AycliffeRugby Monthly Print Newsletter

5 News Articles

Aycliffe March On

Newton Aycliffe 52 Chester le Street 2nds 7

Newton Aycliffe Rugby Club continued their fine start to the season with a comfortable win over Chester le Street 2^nd XV. 25 players were available for the home team and so Aycliffe were able to lend 4 players to the opposition.

The Chester team were strong in the forwards and Aycliffe struggled to get enough clean possession to the backs early on. The first try came after 10 minutes when, Keith Greenwood, in the unfamiliar position of centre, released Luke Tinkler to score under the posts. Greenwood then added a second with a sweet sidestep. Cymon Lee scored his first try for Aycliffe with a well worked effort. An excellent move, with the ball passing through numerous pairs of hand, saw Warren Parsonage score in the corner. A lapse by the Aycliffe defence saw the Chester stand off kick through and touch down before converting his own try. The final points of the half came from a try by Gareth Parsonage. Four conversions by Tinkler gave Aycliffe a 33 – 7 lead.

If it seemed that the floodgates would open in the second half; it was not to be. The Chester pack, keeping the ball tight, saw that it was 20 minutes before the first points of the half were scored, Drew Gibson going over. Tinkler added another try to extend the lead before, with Chester looking for another try, newcomer Mark Silvester, playing his first game of rugby, picked up a loose ball and sprinted 70 metres to score. A further two kicks in the half for Tinkler made the final score 52 – 7.

This was more of a mixed performance than recently for Aycliffe who, despite scoring some excellent tries, had long periods when they were off the boil. On Saturday 2^nd November, Aycliffe visit Darlington Mowden Park 3rds; kick-off is at 2.15pm. Newton Aycliffe Rugby Club would like to thank their sponsors Aston Hotels and ServiceForce. More information is available on the website at www.ayclifferugby.co.uk.

@Stuart McIvor 28^th October 2008

Stout Defence

Newton Aycliffe 3 Darlington MP 3rds 34

Newton Aycliffe ended their unbeaten run against Darlington Mowden Park’s 3^rd XV. The visitors brought a large squad of experienced players for the game whilst Aycliffe had 21 players themselves.

The large Mowden Pack took the game to Aycliffe from the start, but Aycliffe defended stoutly. Eventually, the pressure told and Mowden’s back row were able to drive over after a scrum. Aycliffe soon fought back and a long range penalty by Tommy Cooper reduced the deficit to two points. Drew Gibson came close to giving Aycliffe the lead but he was brought back as the whistle had already blown for an Aycliffe penalty. The score at the interval remained 5 – 3.

In the second half, both sides made changes but Mowden continued to press and eventually the Aycliffe resistance failed, 5 further tries were scored in the final 30 minutes of the game. Gibson came close to a consolation with a fine break but was well tackled. The final score was 34 – 3 to Mowden.

This was a hard fought display by Aycliffe, who were beaten by the strength and experience of the Mowden side; probably the strongest they will face this season. Newton Aycliffe Rugby Club would like to thank their sponsors Aston Hotels and ServiceForce. More information is available on the website at www.ayclifferugby.co.uk.

©Stuart McIvor 3^rd Nov 2008

Windy Win

Seaton Carew 2nds 20 Newton Aycliffe 24

Newton Aycliffe Rugby Club travelled to the coast to play Seaton Carew 2nds for the first time in a number of years. With a number of regular players unavailable, Aycliffe had an inexperienced team with a number of new players.

In the early part of the match, Aycliffe, playing into a very strong wind, had problems in controlling the ball and Seaton took the lead with first a penalty kick and then a converted try. There was a bit of good fortune in Aycliffe’s reply, Paul Ellis’ kick for the corner was caught by the wind and blown straight into the arms of Phill Sangster, sprinting down the wing, who did well to beat two players and score. Seaton increased their lead again with a further try, but good work from Deryk Cairns gave Mark Silvester enough space to beat his man and score in the corner. A well controlled maul saw Seaton Carew finish the scoring for the half. The score at the break was 20 – 10 to the home side.

With the wind behind, and the team playing in a more controlled manner, Aycliffe dominated the first part of the second half. When Stuart McIvor won a scrum against the head close to the Seaton line, Alan Layfield was on hand to dive over from the ensuing ruck. Luke Tinkler converted. A quick Aycliffe lineout seemed to have been a bad decision when the home side stole the ball and released their backs, but a dropped ball saw first Andy Newman and then Drew Gibson release Tinkler to score unopposed from 30m, converting his own score to take a 4 point lead. Seaton Carew now fought back strongly, putting the Aycliffe line under continuous pressure, but good tackling saw the visitors scrape home for an exciting victory. The final score was 24 – 20 in a match that was played in excellent spirit between the two teams.

On Saturday 15^th November, Newton Aycliffe host Barnard Castle 2^nd XV in a friendly at Moore Lane; kick-off 2.15. Newton Aycliffe Rugby Club would like to thank their sponsors Aston Hotels and ServiceForce. More information is available on the website at www.ayclifferugby.co.uk.

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©Stuart McIvor 11 Nov 2008

Resistance Tested

Newton Aycliffe 17 Barnard Castle 2nds 33

Newton Aycliffe Rugby Club hosted a strong Barnard Castle 2^nd team at Moore Lane. Aycliffe were still missing a number of players but were able to field a solid looking side.

The opening exchanges were close fought with the visitors having a set of backs that looked the equal of Aycliffe. Barnard Castle took the lead with a converted try but Aycliffe struck back when Gareth Parsonage was able to just score with three defenders trying to pull him down. The visitors added to their lead with a further converted score but Andy Newman was released by Warren Parsonage 20 metres out to reduce the deficit. At the break the score was 14 – 10 to the visitors.

Aycliffe took the lead early in the second half when Gareth Parsonage found some space, chipped the ball passed the defence and was able to retrieve the ball at ankle height before diving over the line. Luke Tinkler added the conversion. Barnard Castle then began to get the upper hand with good tackling keeping them out. Bob Malvern stopped a try with a crunching hit on the goal line. Finally, however, Castle were able to go over in the corner from a 5-metre scrum to take a 2-point lead. The Aycliffe resistance finally cracked in the last ten minutes and the visitors added two converted tries for a flattering 33 -17 scoreline at the end of the game. This was a good performance by Aycliffe and the match was a fine spectacle for the spectators.

On Saturday 23^rd >November, Newton Aycliffe visit Durham City 3^rd XV in a Durham Junior League match; kick-off 2.15. Newton Aycliffe Rugby Club would like to thank their sponsors Aston Hotels and ServiceForce. More information is available on the website at www.ayclifferugby.co.uk.

©Stuart McIvor 18 Nov 2008
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Cold Defeat