East Midlands 14 Northumberland 34
(Saturday 4th May at Towcester RFC)
Northumberland began their County Championship campaign with a 14-34 win against East Midlands. Skipper Jason Smithson opened the scoring with a 9th minute try following a scrum near the East Midlands line with the conversion coming from stand-off Grant Connan. The stand-off went on to have a fine game, not only with the boot, scoring two individual tries in the first half and in all contributing 19 of Northumberland’s points.
As the game entered its second quarter with Northumberland leading 10 nil a line-out catch and drive led to a converted try for East Midlands; a move they were to repeat on 35 minutes. Between these two scores Northumberland flanker, James Hamilton scored from turn over ball with Connan converting and the stand-off ended the first half with his second try, successfully converted.
Northumberland’s coaches obviously had words at half-time and East Midlands’ main threat of catch and drive from the line-out was nullified at source. The County also had the best possible start to the half with a try virtually from the kick-off scored by wing Pete Moralee with Connan adding the conversion.
A successful penalty conversion on 60 minutes saw the end of the scoring as Northumberland used the remainder of the game to give their replacements some game-time in preparation for the next leg of their journey to Twickenham. That game is against Eastern Counties at Alnwick RFC on Saturday 18th May with a 2-00pm kick off. A win would see Northumberland travelling to Twickenham for the final on Sunday 26th May.
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Results of the Colts and 13-16 Cup and Plate Competitions
Plate Results
Under 13 - Northern 50 Novos 0
Under 14 - Morpeth 55 Alnwick 5
Under 15 - Percy Park 46 Gosforth 12
Under 16 - Northern 13 Percy Park 5
Colts - Percy Park 49 Ponteland 10
Cup Results
Under 13 - Tynedale 52 Morpeth 5
Under 14 - Northern 32 Percy Park 5
Under 15 - Northern 29 Alnwick 3
Under 16 - Morpeth 12 Ponteland 19
Colts - Morpeth 19 Alnwick 8
Many thanks to Gosforth and Morpeth for hosting all of the finals and providing food for all the players and officials.
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Rugby World Cup 2015 Venues and Matches announced.
Match Schedule and Venues- click here
Match Schedule by Date - click here
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Under 13's Area Squad Photo (Monday 22nd April) - click here
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Studs - Law 4.3 - click here
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Northumberland Under 15's team photo (7th April 2013) - click here
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Advert for NRU Mens Under 20's Honorary Head Coach - click here for more details.
Closing date for applications is 6pm on 12th May 2013.
Interviews will be held w/c 26th May 2013.
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CB Update - Edition 7 - click here
BMW Club Letter - click here
Rugby Sponsorship Poster 1 - click here
Rugby Sponsorship Poster 2 - click here
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IRB Note to Unions on Scrum Engagement - click here
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RFU CB Update - Edition 6 - Click Here
RFU CB Update - Edition 5 - click here
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Guidance on Youth Development Plans (information from Douglas Hamilton - Youth Charitable Trust) - click here
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IRB Law Clarification - Law 3.14(d) - click here
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YOUNGSTERS at a Northumberland rugby club have been getting tips on how to improve their game from a professional rugby player.
Newcastle Falcons player, Jonny Golding, visiting Blyth Rugby Club at the weekend, where he spent time coaching the players in the youth section.
Jonny, who has been a prop at the club for six years, participated in drills and passed on tips to the youngsters aged from six to 17, before watching the Blyth U14 v Ashington U14 game.
The 30-year-old, from Morpeth, said: "It was fantastic to be able to come and get involved in the training that these young rugby stars were doing at the club.
"Hopefully I was able to give some help and advice that will be useful to them.
"It would be great to think from the talent that I’ve seen today that there could be one or two stars of the future that could be seen playing at Newcastle Falcons in years to come.
"The club looks in really good order for the future with youngsters from all ages training here, which is fantastic to see.
"Blyth Rugby Club is a great family club and I would encourage anyone locally to come along and join in especially as it leads to a healthy lifestyle."
The club has recently been given a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service at a ceremony at Alnwick Castle and Gardens last month.
Jonny added: “Their Queen’s Award is well deserved as without the volunteers that I’ve seen working hard here today then the Youth Section wouldn’t be in the position it is today."
Max Proud, chairman of the youth section at Blyth Rugby Club, said: “We are very pleased to see the relationship between Newcastle Falcons and Blyth RFC continuing with the visit from Jonny Golding.
"He’s made a fantastic impression on all of our youngsters, moving from group to group and giving tips to the youngsters on how to improve their game.
"He is someone that a lot of the young people look up to and aspire to be like, so it is great that they are able to spend time with him and get to know what it's like to be a professional in the sport.”
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A VOLUNTARY group from Blyth has been rewarded for 26 years of voluntary service with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Blyth Youth Rugby is among 112 organisations around the country to get the honour, which is classed as being the equivalent of the MBE for voluntary service.
At a presentation event at Alnwick Castle on Wednesday night, representatives from the club received a certificate signed by the Queen, and an exclusive commemorative crystal.
The club received the award for promoting participation in sporting activities for school children.
Blyth Youth Rugby chairman Max Proud accepted the award on behalf of the club from the Duchess of Northumberland.
On presenting the award the Duchess said “It is a huge honour for me to present the Queens Award to Blyth Youth Rugby who are a perfect example of great voluntary work, which is a huge benefit to the community.”
In reply Mr Proud said "It is a great privilege to be recognised for all the hard work that the volunteers have put in over the years and my thanks go to everyone connected with the club, as without them we would not be here tonight," he said.
"We hope that this work continues for many more years and that we can build upon our reputation. We would also like to thank the Duchess for her fantastic hospitality and for making us so welcome this evening.”
A citation read by Vice Lord Lieutenant, Captain Ian Moffat, said: “Blyth Youth Rugby is an outstanding example of an entirely volunteer group working with and for young people. The group has operated very successfully for many years and is exceptional in the quality of what it does for young people.
"Affiliated to the Rugby Football Union, the group is a very effective and admirable organisation which operates on strict compliance with the high standard demanded by that body. The enormous contribution which the group makes to youth provision is widely recognised and the positive relationship developed with local schools, is singularly impressive.
"Led by a first-class team, and through hard work and dedication, the group’s volunteers have developed excellent relationships across the community and have earned both respect and appreciation.
"To conclude Blyth Youth Rugby is an exceptional and inspirational example of a successful, dynamic and entirely volunteer –led group dedicated to enhancing the live of young people through active participation in sport.”
Melanie Magee, Newcastle Falcons Community Foundation manager, who was also in attendance at the reception, said “It is very pleasing to see Blyth being rewarded for their hard work over the years and for the fantastic Youth section that they have developed. The Foundation very much enjoy working with the volunteers and players to enable them to achieve their aims and ambitions and we look forward to building upon the relationship we have formed.”
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Laws 3, 5 and 8 - click here
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England Honours for Alnwick Pair - click here to read
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Northumberland Pair Selected for England Squads
Two of our County Under 16’s players, Callum Chick of Ponteland RFC and Ponteland High School and James Orritt of Blaydon RFC and Dame Allan’s School, have been selected to play for England Squads over the Easter period.
Callum, son of ex Gosforth and Northumberland County back row Brian and a number 8 himself, has been selected for the full England Squad to play matches against Northampton Under 17’s and capped games against Italy Under 17’s and Wales Under 16’s.
James, a prop forward who is mentored at Blaydon by someone who knows a thing or two about front row play, Micky Ward, has been selected for the England South Squad to play fixtures against Leicester Under 17’s, France Under 16’s A, Scotland Under 16’s and USA Under 17’s.
Both boys started Mini Rugby at an extremely early age with their respective Clubs and we congratulate them on their selection and wish them every success in the upcoming fixtures and also in their future rugby careers.
Wes Dixon
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The County Under 15's began their season on Sunday 3rd March at Scarborough RFC, with a win against East Yorkshire. The next U15's match is against Cumbria on Sunday 17th March at Carlisle RFC.
Thanks to Joe Hedley and Eliza Adamcyzk-Hedley for the following photos taken at the East Yorkshire match.
Lineout - here Lineout 2 - here Team Photo - here Pack Blocking - here Ruck - here
Scrum - here Scrum 2 - here Turnover - here
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IRB Law Clarification 
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