 29/10/11, against Winnington Park.

 

 

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division 1 
West Park 17 – New Brighton 30

Report by Stephen Owen

Team: 15. Andy Signal, 14. Joe Silcock, 13. Jack Harris, 12. Ned Brooks, 11. Vinny Dutton, 10. Steve Dean, 9. Luke Thompson, 1. Mike Gazzola, 2. Phil Buckley (Capt), 3. Aaron Jones, 4. Paul Roberts, 5. Will McCaig, 6. Stuart Gratton, 7. Charlie Ward, 8. Katilimoni Tuipolutu

Replacements: 16. Tom Brie for Stuart Gratton 17. Phil Gazzola for Charlie Ward 18. Not used: Jack Charlesworth  

West Park 17 (17) - Tries: Morley (1) Sparrow (1) Cons: Hunt (2) Pens: Hunt (1)

New Brighton 30 (16) - Tries: Tuipolutu (2)Cons: Dean (1) Pens: Dean (6)

An eventful game at Red Rocks, home of West Park St Helens Rugby Football Club featured just about everything; glorious mid October sunshine, the appearance overhead of an airship and disappointingly a number of yellow and red cards. New Brighton returned to winning ways but despite a two man numerical advantage at the end were unable to score further tries and secure valuable bonus points.

New Brighton started well and within two minutes were ahead with a penalty from fly half, Steve Dean, this being the first of eight penalties awarded to New Brighton. The home side responded promptly with a penalty of their own  from full back Warren Hunt after New Brighton were penalised for not binding. A further penalty from Steve Dean saw the visitors lead by 3 points to 6 before the home side took the game strongly to New Brighton by using the forwards to good effect, retaining possession well and creating a try for centre Shane Sparrow, converted by full back Hunt. West Park now had their tails up and assisted by some fairly anonymous tackling from New Brighton, second row forward Morley was gifted a free run and gratefully trundled unopposed over the New Brighton line. Full back Hunt added the extras to give West Park a 17 points to 6 lead. New Brighton continued to use the forwards to drive upfield and on 34 minutes a rolling maul close to the West Park line ended with No. 8 Kati touching down. Fly half Steve Dean added the conversion followed shortly afterwards by a penalty and at half time it was game on once more.

Half time score: West Park 17 – New Brighton 16

As in last season’s fixture, both sides sensed that the next scores could be crucial and it was New Brighton fly half Steve Dean who gave the visitors the lead with another penalty kick. West Park were determined to get back in front and driven on by half backs Danny Green and the experienced Rob Hitchmough, New Brighton somehow managed to keep them out with an equally determined defensive effort, aided once again by the award of a penalty kick slotted over by Steve Dean. The game had been pretty even up to this point but things were about to change. Following the award of a penalty kick for New Brighton the referee produced a yellow card and influential West Park fly half Hitchmough was sent for a spell in the sin bin. With Steve Dean kicking yet another penalty for New Brighton to give them a 17 points to 25 lead West Park’s hopes then effectively disappeared as one of their front row forwards was sent from the field for an offence at a ruck. New Brighton sensed their opportunity and from the resulting unopposed scrum Number 8 Kati was driven over for his and New Brighton’s second try which effectively sealed the result. West Park fly half Hitchmough then made a brief reappearance before being awarded a second yellow card for a spear tackle, an early bath and West Park were down to thirteen men.

Not surprisingly, the game then became scrappy as New Brighton desperately tried to score further tries but lacked composure and control and were kept out by some resolute defending by West Park.

The game ended with virtually the same result as when these two teams last met on this ground on the 12^th of March when New Brighton also won by 17 points to 38.

A somewhat disorderly end to a match, which had started with some promise and ended in a salutary lesson in the importance of discipline.

Full time score: West Park 17 – New Brighton 30

A solid enough team performance was enough on the day to return to winning ways following a recent defeat and draw at home. Notable individual performances in open play from Paul Roberts, Aaron Jones and Andy Signal and a strong kicking game from Steve Dean who kicked superbly for position and with precision from place kicks. Promising debuts also from second row forward Will McCaig and winger Joe Silcock. Next week we are away at Ashton on Mersey.  

Past players lunch is set for the next home game, 29/10/11, against Winnington Park.

 

 

NEW BRIGHTON 20 TYLDSLEY 20

Report by Paul Lewis

On the last occasion these two teams met the sun was beating down, the whistle of  the summer swallow  filled the air and New Brighton rattled up 10 tries without reply. Eighteen months can be long time in this game,few of the players from either side remain and this was a  game of a different colour. The Blues have lost some  flair, a bit of edge and  enthusiastic youth has replaced  some of the wiser heads that have moved on; bundles of promise but promise doesn’t win games . However what  the Blues still hold is resolve and in the shape of skipper Phil Buckley a never say die attitude that  completely turned around a game that  most thought lost. 

It was a grey afternoon at Hartsfield yesterday, summer now long gone and the only whistle came from the man in the middle  which for the Blues in the first half and the visitors in the second seemed a little too prevalent.

It was a bad first half for the Blues  leaking penalties and points, reduced to 14 men for the last 10 minutes of the first half when stand off , Steve Dean, was yellow carded for an off the field altercation  in which he was deemed to be completely liable. Tyldsley worked three tries without reply  but managed just one conversion. The Blues had plenty of ball but somehow managed to hand it straight back to the visitors, whose stand off Mark Dickinson was outstanding throughout - although he too was yellow carded in the second half, it was unclear why but it gave the game an almost perfect balance of halves.

Dickinson had opened the scoring in the 7^th minute selling a cheeky dummy and stepping inside to score close to the posts, his conversion made it 7 -0.

On 15 minutes the Tyldsley 8 Pullman broke from a tight scrum and scorched up the blind side drawing Vinny Dutton into the tackle before offloading to the supporting Vardenn who strolled over to make it 12 -0, the conversion was missed. The Blues tried a novelty kick off with Steve Dean tapping the ball just over the 10m line and scooped it up himself to start a forward drive that saw the ball carried deep into the visitors 22  but  the referee deemed that at least one of the Blues forwards had played the ball on the ground and Tyldsley were awards a penalty. Quickly taken by scrum half Soulsby the Blues were fortunate not to concede another try, a long kick ahead saw Dutton somehow manage to wrestle the ball into touch despite the attentions of three of the opposition.

In the closing minutes of the half with the Blues down to 14 men the Blues were awarded a penalty kicked long and deep by Thompson, the line out was lost  and the visitors kicked clear into the Blues half, the ball was carried forward by  the improving Attwood and the Blues forwards drove in to secure the ball which was immediately released; with ball in the air between the scrum half and the stand off the whistle sounded again apparently a Blues forward having ‘gone off his feet’ , a quickly taken penalty saw the visiting pack rampage down field and Twizzle, the visiting  tight powered over to make it 17  - 0

Early changes were forced through injury to Matty Cook, and a recurrence of Stuey Grattons leg problem which saw him off at Sale, Tom Brie and Charley Ward deputised , In the second half Attwood gave way for Adam Pitt in a reshuffle of the back line.

The second half saw The Blues come alive and with Buckley extremely active at the break down the game began to turn, and the game  was played more and more in the visitors 22. A pick and drive from the line out saw Katti cross  the line and 10 minutes later Joe Cardus got over for a similar score ably assisted by the ever alert Dean  pulling in Luke Thompson to help the forward drive. Both ties were converted by Steve and the scores were suddenly tied when the stand off landed a long distance penalty.

Not a game for the purists, too many stoppages, both sides felt aggrieved by some of the decisions but  that’s rugby and  the Blues need to sort out the penalty problem before  next weeks trip to West Park.

 

 

South Lancashire/Cheshire Division 1
Sale 44 – New Brighton 22

Report by Stephen Owen

Team: 15. Daryl Parker, 14. Gavin Attwood, 13. Jack Harris, 12. Ned Brooks, 11. Andy Signal, 10. Steve Dean, 9. Alan Hesketh, 1. Joe Cardus, 2. Phil Buckley (Capt), 3. Aaron Jones, 4. Paul Roberts, 5. Mike Gazzola, 6. Stuart Gratton, 7. Mathew Cook, 8. Katilimoni Tuipolutu 
Replacements: 16. Luke Thompson for Alan Hesketh 17. Mike Smith for Stuart Gratton 18. Charlie Ward for Katilimoni Tuipolutu

A tough game at Heywood Road played, in the most part, in blazing conditions, between the two unbeaten sides in the league, saw a hard working New Brighton lead at half time only for a strong Sale side to eventually run out winners to extend their lead at the top of the table.

New Brighton started well and on three minutes went ahead with a penalty from fly half, Steve Dean, after Sale had been caught offside. The home side responded promptly with second row forward J.P. Attlee particularly to the fore, took play deep into New Brighton territory and flanker Mullarkey touched down out wide for an unconverted try after just seven minutes. New Brighton however took the game strongly to Sale by using the forwards to good effect, retaining possession well and creating a firm platform to bring the backs, especially Jack Harris and debutant, Ned Brooks, into play. New Brighton continued to look dangerous with most of the play in the Sale half and on 34 minutes a rolling maul close to the Sale line ended with No. 8 Kati touching down in the corner. Fly half Steve Dean added the conversion. Seconds before the half time whistle went a clever crossfield kick by Andy Signal almost lead to another try scoring opportunity for New Brighton. Sale, for the first time this season, was in an unaccustomed position, trailing 5-10 at the break.

Half time score: Sale 5 – New Brighton 10

In extremely warm conditions New Brighton had put a big effort into the first half performance and knew that they would have to dig deep as Sale would surely come back at them.Sale began the second half strongly and two minutes into the half a sweeping backs movement put full back Allan in for a try to level matters. Sale clicked into gear and five minutes later some strong play ended with a try for Attlee. With skipper and fly half Mark Winstanley adding the conversion Sale were 17-10 in front. Winstanley was increasingly pulling the strings and took take play into the New Brighton 22 for Sale to be denied a further score as the referee deemed there had been a forward pass. Play was then delayed for a lengthy period owing to a head injury to New Brighton scrum half Alan Hesketh and following the restart quick ball from a scrum found Sale fly half Winstanley who went through a gap in the New Brighton defence to touch down. All credit to winger Andy Signal who sprinted off the touchline to charge down the attempted conversion. On the hour New Brighton were reduced to fourteen men following the award of a yellow card and a minute later Sale took advantage of reduced numbers in the New Brighton pack with a drive and pick up by No 8 Keep for the try and a 27-10 lead. New Brighton were now up against it and from the restart a run down the right ended with Attlee taking the inside pass to cross for his second try of the day. New Brighton had now shipped three tries while reduced to fourteen men.

Five minutes later Sale scrum half Connolly put in a solo break from the half way line outpacing the New Brighton defence for a try, converted by winger Rowley. To their credit New Brighton refused to give in and responded with a try from winger Gavin Attwood, before Sale completed their tally with a tap and run by Rowley from a penalty allowing Allan to score again with five minutes remaining. In the closing stages and showing great heart and determination which will stand them in good stead for the rest of the season, New Brighton flanker Mathew Cook touched down and Steve Dean added the extras. Not for the want of trying, New Brighton just failed to grab a fourth try which would have given them a bonus point.

Plenty of positives and plenty to think about and work on this week before the visit of Tyldesley to Hartsfield next Saturday.

Sale 44 (5) - Tries: Allan (2) Attlee (2) Connolly (1) Mullarkey (1) Keep (1) Winstanley (1) Cons: Rowley (1) Winstanley (1)

New Brighton 22 (10) - Tries: Cook (1) Signal (1) Tuipolutu (1) Cons: Dean (2) Pens: Dean (1)