Match Report: PARFC 16 - 5 Blaydon (Nat 1)
By Balion Predator
February 6 2016
Going into the last third of the league season, we welcomed Blaydon in what had to be the worst ever weather conditions to play in at the Brickfields. The appalling conditions resulted in a poor attendance of 754 due to the Six Nations kicking off. Those supporters turned up in the appropriate attire to watch a rain-drenched match and a playing surface fit for ducks with so many ponds to choose from. Credit to both sides for playing the conditions and commiserations to Blaydon after a solid performance following a 400+ mile trek down. Safe return journey and well done for a great effort on the field - they never gave up.
On to the match; Albion started off playing to the North with a strong wind cutting from the west stand to the east stand which was always going to make touch line kicking awkward. They went on the attack from the off; twice they kicked to touch, stealing both Blaydon line outs but could not get on the score board. Then it was knock for knock; at another line out on the 22 for Albion, Blaydon won it only to knock on. From the resulting scrum, Albion knocked on for Blaydon to get a penalty at the scrum. A rare entry by Blaydon into home territory in the first half ended in a knock on and from that scrum Albion kicked down field to take any pressure off. Albion got a line out on halfway only to knock on in the process. After a series of scrums and knock-ons, Blaydon kicked out on the full for an Albion line out.
With 18 minutes played in Blaydon's half there was still no score. With more knock ons and kicks going out on the full, Albion finally got a penalty on 26 minutes for an offside offence which was converted by Matt Shepherd; PARFC 3 - 0 Blaydon. Line-outs, knock-ons and scrums ensued - all in the Blaydon half. Albion got another penalty 27metres out and again Matt Shepherd was able to convert; PARFC 6 - 0 Blaydon at half-time.
Albion started well after the interval, going towards the clubhouse. Blaydon got a turnover and kicked down field where Albion duly kicked out on the full. Thirty metres out, Blaydon had the line out and contrived to win another at 12 metres. They were then able to score from a rolling maul, but the conversion was missed, PARFC 6 - 5. Game on!
More knock-ons from both sides ensued with no real rhytym - all down to the dreadful weather conditions. A break from Albion's 22 was followed by the excellent efforts of Matt Shepherd who kick and chased, kicked again and eventually was able to ground the ball in the left corner. But his conversion missed; PARFC 11 - 5 Blaydon.
Then, for long periods both sides were kicking out on the full, knocking on, and winning/losing line-outs in the increasing difficult conditions. Players and suppporters alike were rarely able to tell who was on which side due to the uniformly muddy shirts. With a few minutes remaining Albion got into a good position at scrum time following a good number of driving phases as a Blaydon player was injured and replaced. Albion had a 6 m scrum and Herbie Stupple broke for the line, sucking in the defence and allowing scrum half Cam Setter to power over for Albion's second and final try. Conversion once more missed in the squally wind; PARFC 16 - 5 Blaydon. Albion finally kicked the ball out to seal a hard-earned win.
A great effort by the Blaydon squad who made it entertaining - and their defence was top drawer.
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Apologies for the cryptic title on the Message Board. I've amended the title of the article, but have to leave the board title as is...
Well done to everyone who turned up yesterday - loads of smiling faces in spite of the grim weather and a real Dunkirk spirit in the East Stand. Did you see the bend on the posts when the squalls hit? Over the moon with the result - right as predicted!
Looking forward to travelling to Cinderford next week.
Come cheer up, my lads - 'tis to glory we steer!
Don't let anything get in the way of a good game of RugbyAnd thanks for the report, B.P.