First XV

Last Saturday was our last game of the season away to old rivals Otley and what a season it has been. We had won the league the week before when we beat Sheffield Tigers at home so many would think that this game was not important but that was never in our heads. We wanted to finish the campaign with a winning performance and so it turned out to be. Otley had only lost one game at home all season and this was always going to be a difficult challenge. We started strongly with good pressure inside their half and a lovely little chip over their defence by Steve Collins was gathered by full back Andy Riley to give us our first score. Steve converted and we were 7-0 up after five minutes. Otley are a strong, powerful team who play hard open rugby but they could not break down […]

I am sorry to have to inform everyone that today’s game against Chester has fallen foul of the weather. We left it as late as we could as the forecast suggested we might get some thawing later in the week. This was not to be. Whilst the game is off, the Festivities will be going ahead full swing. The “pre-match” Christmas Lunch will be going ahead at 1pm and we will have our resident singer, Rhys, on around 3:30pm. Players Christmas Party follows that, so things may get a bit raucous in fancy dress. Don’t forget your Christmas Shirt or Jumper. Come down and have a right festive romp.

Last Saturday was our tenth encounter of the campaign, with a home game against old rivals Tynedale. This was a special charity day for SicKids and our captain Matt Riley’s 400th league game. An unbelievable achievement and one which may never be beaten. Spirits were high after the win over Fylde the week before and we were looking to extend the unbeaten run with a top performance. Tynedale were lying in mid table, with five wins and four losses, but we knew that this would be a hard game against a very big, well organised team. We started the game very strongly playing good rugby in the Tynedale half and scored our first try for centre, Oli Glasse, who touched down in the bottom left hand corner, after a powerful line break by Beltus Nonleh. Steve Collins added the difficult conversion and we were 7-0 up after nine minutes. We […]

In one of the most eagerly awaited games in any league this season, the game of the day was here at Park Lane as Sedgley Park and Fylde, the two undefeated sides in National Two North, came head-to-head. The weather put paid to the game both sides wanted to play, but believe me, both sides served up a classic game and a contest that kept everyone on their toes for the full 80 minutes. Sedge was first out of the blocks on 4 minutes, with a well-worked opening try by second row Connor James, after great work down the right-hand flank creating space for the James to go over for the try. Steve Collins converted. Fylde are not sitting top of league for no reason, with a perfect 100% record, and their dominance soon saw a well-crafted, brilliant run at blistering pace by Thomas Grimes, through the middle, for an […]

Saturday saw the Tigers taking on the biggest challenge of the campaign so far with a home game against the infamous Rotherham Titans. The Titans have historically been a great team with spells in the Championship, National one and briefly in the Premiership. They base their game on an enormous pack of well drilled forwards who are able to test the defence and resolve of any team they come up against. They had started their season quite well with four wins but unexpected losses to Hull Ionians away and Fylde at home. We had played them twice last season with a draw at home and a narrow defeat at their ground and were looking to record our first victory against them. We had prepared well in training, spirits were high anticipating a huge challenge. Rotherham started strongly with a try after 7 minutes with a powerful catch and drive line […]

On Saturday we traveled over to Cheshire to play old rivals Chester in the first away game of the season. The game had been in doubt due to the passing of Her Majesty on the Thursday so preparations were somewhat disrupted and many would say that perhaps the RFU should have postponed all fixtures. Chester are a well organised team who like ourselves try to play open rugby and are a team that never give up. They started the game very strongly and scored after only three minutes with a well worked try in the left hand corner. They added the conversion and were 0-7 in the lead, deservedly so, playing direct, high tempo rugby. However we responded almost immediately, with a great try for hooker Danny Maher, after a powerful catch and drive by the forwards. Steve Collins added the conversion which levelled the score 7-7. This was a […]

The 1st XV Squad started their Pre-Season matches away at Sandbach last weekend. This weekend we host Llandudno and Eccles at Park Lane. 12:30pm SP 2nd XV v Eccles 14:30pm SP 1st XV v Lladudno Please come and join us. We are offering Pie and Chips prior to the games if people want to participate and a BBQ during the afternoon, for both Players and spectators. As the weather looks great, we will be opening the outside bar and operate outside. On Saturday 20th August we host Currie Chieftains, who play in the Scottish Premiership. 14:00pm SP 2nd XV v Currie Development (far Pitches) 15:00pm SP 1st XV v Currie Chieftains This should be a massive test of our abilities at both 1st Xv and 2nd XV level. Please come and join us. We are looking to get a few tables together for a pre-match meal of Pie & Chips […]

Last Saturday we were at home to Loughborough Students, a team who we had beaten quite convincingly back in December. A very fit, young team who like to play wide open rugby at every opportunity. They had a great win against Wharfedale the previous week and came to Park Lane with a strong team hoping to cause an upset. We started the game well, playing the game in their half, keeping possession and varying play left and right, stretching their defences. A scrum on their 40 metre line saw us move the ball left, with centre Oli Glasse breaking the line to feed Full Back, Andy Riley, who touched down. Steve Collins added the conversion and we were up 7-0 after six minutes. The second score came shortly after and started deep within our 22. The ball was moved swiftly to the left, went through three pair of hands to […]

Last Saturday we were on the long journey up to Northumberland to face old rivals Tynedale. We had beaten them quite comfortably at home in December but they are always a difficult team to play at home, with some good results against top teams. They regarded themselves as our bogey team as we had not beaten them at their place for over twelve seasons. We had prepared well during the week but knew that this would be a massive challenge especially with over five of the normal starting players out with injury. The game started very tentatively with both teams kicking for territory and it was Tynedale who scored first with a catch and drive try through their big powerful forwards after we gave a penalty away. Playing with the wind we needed to get on the scoreboard and a lovely line break from scrum half Danny Openshaw took play […]

Last Saturday was the much anticipated away clash with league leaders Hull. They are the only side to have beaten us at home this season with a narrow 17-22 win back in November. They had only lost two games up to this point and have a very strong team with big powerful forwards and fast backs, who are able to find a different ways of winning games. We had prepared really well for this challenge and were coming off the back of some great victories against some of the top teams, but knew that this would be a defining result of who would go on to challenge for promotion. We started the game well, with possession and territory putting pressure on their defence in their 22, but were unable to break them down. We lost a number of crucial line outs which enabled them to clear their line and take […]