Rugby League

League 1

Sunday 19th March 2023

Kick Off 15.00

Midlands Hurricanes 24 Rochdale Hornets 32, attendance 190

@ Alexander Stadium Warm up Track

Walsall Road

Perry Barr

Birmingham

B42 2LR

£15 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

I decided to break up my drive back home from the Scottish Hop by taking in this match on the way home. Midlands Hurricanes were supposed to be playing on the actual Alexander Stadium itself, but have somehow ended up playing on the outside track pitch, which was installed for the Commonwealth Games in 2022. It is by far the worst venue I have ever attended for a game at national level and is totally unfit for purpose. Spectator access is limited to one side of the pitch, but at least you are able to stand inside the track against the rail. Unfortunately, this makes the ‘seats’ (school chairs placed under a temporary bit of cover) totally unusable, as they are on the outside of the track, hence you can’t then see the pitch due to everyone stood in the way. The RFL must be pretty desperate to want a Midlands based team in the league to have allowed them to play games here.

As for the game, it was 6th versus 7th in the league table, Hurricanes having had a win and a loss from their opening two games, whilst Hornets had lost their only game played so far. It was much closer than I’d been expecting. Hornets started the better of the two, scoring two tries (converted one) in the opening ten minutes. Hurricanes replied with a converted try of their own, but Hornets soon went over again to lead 6-14. A converted try by Hurricanes saw them pull it back to 12-14 just before the break, setting up the second half perfectly.

Three minutes into the second half Hurricanes went in front for the first time to lead 18-14. Unfortunately, they were unable to add to it and Hornets soon drew level and whilst Hurricanes had a man in the sin bin, edged further ahead with another converted try, soon followed by another to extend their lead to 18-30. Hurricanes made for an exciting finish when they added another try with four minutes left, leaving them with a chance of nicking a draw, but a penalty saw Hornets round off their win with the last kick of the match to take it 24-32.

Rugby League

Super League

Thursday 16th March 2023

Kick Off 20.00

Castleford Tigers 14 Leeds Rhinos 8, attendance 7,458

@ The Mend-A-Hose Jungle

Wheldon Road

Castleford

WF10 2SD

£25 Admission

Programme? Never saw any on sale

Having stayed overnight near Wakefield, it was the perfect opportunity to make my first visit back to Castleford since I saw them beat Hull Kingston Rovers 30-2 (att. 5,575) in a Division 1 match back on 20th January 1991. I never really appreciated at the time what a great ground this is. Although a little rough around the edges, it is a ground full of character and generates a decent atmosphere. It is three years short of celebrating its centenary and has a current capacity of 11,775, some way below the ground record of 25,449 that was here for a Challenge Cup match against Hunslet in 1935.

Castleford came into this second bottom in the league table, having lost all four games so far. Leeds were eighth, with two wins and two defeats. Castleford opened the scoring after seventeen minutes, when Bureta Faraimo went over in the corner, but Gareth Widdop was unable to add the extra two points as he sent the kick wide of the posts. Leeds levelled on 28 minutes through Richie Myler, with Rhyse Martin converting to make it 4-6. Widdop kicked a penalty to level it up at 6-6, before adding another penalty to give the visitors a 6-8 halftime lead. Just before the hour mark Faraimo scored his second try of the night, which Widdop then converted to put Tigers 12-8 in front. Nine minutes from time Widdop added another penalty as Castleford made it 14-6. Leeds pushed hard in the dying minutes as both Myler and Martin were held up within site of the line, before a knock on in the corner thwarted Leeds in what was to be the last chance of the game, giving Castleford a deserved first win of the season.

Rugby Football League

National Championship

Sunday 11th September 2022

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.04

London Broncos 20 Barrow Raiders 30, attendance 480

Broncos Tries : Ulberg (2), Gahan, Macani

Conversions : Leyland (2)

Raiders Tries : Iaria, Emslie, Ritson (2), Shaw

Conversions : Shaw (4)

Penalty : Shaw

@ The Cherry Red Records Stadium (A.F.C. Wimbledon)

Plough Lane

Wimbledon

London

SW17 0NR

£20 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

Today marked my 150th ground that I have seen rugby league played on. Over the years London have certainly contributed greatly in that total, this being the tenth ground I‘ve now seen them host a game on (1 as Crusaders, 9 as Broncos). I had only recently visited this ground for football, as it is the home ground of A.F.C. Wimbledon, who I saw draw 2-2 versus Cheltenham Town in a League 1 match on Tuesday 1st February 2022.

Today’s match was 11th versus 5th in the league table, with the visitors already assured of a place in the play offs, whilst Broncos were only playing for pride. Broncos led 6-0 early on, but Raiders turned it round to lead 6-14 at the break. Two tries in the first twelve minutes of the second half saw Broncos go back in front, but their lead only lasted seven minutes, as Barrow edged ahead again at 16-20. Two more tries saw the lead increased to 16-30, before a late try for Broncos saw the scoring rounded off, with a deserved 20-30 win for the visitors.

Rugby Football Union

National League

Division 2 East

Saturday 10th September 2022

Kick Off 15.00 On Time !

Dorking 44 Worthing 22, attendance 457

@ The Big Field

Kiln Lane

Brockham

RH3 7LZ

£10 Admission

Programme free, 36 pages. (26 of adverts)

Thankfully, unlike the Football Association, the Rugby Football Union decided not to postpone all matches following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, so at least I was able to watch a local sporting event this afternoon, which was only ten minutes drive from home. I had previously seen football played here, albeit on an outside pitch, when I saw a 2-2 draw between Dorking and Leatherhead in a pre-season friendly on 21st July 2009.

This was the first home game for Dorking following promotion back into National League 2 East. Having lost their opening game 10-29 at Blackheath last week, they put in a strong performance to take the points today. Worthing went ahead within five minutes, but Dorking turned things round to lead 14-7 by the half hour mark, but it was soon level again at 14-14 before Dorking converted another try to lead 21-14 at halftime. Dorking had the better of the second half and comfortably held on to their lead with a deserved 44-24 win, which was enough to take the bonus point.

Rugby Football League

National Championship

Sunday 3rd July 2022

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.03

London Broncos 36 Sheffield Eagles 28, attendance 550

@ Kuflink Stadium (Ebbsfleet United F.C.)

Stonebridge Road

Northfleet

DA11 9GN

£15 Admission, bought in advance online

No Programme.

This was an ’on the road’ game for the Broncos, as their home ground at A.F.C. Wimbledon is undergoing work on the pitch. They are aiming to play one game in Kent each season, in an effort to attract support and help spread the game in the South East, but there is just not the interest in Rugby League down here. Despite giving an attendance of 750 on their website, it was at least a couple of hundred fewer, although there may have been season tickets counted on the official total.

The first half performance of the Broncos was pitiful. They were simply dreadful and were lucky to only trail 0-28 at halftime, which would have been more, but Eagles failed to convert four of their six tries, which in the end cost them dearly. As bad as Broncos were first half, they were the total opposite in the second. Eagles only came close to adding to their score once in the second half and as Broncos started to run in the tries, the comeback certainly looked possible, if perhaps a little optimistic, but they went in front late on and even added a converted try in the final minute to complete a tremendous turnaround, taking a 36-28 win that few would have though possible at halftime.

I had visited Ebbsfleet United on Sunday 2nd January, when I saw them beat Dartford 1-0, which was after a gap of just over thirty years since my first visit and nothing has changed in the intervening six months. It is a fantastic stadium and remains one of my favourite non-league grounds ever visited.

Scottish Rugby Union

Super6

Sunday 3rd October 2021

Kick Off 13.30

Watsonians 29 Boroughmuir Bears 35, attendance 400

@ Myreside

90-92 Myreside Road

Edinburgh

EH10 5BZ

£12 Admission, via Fanbase App. (Cash turnstile £15)

Programme, available via QR Code only.

Before today I had only ever been to two rugby union matches, the first being Leicester v Barbarians at Welford Road in 1991, then I saw Cambridge University v Oxford University in the Varsity match at Twickenham three years later, in front of a 60,000 plus crowd. It was only the fact that we drove past the ground here, noticing the impressive main stand, whilst on the way to our hotel on Friday afternoon, that I was even aware that Watsonians played in Edinburgh. I looked on BBC Sport and noticed they were listed as playing this afternoon, so a little bit of research led us to coming along.

The Super6 is, as it suggests, a semi professional competition played between six teams, which is intended to bridge the gap between the amateur and fully professional teams of the United Rugby Championship. As well as these two, the other member clubs are Ayrshire Bulls, Heriot’s Rugby, Southern Knights and Stirling County.

This was a much faster paced game than I had been expecting, although it would still have to go some to get up to the speed of a decent level Rugby League match. Boroughmuir came into this bottom of the table, with this being their first away win of the season.They led 10-21 at the break and although Watsonians came back into it they held on for a deserved 29-35 win. The two fixtures between the two were played for the Allan McNish Memorial Trophy, which Watsonians won on aggregate, despite today’s defeat.

Rugby League

League 1

Sunday 14th July 2019

Kick Off 15.00

Coventry Bears 20 Hunslet 48, attendance 255 (official 420 !)

@ The Rugby Lions R.U.F.C.

Webb Ellis Road

Rugby

CV22 7AU

£12 Admission

£2 Programme available, but didn’t bother buying.

Today’s match was at Rugby Lions R.U.F.C. which is situated in Webb Ellis Road, named after the alleged inventor of rugby football, William Webb Ellis, who back in 1823, whilst as a pupil at Rugby School, picked the ball up and began running with it during a school match and the new game of ‘rugby’ was invented.

This was the third home venue for Coventry this season, due to pitch works taking place at their normal home at Butts Arena. It was only two weeks ago that I saw them play the last of three matches staged at Broadstreet R.U.F.C. and today would begin a run of their final four league matches being played here in Rugby.

I had visited Rugby Lions R.U.F.C. previously, as Rugby Town F.C. played here during the 2000/01 season. My visit was for a Midland Combination League Division 2 match, which was a 0-0 draw versus Lichfield Enots on Wednesday 21st February 2001. The ground today is pretty much unchanged.

Coventry started off well today and led 8-0 after twenty minutes, but Hunslet came back into it and took a 8-16 lead. Both teams added another converted try to give a 14-22 halftime score. Bears then scored another try early in the second half, which was converted, to make it 20-22, but unfortunately were unable to add another point during the next 37 minutes and Hunslet dominated them from here in for a comfortable 20-48 win.

Rugby League

League 1

Saturday 29th June 2019

Kick Off 15.00

Coventry Bears 10 Doncaster 54, attendance 180 (official 386 !)

@ Broadstreet R.U.F.C.

Ivor Preece Field

Rugby Road

Binley Woods

Coventry

CV3 2AY

£12 Admission

£2 Programme available, but didn’t bother buying.

This is now the third ground I have seen Coventry Bears use for home matches. On 5th May 2004 I saw them beat Bramley Buffaloes 48-14 in National League 3 at Old Coventrians R.U.F.C. in Tile Hill Lane, then on 5th September 2004 they beat Sheffield Hilsborough Hawks 36-18, also in National League 3, this time at Coventry R.U.F.C. at Butts Park Arena, which is still their home ground these days. With the pitch there being converted from grass to 3G, it has meant using an alternate venue and this was the third and final match being played here at Broadstreet. The final four home league fixtures are scheduled to be played at the birthplace of Rugby Union, at the ground of Rugby Lions R.U.F.C.

Having seen Coventry a couple of weeks ago, when they were beaten heavily at Workington Town, I thought that they actually played well in spells and didn’t deserve to lose by such a margin. Today, however, they were pathetic and Doncaster ran in tries at will and it was probably only the 30+ degree heat that prevented a real massacre. It was 6-20 at the break, then Doncaster added another converted try to make it 6-26 early in the second half. In the 54th minute both teams were reduced to 12 men following a few punches thrown. Doncaster added another 28 points before Bears finished off the days scoring with an unconverted try in the last minute.

Rugby League

League 1

Sunday 16th June 2019

Kick Off 15.00

Workington Town 54 Coventry Bears 16, attendance 895

@ Borough Park

New Bridge Road

Workington

CA14 2DT

£15 Admission

£2 Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

With their own ground at Derwent Park undergoing work to widen the playing surface and remove the speedway track, to enable Workington F.C. to stage matches there next season, it meant Workington Town would be returning to the ground they used before moving to Derwent Park in 1956. Just over 30 years ago they played three matches here at Borough Park and will use it for the next couple of matches, or perhaps longer, depending how quickly the ground improvements are completed. The 4 photos below show the current state of work being carried out at Derwent Park……..

Workington has been chosen as a host for games in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup, but this is subject to a new stadium being built, which will then be shared by the town’s rugby league and football clubs. Workington F.C. will move the 500 yards or so across to Derwent Park to share with Town, whilst the new stadium is built on the site of Borough Park, which of course staged matches in the Football League until Workington’s relegation in 1977, then once completed, both clubs will move in to the new shared facility. Having originally been passed by the Labour Council, a new Independent Councillor has now been voted in, but they are against the plans, so it may not now happen……

I had actually visited Borough Park twice before, both times for football. On 27th January 1990 I saw Workington 0 Droylsden 2 in a Northern Premier League Division 1 match in front of 150 spectators. Then, on 22nd November 1992, I returned to see Workington 1 Shepshed Albion 7, again in a Northern Premier League Division 1 match, this time watched by a crowd of 130. As Shepshed had been playing a match in Kendal on the Saturday, following an overnight stop, they played this match at 12 noon, which was perfect to double up with the rugby league, who were at home at 3 o’clock at Derwent Park in a Division 3 match versus Nottingham City, which they won 68-0 in front of 1,311 supporters.

As I headed north from my overnight base in Warrington, I had passed the Coventry Bears team coach near Junction 38 of the M6, just before 12 o’clock, as they made the long slog to West Cumbria for the second successive match, having played at Whitehaven last week. They came into this match third from bottom in the league table, but have managed to win three matches so far, which is a vast improvement for them and they are far more competitive in games. Town scored two tries in the opening ten minutes, but Coventry replied quickly with a converted try of their own and despite conceding three more tries they did get another of their own so at halftime it was 26-12. The second half was pretty much one way traffic and Town ran in five more tries for a resounding 54-16 win.

Rugby League

National Conference League

Premier Division

Saturday 15th June 2019

Kick Off 14.30

Thatto Heath Crusaders 34 Egremont Rangers 10, attendance 125

@ Crusader Park

Close Street

Thatto Heath

St. Helens

WA9 5JA

£2 Admission

£2 Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

Team Sheet, free.

This was 6th versus 3rd in the league table and was much closer than the score line suggests. Egremont were missing a few regulars, but they were the better side early on, as both teams struggled to handle the ball as quite a heavy shower passed overhead and they were unlucky to go in at halftime with the score 16-4 to the hosts. Crusaders scored two more converted tries as we headed into the last twenty minutes of the match, before Egremont reduced the arrears to 28-10 as we entered the final five minutes. Crusaders finished things off with a try and conversion with the last play of the game.