Saturday 28th. February 2009
South Tyneside College 12 Blyth 54
Blyth exploded the myth that Grosvenor Road was an unlucky ground for them with this emphatic win over the South Shields side. Things got off to a bad start when a dropped ball behind their own posts led to Blyth conceding a try to an alert home wing forward with only 90 seconds on the clock.
South Tyneside proceeded to give Blyth plenty of trouble in the first 20 minutes, but one feared for their stamina on a pitch which resembled a marsh in places. In the second quarter Blyth began to dominate and centre Steve Hall and fly half Gregg Dawson combined to put right wing James Bostock over the line. Increasing pressure from the visitors cracked the College defence again with Number 8 Ryan Davison scoring. Hall then made a try for wing forward Wayne Davie before left wing Andy Barker scored a brilliant try, with his pace leaving six opponents in his wake. Centre Graeme Sutherland converted to give Blyth a comfortable 22-5 lead at half time.
In the first minute of the second half Hall and Barker combined to put full back Chris Grey over the line which scuppered hopes of a South Tyne come back. Tries followed at regular intervals as the College lost their shape and found their fitness level wanting faced with some sparkling rugby from Blyth. Dawson put Sutherland through for a try which the centre converted himself for a 34-5 lead. An exquisite handling move involving three players put Bostock over the line for 39-5. Blyth then brought on all three replacements Richard Cole making his first xv debut in place of Barry Harnett at wing forward, Kevin Barratt for son Tom at hooker and Steve Harding at second row for Craig Turnbull. Points continued to mount – fly half Dawson was next to score followed by Barker again, having been set up by Hall and Grey. Blyth’s No. 8 Davison scored the visitors tenth try before the College got a consolation converted try to makt the final score 54-12.
After an uncertain start, this was an excellent performance which left Blyth’s coaches Joe Miller and All Black Joe Macdonnell full of praise. Blyth’s fitness was excellent on a heavy pitch and in the second half ran the home side ragged and might have won by an even bigger margin had they wished.
Saturday 21st. February 2009
Blyth 27 Guisborough 20
In order to keep in touch with the league leaders this was a match Blyth had to win. They did so but had to dig deep against a Guisborough side who underwent a torrid opening 20 minutes before steadying the ship and fighting their way back into the game.
Kicking towards the town with a strong wind at their backs Blyth looked set to continue the previous week’s form, scoring an early try through wing forward Wayne Davie with centre Graeme Sutherland converting. Blyth were completely on top threatening to overrun the visitors through several promising moves, but broke down through over eagerness coupled with stout defending from Guisborough. An exciting running attack involving centre Steve Hall and full back Chris Grey, resulted in right wing Dean Langdown touching down for an excellent try. The ever dangerous Hall then chipped in with a try of his own, which Sutherland converted to stretch Blyth’s lead to 19-0. Unfortunately Blyth lost their concentration for a spell losing control of mid field allowing Guisborough to profit with a try from left wing Tom Nelson to make the half time score 19-5.
At the start of the second half backed by the wind, Guisborough mounted an all out attack on the Blyth line. For 15 minutes play was centred in Blyth’s ‘22’ and there was some heroic defending until finally fly half James Clark touched down, and converting his own try, put Guisborough back in the game at 19-12. Ryan Davison came on for Stephan Krzysiak at Number 8 to bring fresh impetus to the back row and a timely penalty from Sutherland eased the pressure and the margin to 22-12 in Blyth’s favour. Guisborough still looked dangerous but some strong counter attacking from Blyth culminated in left wing James Bostock popping up at just the right time to score in the corner, putting the home side 27-12 ahead. This was a vital score as Guisborough were far from finished and Nelson went over for his second try to cut the lead to 27-17. With the referee playing what to home supporters seemed an eternity of added time, Clark kicked a long distance penalty for Guisborough and while Blyth were not exactly hanging on, they were pleased to hear the final whistle with the score 27-20.
With Guisborough proving worthy opponents on the day, this was as much a test of team spirit and character and in neither were Blyth found wanting. Both Blyth coaches Joe Miller and New Zealander Joe MacDonnell were “well satisfied” with the performance.
Saturday 14th. February 2009
Hartlepool BBOB 8 Blyth 57
This was Blyth almost back to their very best as they tore the Boys Brigade Old Boys to shreds, having struggled to beat them earlier in the season. The atmospheric Old Friary Ground witnessed a display from the visitors which never gave Hartlepool even a glimpse of hope. The Blyth pack were outstanding, in the scrummage they pushed Hartlepool all over the park and in the line out won more than their share and kept the backs well supplied with ball. The back row of Wayne Davie, Barry Harnett and Stefan Krzysiak were also outstanding, playing with pace and purpose; while powerfully built prop Nick Fraser, deadly from 5 metres, helped himself to a hat trick of tries.
Within 90 seconds Blyth were ahead when veteran Steve Hall, who had an excellent game at centre, broke clear fed full back Chris Grey who off loaded to winger Andy Barker, who scored in the corner. On the third minute mark, a penalty from fly half John Evans put Hartlepool back in touch at 3-5.but that was as good as it got for the home side. On ten minutes the powerful Fraser scored repeating the dose shortly afterwards and with fly half Graeme Sutherland converting the second Blyth led 17-3.
Not to be outdone, Blyth’s other prop Stu Browne broke through several tackles to score, and the speedy Hall set up scrum half Tony Smithson for a try. With Sutherland converting both, Blyth led 31-3 at the break and the game was virtually over as a contest.
Blyth scored early in the second half through Stef. Krzysiak; Fraser completed his hat trick with Sutherland converting to stretch Blyth’s lead to 43-3. Grey then made a try for Andy Barker before scoring himself and with Sutherland converting both, Blyth were ahead 57-3. In one guise or another (blood injury, front row replacement etc) Blyth’s three replacements all came on to play various parts. Blyth perhaps took their foot off the pedal and tended to over elaborate in the final phase (passes between legs etc.) but it was harmless and fell well short of mickey-taking. In the final minute Hartlepool charged down a clearance kick and home No 8 Dave Kerr crossed the line to complete the scoring.
After the game Blyth team manager Roger Phillips said,“If only we played like this every week we would be out of sight in the league by now. Nevertheless, with this season’s promotion format still not finalised there is a lot of rugby still to be played, so we will soldier on.”
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