A.F.C. Towcester came into this top of the table, knowing that winning their last two games would guarantee the title and they made light work of brushing aside 11th in the table Crick Athletic to easily take the three points. An angled shot into the bottom corner saw them open the scoring after just four minutes and we’d only just gone past the half hour mark when they made it 4-0 and it was job done as far as winning the game went. It took them twenty four minutes of the second half to get goal number five, touching in a cross from the right at the near post. Two more goals soon followed and in the final minute they headed in a corner at the far post to make it 8-0. They should now wrap up the league, as their final game is against bottom of the table Finedon Volta Reserves, who’ve already been relegated.
Home to A.F.C. Towcester is a pitch on the local recreation ground, just off the town centre. There is a small car park at the entrance and the changing rooms are hidden away behind the buildings on the right as you approach along Islington Road. Not surprisingly, everyone stayed out on the pitch for halftime and we were done and dusted for 20.07. At least the prompt finish meant dodging the roadworks for the homeward journey.
£30 Admission (Day ticket covering 3 games) + £1 Booking Fee, Print at Home Ticket
£5 Programme available, didn’t bother buying.
With the gap between the first game and this, which for me, was the main one I’d come for, was about 45 minutes. To be honest, if this had been up first, then I’d be heading off home by now. Not because of the standard of the games, but the fact that it was absolutely freezing cold and impossible to get out of the wind. I can’t remember being this cold at an evening game during winter, let alone an afternoon game in May!
Wigan came into the game third in the league table, a point behind second placed Leigh Leopards and a further three adrift of leaders Hull Kingston Rovers, but with this game in hand. Warrington were down in tenth place, but a win here could see them move up to fifth. These two had played each other in Las Vegas earlier this season, with Wigan coming out with a 48-24 win, having led 42-0 before Warrington got on the scoreboard. Today it looked to be heading for another thrashing, when tries from Jai Field and Bevan French, both converted, saw Wigan race into a 12-0 lead, but a try in the corner by Jake Thewlis saw Warrington pull it back to 12-4 midway through the half and it remained this way until halftime. An early second half try from Rodrick Tai was then converted, which saw Warrington close the gap to two points, before Wigan hit back with tries of their own, from Abbas Miski and Adam Keighran to extend their lead to 22-10. A Joe Philbin try, then converted, saw Warrington back in the game with seven minutes left and when Thewlis went over for his second try just a couple of minutes later, the unlikely looking comeback was very much on. Unfortunately, Stefan Ratchford was unable to add the two points and Wigan hung on to their slender two point advantage. If there’d been another few minutes on the clock, then Warrington would have probably won it. Even though their team lost, the Warrington fans certainly won the ‘best of the day’ award. They were by far the loudest of the four teams in the matches I saw, with tremendous backing from start to finish.
After the game I had about a five minute wait for a Metro and was soon back at the car. Home via A1 and M25 saw me arrive back just before 23.00, certainly helped by a lack of roadworks, although just as I was one junction from home, the two outside lanes were beginning to be coned off.
Kick Off 13.00 (advertised as 13.15 on match ticket)
Huddersfield Giants 12 Hull 10, attendance 32,862
@ Newcastle United F.C.
St. James’ Park
Leazes Terrace
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4ST
£30 Admission (Day ticket covering 3 games) + £1 Booking Fee, Print at Home Ticket
£5 Programme available, didn’t bother buying.
This was the eighth time Newcastle United have hosted the ‘Magic Weekend’ and with doubts/rumours that it may be the last time here, I finally got round to ticking off St. James’ Park for rugby league. I’d been here for football, way back on New Years Day 1990, to see Newcastle United host Wolverhampton Wanderers in a Football League Division 2 match, a game that Wolves won 4-1, with Steve Bull scoring all four goals for the visitors in front of a crowd of 22,054. The ground has changed beyond all recognition since then, now having an all seated capacity of 52,305, with one end and one side totally dwarfing the rest of the ground. I opted for an unreserved seat in the Gallowgate End (the small end behind the goal) which covered all three games today. I’d travelled up from my games in Cambridgeshire yesterday, staying overnight in Newton Aycliffe. A 30 minute drive up the A1 saw me arrive at Felling, just east of Gateshead, where I opted to catch the Newcastle Metro in to the ground. Street parking was not restricted around the station on a Sunday and it was only four stops (including changing at Monument for one stop to St. James station). Buying a one day travel card (£5.60) worked out to be the marginally cheaper than two singles (no return option) and the inward train only had a wait of a couple of minutes. You emerge from the Metro right behind the Gallowgate End, which was perfect as far as I was concerned.
First game up was bottom of the table Huddersfield Giants against Hull, who were fifth. Giants had lost all nine games they’ve played so far, but were well deserved winners here. A George Flanagan penalty put them ahead, before a Leroy Cudjoe try, converted by Flanagan, saw them open up an 8-0 lead. A Herman Ese’ese try, converted by Aidan Sezer saw Hull reduce the lead to 8-6, but they then had Liam Knight sent off right on halftime, following a shoulder charge on Sam Hewitt. Giants extended their lead after fifty six minutes with a try from Jacob Gagai, but failed to convert, so led 12-6. Within five minutes a Lewis Martin try (conversion missed) saw the twelve men pull it back to 12-10, but playing with an extra man meant Giants were able to hang on for their first win.
Soham United 2 Wisbech St. Mary Reserves 5, attendance 37
18’ 0-1
21’ 0-2 (pen)
23’ 1-2
40’ 1-3
47’ 1-4
51’ 1-5
90’ 2-5
@ Qua Fen Common
Soham
CB7 5DQ
No Admission or Programme.
I gave away my two original options (both 3G) for this afternoon in favour of this. A fellow hopper at the morning game had received a positive reply that the game was going ahead okay and it was only a twelve minute drive away. Even better, it was on grass and the game still had something riding on it, as the visitors knew a win would see them finish in the second promotion place in the league.
The ground is to the north of the town, just off the A412 heading towards Ely, the ground being on the left as you head back in towards the town. There’s a small car park, as well as ample roadside parking. There’s a wooden changing room building, that also housed a tea bar. In front is a youth team pitch, with the men’s pitch to the right, roped along the near side and a pair of dugouts on the other. Wooden fencing, bordering fields, gives the pitch a more enclosed feel on the other three sides.
Wisbech St. Mary got off to a great start and were 0-2 up after twenty one minutes, the second being a penalty. An own goal saw Soham pull it back to 1-2 within minutes, as a defender diverted a cross into his own net when attempting to clear the ball. Wisbech restored their two goal lead five minutes before halftime, with a 25 yard free kick that went straight over the ‘keeper. They killed the game off when an easy finish at the far post made it 1-4 two minutes into the second half and almost scored again minutes later, but the effort hit the post. Minutes later they did make it 1-5 though, beating the keeper with a shot at the near post. Soham rounded off the scoring with a consolation goal in the last minute to give a final score of 2-5, beating the offside trap and finishing one on one against the ‘keeper.
A nice touch by the home club at halftime, when free tea or coffee was brought round on a tray to all the spectators, as it was the last game of the season and they wanted to use up some of their remaining stock. Rather than heading home after the game, I was on my way north, for my overnight hotel, in readiness for tomorrow’s rugby league ‘Magic Weekend’ at Newcastle United F.C.
Exning United 7 Needingworth United 0, attendance 16
3’ 1-0
10’ 2-0
28’ 3-0
32’ 4-0
55’ 5-0
65’ 6-0
89’ 7-0
@ Lacey’s Lane
Exning
CB8 7HL
No Admission or Programme.
The noon kick off here gave plenty of options for a double today, or at least should have done. By Friday evening, a lot of fixtures in this league had already been called off, due to teams not being bothered to complete their season, although my two first choices were still, allegedly, going ahead. However, there was the added problem here of the Referee not turning up until after we should have already started. His excuse was that he didn’t know it was a 12 o’clock kick off, until the club phoned him, by which time both teams were already out on the pitch doing their warm ups! Anyway, at least he turned up, albeit resulting in the kick off being 22 minutes later than scheduled, ending a nervous wait for the ‘hoppers present, who made up half the crowd!
It was 4th versus 5th in the league table, with Exning still in with a chance of finishing second, which would see them promoted behind league winners Huntingdon United. It was an easy win for them, being 2-0 up after just ten minutes. The visitors had a man sin binned after nineteen minutes, for arguing the decision of a penalty awarded to Exning. A bit of a waste really, as the kick was saved! The ten men conceded again when a header was saved by the ‘keeper, but followed in to make it 3-0 and within minutes of being back to full strength, they conceded a fourth, when a one two on the edge of the box was finished into the bottom corner. An own goal made it 5-0 ten minutes into the second half, before number six was curled in from the edge of the box ten minutes later. An angled shot into the bottom corner rounded off the scoring with a minute left.
So, the win sees Exning finish their season in second place, but they’ll have to wait to see what happens, as Stretham could still finish above them, depending on the outcome of their home match versus third bottom Great Paxton, which was called off on Saturday. It certainly doesn’t reflect well on the league when a ‘no show’ costs another club a promotion place, whether it’s Exning or Stretham that miss out in the end.
Home to Exning United is Lacey’s Lane (not the ground in Chapel Street, which is where F.A. Full Time shows the game as being played, but correctly marked on Apple Maps) about 200 yards along on the right, after turning off Chapel Street. There’s a small car park, but ample parking outside on the lane too. Just a brick built pavilion, with overhang on the front, with the pitch running lengthways away from here.
Stratton United 3 Abbeymead Rovers 0, attendance 70
55’ 1-0
80’ 2-0
82’ 3-0 (pen)
@ Kingshill Playing Field
Kingshill Lane
Kings Hill
Cirencester
GL7 1SY
No Admission or Programme.
This was the last game of the season in this division. Abbeymead Rovers were already champions, with Stratton United third, needing a point from this game to join them in the second promotion spot. There were even three appointed match officials, which I’m sure is not normally the case in this league. It certainly did Stratton a favour that the visitors had nothing to play for, bar pride, with the league already sewn up and a cup final still to come. They still made Stratton work for the win though, in a game that never really hit any great heights. The best chance of a goalless first half saw Abbeymead hit the crossbar, with Stratton rarely threatening.
Things changed in the second half though. In the opening five minutes Stratton hit the post with a header from a corner, quickly followed by a shot from the edge of the box well tipped round the post by the ‘keeper. They made the breakthrough ten minutes in, finishing with an angled shot under the ‘keeper, having been played through on the left hand side of the box. Ten minutes from the end they made the game safe, cutting in from the left, before curling in a shot off the inside of the far post and two minutes later they made it 3-0, scoring with a penalty.
Kingshill Playing Field is a very basic venue, over the hedge from the Corinium Stadium ground of Cirencester Town. F.C. There’s a decent sized car park, with a brick built changing room building. The pitch is round the back of the building and was roped along most of one side. Another trouble free journey in both directions, apart from a small diversion near Swindon due to a closure on the A419, but still a drive time of under two hours.
Tonight’s match was 2nd versus 1st in the league table. Orwell had already won the league, but Isleham needed to win tonight, as they would then be five points clear of fifth in the table Great Shelford Reserves, who have two games to play, so could pip them for the runners up spot. It has to be said, the first half was absolutely turgid stuff, with not a single effort on goal from either side. Five minutes into the second half Isleham broke the deadlock, when a cross in from the left was finished from 6 yards into the far corner and the game really opened up. Just after the hour Orwell were level, with a goal finished into the far corner from just inside the box, but it only took Isleham seven minutes to regain the lead, cutting in from the left before curling a shot into the far corner. They managed to hold on to take all three points, despite having a man red carded late on, for elbowing an Orwell player on the ground, following a tackle where they both ended up on the floor.
Home to Isleham is the recreation ground, in the centre of the village and shared with the cricket club, with the pitch roped along each touchline. There was a cafe inside the building next to the changing rooms, where hot and cold drinks/snacks were available throughout the match. No traffic problems, in either direction, meant it was under two hours drive each way.
It was an early start for this one, booked on the 0815 P&O ferry from Dover to Calais, which left dead on time. The driver and the other passenger were heading for the league match at Sportief Rotselaar, a ground I’d already visited, so I needed a game nearby and this fitted the bill perfectly, as the two grounds are only four miles apart and I was dropped off about an hour before kick off. Considering it was picked purely on its close proximity to Rotselaar, I certainly came up trumps with this one. Despite it being the lowest level of Belgian football, it was a cracking ground, similar to something right out of the Scottish Juniors. There is a clubhouse behind the near goal end, with the changing rooms at the halfway point of the right hand touchline, a side that would be covered for it’s entire length, were it not for two sections of missing pieces of roof, which look to be due to old age/storm damage, which give the initial appearance of there being three separate sections of cover. On the left hand side is a two step section of cover, whilst the far goal end is inaccessible. Even the rail around the pitch adds to the charm, with some sections looking like they’ve certainly been leaned on a lot over the years!
I was also lucky that I got a very good game out of it too, where 5th hosted 6th in the league table, between two clubs just three miles apart. It was a glorious sunny afternoon, where it was around 22 degrees, resulting in a drinks break (for the players, not me) being taken during each half. Tremelo broke the deadlock after thirteen minutes, when a shot on the turn found the bottom corner from the edge of the box. On thirty six minutes Werchter were level, when a ball across the face of the goal was finished at the far post. Two minutes before halftime they went ahead, with another finish from the edge of the box into the bottom corner, but with the last kick of the half Tremelo made it 2-2, when a deep cross from the left hand touchline was left by the home defence and put in by a striker sneaking in at the far post.
Twenty minutes into the second half Tremelo made it 2-3, breaking quickly from defending a corner and from the second attempt at getting the cross in, it was volleyed in from six yards, with this being the point to then take the second drinks break. Tremelo finally killed the game off when they made it 2-4 with twenty minutes left, when a through ball split the defence and the ‘keeper was beaten low at his near post.
I was picked up just after five o’clock and we headed for home, stopping for a meal en route back to Calais, as we were not booked to return until 22.25, arriving back at the port at 20.45. I arrived home about 00.40. A long day, but well worth it, with this bringing up ground visit number 850 for me in Belgium.
The drive from my overnight stay in Cumbria took just over two and a half hours and I was pleased to see players already arriving as I pulled into the car park about an hour before kick off. I’ve had problems with this league twice already this season, having turned up at both Acton and Yr Wyddgrug, only to find that the games had been called off whilst I was en route. At least I had the bonus of the earlier than normal one o’clock start today, just in case I was faced with another no show, so I’d still get a game in somewhere else if need be.
The ground is on an industrial estate, just to the south of the River Dee. As you enter the car park, the changing rooms are to the left, with the pitch in front of you, running lengthways. The pitch is almost entirely railed off, with a pair of brick dugouts on the left hand side. Both were minus a roof, which looked to be due to wind damage, as they were both lay in the long grass behind. There is hard standing from the dugouts to the near corner, continuing behind the goal and along the right touchline. The far end is accessible, but very overgrown, rather like the pitch, which hasn’t been mowed in quite some time by the look of it.
At least the match had something on it. Cei Connah were bottom of the table, following the withdrawal from the league of previous incumbent Deeside United, but a win in this, their last game of the season, could still see them go above Skippy and Deeside Dragons. Broughton United have already won the league, but Rhydymwyn, currently third, could still finish second, if they won their last two games and Sychdyn United failed to win their final game today, with a five point gap separating them coming into this and Rhydymwyn having the better goal difference.
Cei Connah started well and almost went ahead when a visiting defender headed against his own crossbar when defending a long throw in and also saw a volley from the edge of the box well saved by the ‘keeper. After thirty six minutes the visitors broke the deadlock, following in after an initial save by the ‘keeper. Four minutes later the ‘keeper made another save, this time from a downward header, but it fell perfectly for a player following in and an easy tap in made it 0-2, quickly followed by an unmarked header at the far post to see it end 0-3 at the break. With nineteen minutes left Cei Connah volleyed in a flick on from a long throw to give themselves hope of getting back into it. They did miss another good chance before Rhydymwyn added a fourth goal, when a home defender miss hit a back pass to his ‘keeper, which sailed over him into the far corner.
Unfortunately, the win wasn’t enough for Rhydymwyn, as Sychdyn won their match 4-1 as well, so take second place. There was talk that they won’t meet the ground grading required though, so all may not be lost yet for Rhydymwyn.
With having kicked off five minutes early and everyone staying on the pitch at halftime, this was over by 14.34 and I was home just 4 hours later, thanks to no traffic problems until reaching Cobham Services on the M25, where there was a mile long queue of cars trying to gain access from the motorway and it was the same on the opposite carriageway.
Tonight was an opportunity to tick off a rugby league ground for football. Workington F.C. are rumoured to be going to play games here during the redevelopment of their Borough Park ground, some time in future, but I decided to come tonight, just in case those rumours don’t come to fruition. I’d already seen rugby league played here, back in November 1992, when Workington Town beat Nottingham City 68-0 in a Division 3 match and the ground remains pretty much as I remember it. It was just named Derwent Park in those days, but is currently known as Fibrus Community Stadium for sponsorship reasons. The ground has a listed capacity of 10,000, with a record attendance of 17,741 for a game against Wigan in 1965. There’s one side of seating, with covered standing opposite and oval ends behind the goals, that have grass banking at one end and open terracing at the other. The pitch is surrounded by a speedway track, but no one rides here anymore, not since Workington Comets left in 2018 for their new track less than a mile away.
Workington Juniors are top of Division 1, having won the league with 17 wins and just one defeat, whilst Maryport Athletic are sitting top of the Premier Division, still undefeated, with 10 wins and 3 draws. They play away at second in the table Cockermouth in the season finale, in a game Cockermouth have to win to snatch the title, as they go into the game two points adrift of the leaders.
Tonight’s game was very even first half, with no hint of them playing at different levels to each other. There had been very few proper goal scoring opportunities up until Maryport broke the deadlock eight minutes before halftime, heading in from a corner, where the ‘keeper was beaten to the ball as he attempted to punch clear. The second half saw Maryport looking the more likely to add to the goal tally and it was little surprise when they made it 0-2 with nineteen minutes left, when a diagonal ball into the box was finished from close range and they killed the game off when they scored again with nine minutes left, when a free kick into the box was headed against the post and rebounded straight back against the player and ended up in the bottom corner. He certainly can’t claim he meant it. We would have completed the game in daylight, despite the 7 o’clock kick off, but the floodlights were turned on for the last twenty minutes.
Excellent ground tick and well worth the five and a half hour drive north to Cumbria. At least I won’t be driving back until tomorrow, having opted for an overnight stop in Cockermouth, before taking in a game on the way home.
