Match reports and results

Barnard Castle 26 Seaton Carew 12

Sat, 20 Nov 2010 08:25:54 +0000

Castle played host to Seaton Carew last Saturday. The opposition were hovering just below mid-table but had only suffered narrow defeats in most of their games to date. This was to be no different.

On a dreary, mizzly sort of day with the ball greasy to handle, Castle stuttered badly early on. Carew had the lion’s share of both the territory and possession, their set scrummage and lineout working well.

Castle although competing well in some areas seemed to be losing out at breakdown whenever there was a 50-50 ball. However they did look like they had a more incisive cutting edge when good quality ball was delivered down the backline. Carew’s enthusiasm at the breakdown sometimes backfired too they were regularly penalised for going over the top and failing to stay on their feet. In their own half this was a risky business as flyhalf Kirk Thompson had at last found his special kicking boots lurking in some dusty corner of a forgotten wardrobe. Thus, somewhat against the run of play, Castle found themselves 3-0 to the good before, in an incident remarkably similar to the previous home game, the ball shot out of the far side of Castle’s own scrum and the Carew backrow capitalised gathering the ball, breaking quickly and finding a gap to stun the home supporters with a score between the posts.

Soon things got worse as Castle were reduced to fourteen men when Paul Fenwick tackled his opposite winger high saving an otherwise certain try. The referee however collared the wrong man, Craig Dominick deemed to be the culprit by the referee ended up doing the porridge behind the posts on behalf of his mate.

Barnie seemed to wake up at this point and further pressure saw Fenwick nearly break through before another penalty was slotted over to leave the game delicately poised at 6-7 at the interval.

Coach Luke Monument had some stern words during the pause and Castle were soon into their stride in the second half but were to suffer some early frustration as good scoring chances went begging. Firstly, flanker Andrew Eggs Clement having another wonderful game rampaged down the left wing and his scoring pass to lock Richard Dodds was adjudged just slightly forward Then, after Kirk had edged the side ahead 9-7, down the same wing a similar break by Dominick led to a dropped scoring pass by Fenwick.
Prop Richard Welsby enjoying the soggier conditions had a little purple patch taking great lineout ball at the back and then catching a kick and making some good yards before being held.

As the game entered its final quarter, the pressure continued to ratchet up and eventually told when winger Andrew Stubbs not long on the pitch, broke strongly down the right flank from within his own half. As the Carew cover tackle came in on the twenty-two metre line he got a nice inside pass away and Craig Dominick was the recipient to secure his seventh try in three games. Not long after Kirk slotted over his fourth penalty goal as yet again Carew lost discipline in front of their posts and suddenly were 19-7 down.

Undeterred they came back almost immediately as Barnie were again hit by a sucker punch this time off the back of a lineout when their big flanker collected and broke through some slack tackling. At 19-12 Carew must have thought they were still in with a shout but almost immediately were made to think otherwise.

Kirk Thompson anxious to play down in the Carew half, dinked a nicely lofted kick into their twenty two. Dominick following up, held the fullback as he struggled to his feet and the Castle backrow were almost immediately on hand to pressurise the scrum-half as he tried to get his kick away. It lacked any distance and Adam Bellwood was able to collect and feed the ball to skipper Ian Hanvey, coming on at full throttle. He expertly drew the defender before passing outside to Paul Fenwick who this time made no mistake and rounded the final man expertly. At 26-12 the victory was deserved but perhaps flattered Castle slightly on this occasion. Carew lacked much cutting edge outside but were a cohesive unit that will cause problems to other sides. Their worst problem was their discipline with no less than three yellow cards being shown to their players and in truth there could have been more.
This result sees Castle firmly ensconced now in third place in the league table with only one more fixture (in a fortnight’s time at Whitley Bay) before reaching the halfway point and the start of the return legs.

The club is highly appreciative of the match day sponsorship from Gill and Partners, Independent Financial Advisors.

Prudhoe 27 Barnard Castle 36

Sat, 13 Nov 2010 22:03:01 +0000

It was a case of after the Lord Mayor’s show last Saturday. Following the trouncing of Hartlepool in their last league game where Barnie oozed class and cohesion throughout, this was much scrappier affair even though they won comfortably enough against opposition down at the other end of the table.

Playing downhill with the sun at their backs in the first half against a student based side, after early skirmishes it was Craig Dominick who opened the scoring breaking tackles and hurtling down the wing. Castle dominated the first half territorially without ever looking completely on top of their hosts. Lock forward Adam Haynes and hooker Ronnie Maughan both got on the scoresheet to keep the backs in their place; Haynesy picking up at the back of loose play close to the Prudhoe line and driving over while Ronnie’s score came from excellent support play down the wing, on hand to take the pass out of the tackle and scamper the remaining yards to the line. Craig Dominick also scored a second try in trademark fashion.

Seemingly comfortably enough ahead at the break 24-10, Castle let Prudhoe seize the initiative early on in the second half, slack Barnie tackling allowing a centre to waltz through straight after the restart to close to within a score. As the third quarter of the game was played out the sense of anxiety in the Castle ranks was tangible and the play was littered with knock-ons as Castle tried to up the tempo. There were flashes of the class though and these led to further scores for fullback Steve McCracken taking a nice pass out of the tackle from Dominick before Craig confirmed his hat-trick in ebullient style as the play moved into the final quarter. Prudhoe scored at the close to flatter the scoreline a touch but this was perhaps the wake-up call Barnie need for next week.

A noteworthy debut came in the second half for young forward Ross Lindsey who has improved immensely since the start of the season and looks to have a great future as part of the first team squad.

Next week with Castle now 3rd in the table, they entertain Seaton Carew on the Demesnes. A slicker performance will be expected. With no training this Tuesday it is crucial that Thursday’s session is well attended by all.

Barnard Castle 2nds 0 Westoe 3rds 50

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 09:06:37 +0100

Castle seconds were outclassed by this very strong Westoe outfit showing the benefits of playing a couple of league levels above Castle. There were some positives though.

Adam Haynes having his first stab at propping looked extremely comfortable, Ian Blain was all over the park, Ben Gray was never outshone around the scrummages and Matty Allinson went well around the park all game. Dave Thompson also looked to thoroughly enjoy his outing in the back row and Karl Ryecroft was a rock at fly-half.
This Saturday sees the seconds playing Horden 3rds which should be a much better fixture for them.

Barnard Castle 48 Hartlepool 12

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 09:04:01 +0100

Barnie came roaring back after their disappointing defeat over at Guisborough the previous Saturday when they systematically dismantled a Hartlepool side that at the beginning of the game were just above them in the league. The convincing win takes them up to fourth in the table.

The first chink in the visitor’s armour came after only ten minutes when a speculative kick up into the Castle half was fielded by winger Paul Fenwick who gathered and sped down the left wing before passing out of tackle to team-mate Craig Dominick who made the final yards. Hartlepool exerted some pressure of their own soon after and the referee failed to spot that the ball had come straight out of the scrum close to the Castle line and their flanker gratefully gathered and crashed over.
Barnie re-exerted their authority within minutes though and as Hartlepool infringed at the breakdown, Kirk Thompson put over a penalty and then fullback Steve McCracken broke through a gap and went over. Fenwick then scored not long after the restart, cruising effortlessly through floundering defenders on another mazy run from within his own half. Another one was soon to follow to leave the half-time score a convincing 29-7 lead.

In the second half, Fenwick went over yet again and then Craig Dominick grabbed his second, driving through tackles and going over under the posts. Although Hartlepool grabbed a consolation try close to the final whistle, by then Kirk Thompson had gone over for his first try of the season to leave Barnie out of sight. It was good to see Ian Spence have his first outing for the first team side and had a couple of excellent runs during the course of the game. Eggs Clement also put in another outstanding performance.

This Saturday, they entertain Blyth in a cup game down on the Demesnes.

Bishop Auckland 2nds 29 Barnard Castle 2nds 29

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 21:13:34 +0100

On a day when the first team were enjoying a well-earned rest, it was the 2nds that were centre-stage as they tackled Bishop on their own turf. On a lovely day for open rugby and with a highly partisan crowd albeit sprinkled with a very vocal element of Barnie’s away fraternity, it was Castle that were quickest out of the traps, early ball along the line allowing room for young winger John Lumsdon to finish off beautifully in the corner (a debut try I believe ?).

After the early promise, the game tilted Bishop’s way as their heavier forwards dominated all the set scrums and helped them power their way down the pitch. Lax tackling didn’t help Castle’s cause and they were soon overhauled as Bishop scored three unanswered tries in response. For all the home side’s forward possession, Castle always had the cutting edge in the backs and as half-time approached both Andrew Stubbs from inside centre and prop John McGrath crossed the Bishop line to leave the scoreline nicely balanced at the interval.

In the second half it was more of the same and while the Bishop forwards were still refreshed from the break, they worked their way up the pitch to extend their narrow lead. Castle’s fitness though meant that they were always in the hunt and as the final plays of the game approached, Andrew Eggs Clement crashed over in the centres and then as Castle at last won their first scrum, the ball was shipped out to Richard Hughes returning from injury who scampered over out wide to tie the scores at the death. Castle elated, Bishop deflated.

Castle 2nds are coming together nicely after a difficult season last year. Some new faces are starting to impress. Will Ford and Ross Lindsey are creating a steady, industrious and athletic back row pairing and Charlie Butlin looks more assured with every game. The side also benefitted from the arrival after a long lay-off of Carl Rycroft while utility back Lee Ainsley has lost none of his guile and touch as he comes back after a long injury break.

Next week sees the seconds looking for a pool fixture while the first team travel away to league leaders Guisborough with competition for places again hotting up as players return from injuries.