Post by Jamie Crawford on Aug 25, 2015 8:00:04 GMT
Finally our third and final pre-season game before we face Premiership relegates London Welsh at the start of the Championship season is against old foes Blaydon.
The Knights suffered a second defeat of the season at Blaydon’s Hexham Road home in the promotion winning 2013/14 season and Bladon will hope to take a pre-season scalp when they visit Castle Park this Saturday. Bladon ended last season in mid-place in National League 1, so again on paper a tougher test than the Tigers. We competed against a team in in National 3 North then National 2 North and now National 1. The Knights would like to start the Championship with a full team of uninjured players, with set pieces, drills and defence well-practised.
Bladon has/had 14 county players amongst their ranks (not sure how many, if any have left):
Representing Durham:
3. Trevor Davison
4. Chris Wearmouth (Capt.)
16. Robert Morris
21. Philip Stewart
Representing Northumberland :
1. Robbie Kalbraier
2. Matthew Hall
4. Keith Laughlin (capt)
7. Harry Bate
8. Jason Smithson
9. Rhodri Adamson
15. Nathan Bailey
Shaun English
Representing Yorkshire:
8 Gavin Jones
21 Rob Rekis
Following the Counties games, four Bladon player played for England Counties:
Gavin jones (back row)
Chris Wearmouth (lock)
Harry Bate (left after the season)
Blaydon captain Keith Laughlin captained of the tour (back row).
As Griff said after the Loughborough Students training event, Bladon will be bolstered by Newcastle Falcons players. We’ll have to see how many they bring.
On Friday 14th August London Welsh beat Esher 19 – 45 at Molesey road.
On Saturday 22nd August the Welsh beat Coventry 18 – 33 at Butts Park Arena. OK Esher and Coventry are in National 1 not National 3 North like Hull or National 2 like Sedgley Park but still a less resounding victory. I’m more impressed with our wins and any team could work a few moves to slip in a score but Hull didn’t manage to.
They play Ebbw Vale RFC on Friday 28th August. Ebbw Vale play in the Welsh Premier Division.
The Tigers were a step up from Hull; more intense to ease the boys into Championship competitive rugby following their emphatic 0 – 68 victory. Hull saw an impressive performance that saw some well executed try-scoring moves with a resolute defense. The Tigers game saw some more great defense and the boys are getting used to scoring tries, although the Tigers deserved their solitary try after our handling error led to them gaining possession and making a break from their own half.
The Knights suffered a second defeat of the season at Blaydon’s Hexham Road home in the promotion winning 2013/14 season and Bladon will hope to take a pre-season scalp when they visit Castle Park this Saturday. Bladon ended last season in mid-place in National League 1, so again on paper a tougher test than the Tigers. We competed against a team in in National 3 North then National 2 North and now National 1. The Knights would like to start the Championship with a full team of uninjured players, with set pieces, drills and defence well-practised.
Bladon has/had 14 county players amongst their ranks (not sure how many, if any have left):
Representing Durham:
3. Trevor Davison
4. Chris Wearmouth (Capt.)
16. Robert Morris
21. Philip Stewart
Representing Northumberland :
1. Robbie Kalbraier
2. Matthew Hall
4. Keith Laughlin (capt)
7. Harry Bate
8. Jason Smithson
9. Rhodri Adamson
15. Nathan Bailey
Shaun English
Representing Yorkshire:
8 Gavin Jones
21 Rob Rekis
Following the Counties games, four Bladon player played for England Counties:
Gavin jones (back row)
Chris Wearmouth (lock)
Harry Bate (left after the season)
Blaydon captain Keith Laughlin captained of the tour (back row).
As Griff said after the Loughborough Students training event, Bladon will be bolstered by Newcastle Falcons players. We’ll have to see how many they bring.
On Friday 14th August London Welsh beat Esher 19 – 45 at Molesey road.
On Saturday 22nd August the Welsh beat Coventry 18 – 33 at Butts Park Arena. OK Esher and Coventry are in National 1 not National 3 North like Hull or National 2 like Sedgley Park but still a less resounding victory. I’m more impressed with our wins and any team could work a few moves to slip in a score but Hull didn’t manage to.
They play Ebbw Vale RFC on Friday 28th August. Ebbw Vale play in the Welsh Premier Division.
The Tigers were a step up from Hull; more intense to ease the boys into Championship competitive rugby following their emphatic 0 – 68 victory. Hull saw an impressive performance that saw some well executed try-scoring moves with a resolute defense. The Tigers game saw some more great defense and the boys are getting used to scoring tries, although the Tigers deserved their solitary try after our handling error led to them gaining possession and making a break from their own half.
