Thunder CEO Richie Metcalfe pulled out all the stops to put on a great afternoon at Blaydon as part of the countrywide Armed Forces Day celebrations. The day was centred around the two fixtures with the day climaxing in the home sides convincing win over Whitehaven. RNRL took on Scotland A in the first match of the day kicking off in bright sunshine with a strong ish breeze to take the edge off the temperature.
Head coach Darren Bamford was able to name a very strong side despite not having any RM available due to their own fixture at Warrington Armed Forces Day. As well as welcoming back James Teixeira and Pat Coy Coach Bamford named three players on debut for the Senior squad, Pat O’Donovan, Cai Ellis and Josh Morrison. A majority of the squad had been at training camp in Portsmouth the previous week making the most of facilities available despite the extremely high temperatures on the south coast and as such were well prepared for the clash with the Bravehearts.
A tough and scoreless first period saw both sides come close but it wasn’t until the 20th minute that the deadlock was broken, Sean McKervail powered over on the RN right for the score, Ben Conner was wide with the kick but the Brothers had their first points 4:0. The next 5 minutes saw the Bravehearts turn the screw with some powerful pressure in midfield, the Brothers held out eventually the line was broken, the Scots forcing the touch down under the posts, the conversion was good giving them a 4:6 lead. A wonderfully weighted kick from James Tilley was gathered on the full by Pat Coy who touched down only to be adjudged offside at the kick, a great shame as it was a great move. The last 10 minutes or so of the half was a scoring see saw with both sides moving their score along. On their next spell of pressure in the Scots half the Brothers were awarded a penalty, opting to run the ball scrum half James Tilley sent a beautifully weighted pass away to the left to skipper Brodie Butler who cut inside to beat the defensive line from 20m out, a successful Conner conversion edged the Brothers ahead 10:6. Another spell of pressure by the Bravehearts saw them again force the try under the posts which, with the conversion, put them back in the lead at 10:12 at the 35 minute mark. As the clock ticked down to the half time break Cai Ellis marked his debut for the Brothers with a try converted by Conner to regain the lead for his side 16:12. A great half by both sides and all to play for in the second half.
So, into the second half which looked to be a repeat of the first, the two sides swapping scores, again the Brothers getting the first points. Another RN debutant, Pat O’Donovan, finished off the move as the RN pressured the Scots left flank again, Conner putting over another cracking conversion from wide 22:12. Scotland rallied once more barely 5 minutes later, cutting through the RN defence and touching down close to the posts to make the conversion straight forward closing to 22:18. The Brothers score next, some great approach work rounded off by another killer pass by Tilley finding James Teixeira who marked his return to the squad with a well worked try, with Ben Conner on target again the Brothers were now up by 10 points, 28:18. Once again the Brothers pressured the Scots left coming up with a try, this time Pat Coys efforts were not in vain and with almost the inevitable Conner conversion the lead was now 12 points at 34:22. It was not all plain sailing though, a fumble from the kick off gave Scotland the advantage in the Brothers half, good hands from the scrum resulted in a well worked try, this stime the conversion was wide so it remained 34:18. The game was now into the last quarter when we had another ‘almost try’, RN skipper Brodie Butler burst through the Scots midfield defence deep in his own half and seemingly on his way to the score but the last line of Scots defence caught the RN skipper denying his second of the day. The skipper though made up for the previous attempt a few minutes later. Another high bomb from the Bravehearts was safely gathered in the Brothers half setting up another great move across 60 metres, finally the ball found Butler again and this time no mistake, clever feet fooled the defence and the skipper was over, 40:22. The last score and indeed the last action of the game was another well worked try out on the RN right, full back Conner joined the attack crossing himself for the touch down which he duly converted to give his side the game by 46:22.
A fantastic result on the day rounded off a great week for RNRL setting up the Mens team for the lead up to Septembers Inter Services opener at Burnaby Road on Friday 11th when we host RAFRL
A massive thanks to Richie Metcalfe and all at Newcastle Thunder for hosting not only our fixture but the whole Armed Forces day experience – See you next year?