Match Reports - full photo galleries in Photos section
Blaydon 1 (21) vs Wetherby (21)
Tries: Tom Hay (2), Harry Questa
Conversions: George Davies (2), James Shaw
To quote an old footballing expression, this was a game of two halves, both offering differing fortunes to each team.
Wetherby started out strongly in typical tour style. The 24 hours spent bonding as a team and the early start, team breakfast and conference always fires up the Wetherby players to start well and today was no exception. The pack worked together well to ensure plenty of possession for Wetherby with the usual front row of cheeky Tom Fox supported on either side by the brooding presence of twins Tom and Joe Hay backed up by Joe Doughty and Matty Taylor at second row and Alex Bridger at number 8 proving a powerful presence in the scrums and rucks. Tom Hay was also looking strong in the loose as he took the ball well in the early stages of the game to drive a hole through the tough Blaydon defence to take the first try of the match for Wetherby with the extras provided by the trusty boot of George Davies.
The restart saw more of the same with the ball being taken well by George Davies who drove back at Blaydon. The backs were on fire with quick ball passing from Joe Hewison from the breakdown to Harry Kaye and then to Ollie Myers who with blistering pace and a keen eye moved forwards quickly, offloading to Ed McNicholas who drove hard into Blaydon's half. This style of play was to be repeated over and over with Tom Fox playing out of his skin to dive on every loose ball like a terrier until finally George Davies broke through the first line of defence and was unstoppable as he went over for the second try, converted by James Shaw to take Wetherby 14-0 up.
Once again at the
restart, Wetherby took and held possession well in the face of a
more determined Blaydon side. It was to no avail for
Blaydon though as the try poacher and body snatcher, Tom Hay
showed his strength and speed once more to barge through the
Blaydon defence to score for Wetherby again with George Davies
converting to take Wetherby to a 21-0 lead at half time.
The second half was a totally different affair for Wetherby. The forwards took their eye off the game in the mistaken belief that they had the game sewn up. Blaydon woke up and took the game back to Wetherby, quickly scoring in the first few minutes to take the score back to 21-7 to the visitors.
More of the same from Wetherby gave Blaydon more possession and they showed their class by taking advantage of it in spite of some fierce tackling from Harry Kaye, George Davies and David Clarkson in the backs - even Chelper Hewison made some tackles, but Blaydon got past the Wetherby forwards to score and convert again to bring the score back to 21-14 to Wetherby.
Deadlock ensued for the last five minutes of the game, but Blaydon never gave up. Wetherby didn't look like pushing forward to take a further score to seal the match and decided to defend their slim lead. This was to prove costly as Blaydon once more did the business and went through the Wetherby defence in the final minute of the game to secure a 21-21 draw.
A very exciting game to watch, particularly watching the spirit with which Blaydon fought back in the second half despite being 21 points down.
Blaydon 2 (7) vs Wetherby (40)
Tries: George Davies (3), Ollie Myers, Harry Questa, Matty Taylor
Conversions: Joe Hewison (2), Ollie Myers (2), George Davies
The next match of the morning was to see Blaydon field a second team from their large squad against Wetherby. The Blaydon forwards played well and held off the onslaught from the Wetherby forwards to prevent all but Matty Taylor breaking through. However, Wetherby still held a great deal of possession from the breakdown, but most of the ball handling in this game was to be amongst the backs, who were as quick as ever to move the ball and look for gaps to exploit. It wasn't long before this tactic paid off with Ollie Myers streaking away with great pace and strength to score for Wetherby, converted by George Davies to give the visitors a 7-0 lead.
Similar play from the restart saw a switch in scorers with the ever-present George Davies taking 5 points this time with Ollie Myers taking 2 from the conversion to put Wetherby up to 14-0.
A slowing of the game from reset scrums
saw no score for much of the rest of the first half until
eventually George Davies took the ball wide again to outpace the
Blaydon tacklers to score a lovely try converted by Joe Hewison
to take Wetherby to a familiar 21-0 lead at half time.
Wetherby were not to make the same mistakes as in the first game surely? It looked like they would as the Blaydon forwards took advantage of a once-again off guard Wetherby defence to pile through and take a try and conversion to bring the score back to 7-21.
Wetherby took the bit between their teeth though and had learned lessons from their first game and came out attacking rather than settling back to guard their lead. Great possession again from the forward contingent at the breakdown allowed the backs to weave their magic and the ball was passed out wide to Oliver Mason on the wing who took off towards the Blaydon line, being pulled up short however, but the constant presence of Matty Taylor and Alex Bridger being first in over the ball, backed by Big Joe Doughty and the quiet strength of Joe Hay saw the ball pop back out to Chelper Hewison who had it removed from his hands by Matty Taylor who drove over with his usual persistence and power to take a try with conversion by Ollie Myers increasing the Wetherby lead to 7-28.
At the restart, Blaydon played valiantly to hold Wetherby back in their half, but in the drive to push their defensive line forwards, a gap opened up and Harry Questa spotted it - going straight through at speed he covered most of the pitch to score a great try with the conversion from Joe Hewison taking Wetherby to an unassailable 7-35 lead.
The snow came down and the wind whipped up, making playing conditions very hard indeed, but the ball still found its way to George Davies who once again broke through with speed and agility to go over the line to take the final score to 7-40 in favour of the tourists.
Another excellent game from Wetherby who had warmed up nicely in spite of the conditions. For the Blaydon boys it was a trial by fire when Wetherby are in that sort of mood, but one from which they will take experience forwards as they grow in skill and presence to take control of future games. Well done to all on both teams who played in great spirit and with determination.
Billingham (35) vs Wetherby (21)
Tries: Tom Hay (2), David Clarkson
Conversions: George Davies (2), Ollie Myers
An altogether different game against Billingham, fresh from a 7 try whitewash of new team Bishop Auckland, but with only 10 players. The format of the game was 10 players on a wide pitch with 5 man scrums - a change which threw Wetherby at first who, tired after their Saturday activities and two Blaydon games were not quite ready for the 7s style game which Billingham had practiced to good effect against Bishop Auckland. It wasn't long before the speed and strength of the Billingham number 12 showed as he took the ball out wide on the wing to speed past the Wetherby defence to take Billingham to 7-0 up in the first 2 minutes.
This was repeated soon after to take Billingham to a commanding 14-0 lead in the first 5 minutes of the game.
It was obvious a change in plan was
required - speed and strength were of the essence and some
tactical substitutions by Wetherby saw Harry Kaye go in at
second row. The change paid off as Wetherby took
possession near the half way
line and got the ball out to Tom Hay
who was awaiting a poaching opportunity out on the wing.
With his speed and strength being more than a match for the
Billingham side he repeated their tactic to score a good try
with the extras from George Davies bringing Wetherby back to 7
points behind.
Billingham struck back though in what was going to be a tit-for-tat exchange is such appalling conditions on such a wide pitch. The conversion brought the score to 21-7 to Billingham.
Wetherby were not to be outdone though as the backs started to show their pace with a lovely dummy seeing James Shaw nip past the Billingham number 10 and get the ball out to David Clarkson who with customary strength and determination went over the line with a number of Billingham defenders clinging hopelessly to him - the conversion by George Davies seeing Wetherby go in 21-14 down at the break.
Just as we thought the weather couldn't get worse, the pitch was enveloped in a veritable blizzard and playing conditions were almost impossible. To their credit both sides cracked on and shortly after the restart, the body and try snatcher, Tom Hay used his power and speed to break past the stretched Billingham defence to level the scores 21-21 after Ollie Myers added the conversion.
Billingham came back strongly though and drove at Wetherby with another concerted attack. Wetherby held up well under pressure but eventually a gap was spotted by a Billingham player who went over the line only to meet possibly your worst nightmare - Joe "Burke" Hay in a hungry mood. In one swift move almost indiscernible to the human eye, Joseph floored the Billingham man and popped the ball out to David Clarkson who touched down to save what seemed like a certain try.
As conditions deteriorated though, the defensive legs of the Wetherby team tired against their fresher opponents and Wetherby leaked 2 further tries out wide to bring the final score to a flattering 35-21 to Billingham. An excellent performance by Billingham in an unusual format match which was evenly matched by Wetherby who are more practised at gearing up for the 15 man games of next season.
Sadly, the weather cut short the tour when the boys were still up to play Bishop Auckland, but it was not to be on this occasion.
