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Post by davemorton on Dec 13, 2023 19:46:13 GMT
They were talking about Eddie returning to Japan, even while the World Cup was going on.
I see Billy Vunipola has had his red card rescinded. I am no great lover of Saracens (!) but the decision did look harsh at the time, a glancing blow, followed by a hint of a dive, dare one say?
Looking forward to the weekend, with wall-to-wall Investec European, and Sedge at home to once-famous Moseley.
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Post by davemorton on Dec 15, 2023 11:31:18 GMT
Doncaster v Jersey Reds was supposed to be tonight, so Donny miss out this week.
Saturday is designated derby day in the National Leagues. With only four northern teams in Nat 1, that means Sedge v Moseley and Darlington MP v Sale, both 100+ mile trips.
However, at level 4 we have the Hull and Sheffield derbies, also Rotherham v Wharfedale and Otley v Leeds Tykes. Huddersfield miss out, somewhat, with a home fixture against Lymm, one they might fancy winning - but probably won't, on current form.
Then it's a couple of weeks off for the festivities, with league rugby resuming on January 6th, when most of the games frozen off two weeks ago will be played.
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Post by hawke on Dec 16, 2023 19:14:27 GMT
Well Derby Day was wonderful and even historic. I don’t think anyone knows when Ilkley last beat Harrogate but they did it today! I went off to Harrogate with some hope as ‘Gate are not in good form and all was eventually fulfilled. Took our chances including a line out without Harrogate putting in an appearance. I think it was an underarm throw and our man was over unopposed. Almost missed it. We kicked into touch but it must have hit a Harrogate arm on the way. We knew. ‘Gate did not check. They replied after the referee reversed a penalty for back chat just before half/time to make it 13-16. Might have proved crucial. Then ceaseless defending. Magnificent defence! I assumed Harrogate would eventually score but they didn’t. Massive celebrations by the players. There was a cricket connection. I spotted Harry Brook’s uncle in the crowd. About 300 in attendance.
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Post by karma on Dec 16, 2023 19:24:35 GMT
Good win and in your post you come across excited, and as though your Christmas came a week and a half early!
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Post by newby on Dec 16, 2023 19:41:49 GMT
Once again I was in the vicinity of the game today but once again with two grandchildren and other caring responsibilities It was a bike ride rather than watching Otley v Leeds that won out.
Another win for the Tykes and they must be very confident going into the Christmas break that they can win the lot. Rotherham at Rotherham isn't until close to the end of the season.
Anyhow I hope everyone in recreational Rugby enjoys their break and the spectators loss is the families gain.
Sounds a nasty incident at Ealing with the game abandoned in the second half after a Pirates player received a nasty injury. It was an injury, unlike the football match at Bournemouth which was also abandoned due to a player collapsing off the ball.
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Post by hawke on Dec 16, 2023 20:31:33 GMT
Good win and in your post you come across excited, and as though your Christmas came a week and a half early! Yes I dropped Lady Hawke off in Harrogate to shop and was slightly late getting there but was directed to a very good parking space and only missed 6 minutes. The ‘new’ out of town ground has lots of pitches and a smart clubhouse but viewing from pitch side involves much navigation of wet and muddy land. Luckily having been before I took boots. There is no stand and spectators view from the clubhouse ‘veranda’ and benches on grassy slopes. There is some paving pitch side on one side but not much. Hope Otley’s new proposed ground is much better.
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Post by davemorton on Dec 16, 2023 22:32:03 GMT
Best game of the season (so far) at Park Lane. We trailed Moseley 15-26 at HT but nilled them in the second half to win 32-26. High standard of rugby, fast and open and crunchingly hard, and clean. We are up to 4th in the table again, and if we win our game in hand on Jan 6th, we will go 3rd. I am doing my photos at the minute, and enjoying the game all over again.
I have not been to Harrogate's new ground, and perhaps I never will. It's always a shame when something historic and traditional in the middle of town is replaced by a 'green field' site, though I was in favour of YCCC doing just that and ditching Headingley.
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Post by davemorton on Dec 17, 2023 23:03:29 GMT
Photos from Sedge v Moseleywww.flickr.com/photos/forwarddefensive/albums/72177720313430788/A quick round-up of Clubs of Interest Level 2, Championship. Doncaster are currently second, having won 5/6. The only other properly northern team is Caldy, 9th, won 2/5. This league got off to a slow start because of the World Cup, and there are only 11 teams, following Jersey's demise. The Championship continues next weekend, when Doncaster travel to Caldy on December 23rd. Level 3, National 1. No Yorkshire interest, sadly, but Sedgley Park are 4th, having won 9/13, Darlington Mowden Park are 7th. won 7/14, and Sale FC are 12th, won 5/14. Level 4, National 2 North, with 9 Yorkshire clubs out of 14: Leeds and Rotherham are a mile ahead of the rest, Sheffield and Wharfedale are 3rd and 4th, and Sheffield Tigers are 7th. Hull and Otley are 9th and 10th, with Ionians some distance behind at 13th. Sadly, Huddersfield are bottom, and not even within shouting distance.
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Post by newby on Dec 22, 2023 19:35:14 GMT
Doncaster have a good chance of ending the year on top of the Championship. Ealing Trailfinders, the current leaders have the weekend off as they were due to play the Jersey Reds today.
Talking of the Jersey Reds it sounds like the RFU are giving them, Wasps and Worcester a possible lifeline to rejoin at Championship, or Premiership II, level from 2025. My eyes started glazing over a little bit reading the article but it did seem to suggest promotion and relegation to and from the Premiership proper would be back on the table. Always supposing the teams could satisfy the requirements to be deemed worthy.
Don't know if it will happen, I suppose I ought to see if I can negotiate 2024 before worrying about it.
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Post by davemorton on Dec 22, 2023 19:36:06 GMT
Tonight sees the meeting of the nasty and the horrible, as Sale Sharks take on Saracens in windy Salford. It would be good if they could both lose, but I'll just go with Sale, perhaps for the last time ever.
There's a statement from the RFU about the future of level 2, which has got the current level 2 clubs going. The F-word has again been banded about - franchises - with Wasps being described as a desirable 'brand' within the game, not unlike my recently purchased YCCC membership 'product'.
It has given me something to write about in the next Sedgley match programme.
[Ah, you've just beaten me to it, Newby.]
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Post by newby on Dec 22, 2023 22:55:06 GMT
I'm sure you can make more sense of it than me. I don't think the Championship is working as it is now, it's very level 2, at least it seems so to me.
I get how it is in Football with the Premier league and it's untold riches bringing in money to the Championship sides to help them reach the promised land of TV money, worldwide coverage and big brand advertising.
But is Premiership rugby that much of an attraction! What happened at Wasps and Worcester would seem to indicate there's not a very big pot of gold up there, and all but a handful of clubs are struggling to survive.
The only two positive bits I took from the RFU statement was the return of Promotion and relegation and the slimming down of squads to stop clubs hoarding all the talent. The F word is mentioned but what's the incentive to get the money in to expand the number of fully professional clubs, I can't see it.
As for the elephant in the room, the growing number of ex players seeking compensation for brain injuries, and the knock-on effect of parents not wanting their children to go anywhere near the sport. Surely that will have some effect further down the line.
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Post by davemorton on Dec 29, 2023 22:02:14 GMT
No grass-roots league rugby, though I imagine many clubs will have rugby events to make a few bob tomorrow.
It is, of course, a big time of year for elite sport, with bumper crowds everywhere. I have just watched Exeter win at Bristol (Friday night) in front of an almost sell-out crowd. Man of the match was winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, parents from Nigeria, born and grew up in Wales, both Wales and England qualified.
He had to leave Wales after failing to gain a place at Cardiff University, and is now studying medicine at Aston Uni. He was with Wasps, now Exeter. Awesome talent. Turned 21 a week ago.
Tomorrow, Harlequins have sold 75,000 tickets for the visit of Gloucester to Twickenham.
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Post by newby on Dec 30, 2023 9:12:37 GMT
Harlequins have done well to sell so many tickets, is it just them that use Twickenham a couple of times a year! I seem to feel it's an annual event.
In the other code, with Super league just a month a away, it was nice to see that both Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrows were awarded CBE's in the New years honours for their work for MND.
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Post by hawke on Dec 30, 2023 9:55:46 GMT
Harlequins have done well to sell so many tickets, is it just them that use Twickenham a couple of times a year! I seem to feel it's an annual event. In the other code, with Super league just a month a away, it was nice to see that both Kevin Sinfield and Rob Burrows were awarded CBE's in the New years honours for their work for MND. it’s amazing compared to what their attendances must have been in the old amateur days of friendly club fixtures only
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Post by davemorton on Dec 30, 2023 11:50:06 GMT
Today's Harlequin thing seems to be a double-header, with the women's team on first. In the past they've had two Prem games back to back at Twickers. I know Saracens have used Wembley, also, selling a lot of tickets very cheaply to make a memorable day, and to attract first-timers.
That's great news on the CBE's. Great people rewarded and recognised, sadly alongside corrupt politicians and crooked businessmen. (No doubt.)
There's a full programme of 'recreational' rugby in Wales today. Perhaps Welshmen are less under the thumb than the modern English. There's a daft 'Legends' game on at Sedgley, lots of fat former players putting their lives at risk, then getting bladdered. I have always hated that sort of event, rugby and cricket.
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