Ponteland RFC

Ponteland Pythons 40, Northern 3s 17

Saturday 12th September 2009

Match Report by Doug Manager

Northern turned up 2 players short and Ponteland Pythons lent them two players

(Wilcox and a new boy Bell).
From the start the Pythons attacked and it only took 5 mins for full back Vickers to score down the wing, converted by Fly half Watson.  7-0.

Pythons  retained more of the ball and  on 15 mins, with good hands, a try resulted through No 11 down the wing, and conversion again by Watson. 14-0.

Northern fought back through their forwards and on 20mins scored a try from a quick penalty 10 metres out, awarded for an obvious and deliberate` handling error in a ruck by Pythons No 6 (Vic).  (I asked him afterwards what he thought he was doing, but could not understand what he was trying to say).  try was unconverted by their stand in kicker,  Wilcox, on loan from Pont. 14 - 5.

Northern kept fighting  back and Pythons were under pressure on their 22 when our No 6 (Vic) picked up a loose ball and attempted to kick clear.  We did not gain any metres forward but lost several metres backwards resulting in the biggest cheer and outburst of laughter from supporters and some 1^st team players, who following a training session had come down to witness the Pythons playing ability.

Pythons handling had been excellent up to now but unfortunately as our no 14 (Scotty) placed the ball down over the try line, `sir` deemed it knocked forward. Very questionable particularly by Scotty, but cannot win them all.

Ponteland Pythons 35, North Shields Artisans 15
Saturday 5th September 2009

Match Report by Captain Mc Python

Pont opted to start this friendly with the wind in the first half and received the kick.  After some probing play from both sides Shields found space on the left to run in a try.  They followed this up with a second score that started with their own lineout ball, finding holes in the Pont defence and going in under the posts.

Pythons, suitably galvanised, stopped running around like headless chickens and implemented their game plan of simple rugby.  This was soon to pay dividends after some good forwards play recycling ball to feed the backs and let Will Chiltern in for his first, and closely followed by a second from Martin Scott going over from close range to level the scores.

Pyhtons superior weight up front started to tell in the scrums with some being won against the head and the team finishing the half in and around the Shields' 22.

As the warmth of the day started to tell, Pont made several replacements to add fresh legs to the proceedings at the start of and throughout the second half, including a debut up front for newcomer Charlie Bell.

Both Will Chiltern and Mick Ramsey each secured their brace of tries in this second period.  Further tries came courtesy of Andrew Lyndon and Paul Richradson who rolled back the years by running in his score on the left, but hopefully not prematurely exhausting his season's worth of gas.  Rob Barrow also scored on his club debut looking more comfortable on the wing in than he did at full back in the first half.

Unfortunately with no settled kicker none of the four players that attempted conversions got one over: immediate fine for team captain for not having sorted this out.

Overall the game was enjoyed by all in a spirit fitiing of an early season friendly, and good to see a return visit to the club by Steve Hodgson.  Big thanks go to Darren Chu and Andrew Storey for coming on as second half replacements for North Shields. George "the Prodigal Son" Irving also came on for Shields although everyone was unsure as to whether this marked his return to Pont or if this was his North Shields swansong. 

Strangely, the referee was the only person to sustain a blood injury.

Team: R Massingham, I McCran, S Curry, L Coulthard, C Freer, M Ramsey, D Finney (C Bell), R Younger (JBennett), G Shiells (T Watson), M Bremner, L Stanwick (P Richardson), J Lockhart (O Hughes), W Chiltern, M Scott (A Lynden), R Barrow

Man of the Match - Mick Ramsey
Vic of the Day - Vic (for not showing up)