A last run out, hopefully not coming back for more in September, after the first full season lost in a hundred years (1918/19 was the last, as fixtures did take place in 1939-45).

Only one of these games took place in May. We have only played games in May in four of the last twenty seasons, although there were a few more in the ten prior to that. The earliest finish (apart from last year) was 12th April in 2014

Two home, two away, two wins and two losses, split evenly

Next week something different, to hopefully encourage you to keep visiting the website occasionally to see what else is going on around the club (even if no one else does, it means I am here once a week !)

14 March 2020
West Hartlepool (Away)
Despite being just three days before the closed down of all rugby, I don’t think I had any idea of what was to come. I even wrote a piece for the next week’s programme for the game against Bradford & Bingley. So not sure where those with “hindsight” who now claim everything should have closed down earlier were.

Not the best performance to sign off with, and it is doubtful the better team on the day won, but on a day when a number of regulars were absent, it showed how the squad was developing and would not give a game up for lost. The never to be printed programme piece pointed out that only two of the starting line up in the previous home game, had also been in the team on the same weekend a year earlier.

Matt Houghton, Robbie Collinson and Greg Wrathall were all unavailable, so Tom Moulton; Ross McKay and Dini Noyo came in, with Nick Carlton moving into the centre, Steven Nelson (who played centre against Malton and Norton) re-joining the back row and Logan Flett went to hooker.

West Hartlepool had the better of the early play, their strong pack kept us pinned in our half, despite us having the benefit of the wind. West Hartlepool opened the scoring after five minutes with a strong drive from a lineout, before the ball was moved wide for their left wing to exploit an overlap, their fullback added the conversion

They continued to dominate, but somewhat against the run of play we were on level terms after a quarter of an hour. On our first visit to the West Hartlepool twenty-two several players went close. The referee then awarded a penalty for a high tackle, which was run, and Glen Weightman went over for the try, which he also converted.

We came more into the game with Lewis Kincart, Steven Nelson, and Logan Flett all stopped close to the line, but when awarded a penalty Glen Weightman took the points to give us the lead.

The lead did not last long. From a penalty, West Hartlepool put a kick into the twenty two and took the lineout then drove for the line. Whilst the drive was stopped, the ball was recycled a few times for a try which was then converted.

West Hartlepool extended their lead at the end of the half. The ball was chipped through to the line and was put dead to give them a scrum. With the Hartlepool scrum well on top a score look inevitable, and they drove over for the try, which was again converted

We were however to have the last word in the half in added time. Mark Carruthers made a break, and passed to Dini Noyo, who made a run down the wing, before kicking ahead, to then spectacularly gather the ball in mid air on the bounced as he dived over. Glen Weightman added the touchline conversion to reduce the gap at half time to just four points

We brought on Dane Blenkharn for Tom Moulton, with Blenkharn going to hooker and Logan Flett returning to prop.

Three minutes into the half West Hartlepool were reduced to fourteen men for ten minutes when their number eight was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on, when going for an interception. We could not take advantage, with Hartlepool carefully running down the clock and we were not helping our cause with ball regularly being turned over in the tackle.

After twenty minutes we made a second change with Dan Shorrock coming on on the wing, with Lewis Kincart moving to scrum half.

A minute later we were temporarily down to fourteen, when Mark Carruthers appeared harshly yellow carded for a deliberate knock on, from what seemed a failed interception, rather than anything illegal.

We had a let off when the referee spotted a forward pass as Hartlepool were about to score again, but the relief was short lived as we were driven off ball at the scrum and Hartlepool stole the ball to score, with the conversion being added leaving us with an eleven point deficit with quarter of an hour to play.

Before the game some of the West Hartlepool supporters had suggested their team tended to fade at the end of games and they were clearly tiring as we upped our game.

With under ten minutes to play, as we attacked near the line, a Hartlepool player illegally stopped the move, and was dispatched to the touchline for ten minutes.

The penalty was run and Dan Greenwood was driven over for a try which Glen Weightman converted. Four points needed with six minutes of normal time to play.

We were soon back on the attack, but time was running out. Then from an attack on the right the ball was switched left and Dan Shorrock made a good run down the wing to touchdown. The referee consulted the (Kendal) touch judge, but Nick managed to convince him, and the try stood, and we had a one point lead

There was still time to play, so a late Hartlepool score could still have snatch victory, but instead Nick Carlton made a good break down the right. He got the ball away to Mark Carruthers, who made ground and when he was stopped Carlton was in support to take the pass and weave over to score. Glen Weightman added the conversion to make the game safe. 28v36

There was still time to play, and now deprived of even a losing bonus point, in a game they had led for all but six minutes, Hartlepool went looking for a score to bring the game within seven points again.

Awarded a penalty they had the chance to do that. The kick was put deep into the our twenty two, but we disrupted the lineout and the chance and game were gone

Not quite the last live rugby for me, as I saw the Wasps beat Hartlepool Rovers on the 3G on the following afternoon.

15 - Chris Park
14 - Dini Noyo
13 - Nick Carlton
12 - Mark Carruthers
11 - Lewis Kincart
10 - Glen Weightman
9 - Jordan Johnson

1 - Glenn Chesher
2 - Logan Flett
3 - Tom Moulton
4 - Ross McKay
5 - Chris Evans
6 - Steven Nelson
7 - Ben Dixon
8 - Dan Greenwood

rep - Dane Blenkharn
rep - Richard Harryman
rep - Dan Shorrock

11 April 2015
Eccles (Home)
We lost away to champion’s Birkenhead Park a week later in the final game of the season, but I decided to stick with this one for another win

We had lost the two previous away games at Kirkby Lonsdale and then in the cup at St Benedict’s

We had little to play for now sitting six points behind Kirkby Lonsdale who were in second but fourteen points above Penrith in fourth. The visitors were however still looking for points in an unlikely battle against relegation. When we played them away in December they had been twelve points adrift of safety, now they were four points clear, but knew rivals Bolton had a good chance of a win against bottom placed Wigton.

Eccles set off at a hectic pace, but having held them out, playing with a strong icy wind in our favour in the first half, we came back, but a number of errors broke up their momentum, as wrong options were taken.

The strong wind was making lineout throws difficult, and first Ben Leacock and then Liam Hayton, stole ball on Eccles throws.

The deadlock was finally broken after twenty minutes. The ball was moved into the centre, where Matty Houghton had drifted off his wing. He broke through the defence, and whilst he appeared to be stopped near the line, he stayed on his feet, and managed to break out of the tackle, to canter under the posts for an excellent try, with Glen Weightman adding the easy conversion.

Eccles were still playing well and were beginning to steal our lineout ball.

When we were penalised at a scrum near halfway, the kick was put to touch. Whilst we resisted the initial surge from the lineout, from a resulting scrum the ball was moved into midfield, where a centre easily beat his marker to score with the conversion add.

Despite playing against the wind, Eccles looked the more likely to score, but our defence held firm.

As the half came to an end, minutes after coming on as a substitute, an Eccles prop was back on the touchline with a yellow card, after appearing to trip James Gough as he took a quick tap penalty. Glen Weightman put the resulting penalty deep into the Eccles half. Having won the lineout, the ball was quickly moved into midfield, with the team seeming to have stepped up several gears. After a powerful run, it looked as if Liam Hayton would score on the left wing, but he was stopped near the line. However with the Eccles defence sucked in, Richard Harryman made no mistake from short range, going in for an unconverted try.

Eccles should have turned the happier, still well in touch at 12v7 for a potentially vital win, with the elements in their favour in the second half. However, whatever was said at half time it worked, as we went out at a pace similar to that displayed by Eccles at the opening of the game.

After five minutes it looked as if we would score, as the ball was moved to the left, but an Eccles player knocked the ball on, to end the move, and his team were temporarily down to thirteen men.

The penalty was put to touch, and having taken the lineout ball, the pack rumbled to the line with Garry Holmes, at the centre of the maul, to almost inevitably get the touchdown.

The Eccles restart kick failed to make the distance, and we were awarded a scrum. Chris Downham picked up, and powered up the left wing, and looked certain to score from halfway, only for the Eccles defence to get back to stop him near the line. Nathan Wooff had however managed to get in support, to take a pass for the score

We were now rampant, playing some of their best open rugby since early in the season, with James Gough and Glen Weightman probing for gaps, whilst Blake Robinson and Chris Downham power caused the Eccles defence all sorts of problems. A third try, this time on the right wing by Adam Pashley, came after a break from James Gough. Glen Weightman put over the difficult conversion.

The fourth try in ten minutes was a second from Garry Holmes, but this time making a break to the line from just inside the twenty two, after more work in the build up by Gough and Weightman,

Whilst the game was probably now out of their reach, the Eccles players were still looking for more tries, to get a bonus point, which could be vital to their survival. A strong scrum, was followed by their forwards driving to the line for their second try, with twenty minutes to play.

Eccles continued to push, and with ten minutes to play had a third try. Having failed to find a way through our defence, a clever kick was put across field, and was gathered by their left wing score.

Any thoughts that we were finished for the afternoon were quickly dispelled. From the kick off the referee appeared to signal a knock on, but allowed play to continue, and after good work by the forwards, when the ball came back to him, Glen Weightman fooled the defence, and instead of passing, sailed through himself for a score under the posts, adding the conversion.

With time running out it looked as if Eccles would fall short of their target, but when it came, it was through an excellent powerful break through the centre, which saw their players celebrate as if they had won the game.

Bolton got their win with a bonus point so the teams went into the final weekend even, but Eccles made no mistake with a big win at home against fellow strugglers Carlisle, whilst Bolton were losing heavily at home to Penrith.

15 - Nathan Wooff
14 - Adam Pashley
13 - Alistair Thompson
12 - Mark Carruthers
11 - Matty Houghton
10 - Glen Weightman
9 - James Gough (C)

1 - Duncan Green
2 - Garry Holmes
3 - Richard Harryman
4 - Liam Hayton
5 - Ben Leacock
6 - Blake Robinson
7 - Chris Downham
8 - James Thompson

rep - Jack Lashley
rep - Rob Wightman
rep - Dan Greenwood

8 May 2010
Macclesfield (Home)
Another last game of the season where a team needing a win came to Mint Bridge, and for a while feared it was about to be a nightmare for them. For me memorable, as one of few (possibly only) times when I (indirectly) influenced a referee’s decision.

It was a typical end of season collapse, losing the last five games, despite finishing in mid-table, including to relegated Bradford & Bingley, and struggling Hull Ionians, a week after conceding a hundred points away at Leicester Lions. So against a team looking for maximum points to hold off the challenge from second place Loughborough Students, I had suggested a week earlier we may need an extra hook for the Mint Bridge scoreboard.

The programme said it was the last game for James Gough who was going to Barnaby Lake in Vancouver, Canada, Matt Gracie going to Bedford to teach, centre Rob Aloe returning to New Zealand, and Reece Tomlinson was going “travelling” in New Zealand. On the gate someone was handing out application forms for the next seasons membership, and joked the new signings were on back – it was blank. Not sure if Reece lost his map or his passport, but he was back in the team at the start of the next season.

We obviously lost the toss as we started played towards clubhouse and with the wind. It was clear why Macclesfield were at the top of the table, as they were moving the ball at great pace.

However against the run of play, we took the lead after five minutes, when Mark Ireland used the wind to put over a mammoth kick from near halfway.

It took ten more minutes of battering the Kendal line before Macclesfield finally scored with a try from a number of short forward surges.

It looked as if Macclesfield had extended the lead when they drove over the line from a penalty lineout – it was however clear from where I was standing that the player had in fact dropped the ball, before dropping on it, but the referee was unsighted and raised his arm for the try. The touch judge waved his flag to signify a knock on, but then seemed to think better of it, before calling the referee over, (I suspected he realised (heard) I had also spotted it) In response to a Macclesfield comment that the try had been awarded, the referee said “but that might change”. It did and he gave us a scrum.

Macclesfield did finally breach our defence after twenty five minutes, when the No.6 finished off a break by the outside half.

Two minutes later the Mark Ireland proved his first long range kick was no flook and did it again, so we trailed by less than a score after half an hour, despite spending almost all the time desperately defending our line.

We had lost Allen Martindale to injury, so brought Richard Harryman, who supposedly had multiple long term injuries on a lot earlier than he would have hoped. I don’t think it was deliberate, but he got a rest as he was Yellow carded after knocking the ball out of the scrum half’s hand at a ruck. Macclesfield immediately called for scrum. The programme had the other Kendal subs as two flankers and a back, so I thought that we had passive scrums, but another prop Ian Ross appears (who I thought was also injured) and the Garry Holmes trotted towards the touchline – only to be sent back and we took off the diminutive wing Jamie Postlethwaite instead, and moved the Chris Park from fullback to the wing.

Macclesfield increased their lead with a try by their scrum half, but two minutes later Mark Ireland did it again with a long range penalty and we went into half time only ten points behind.

After weathering an early storm in the second half, we seemed to take control, keeping hold of the ball and making plenty of ground (as we could no longer kick into the strong wind). One of these moves saw the ball moved to Jamie Postlethwaite who set off down the touchline, with three Macclesfield backs coming across to cut him off and drive him into touch. The referee however gave a sharp blast on his whistle, and called the scrum half across and waved a yellow card, saying it had been a shoulder charge, much to the disgust of the Macclesfield support who were clearly getting rattled, as things were not going to plan, and they were screaming for numerous imaginary offences.

From the kick to the corner, we had a perfect drive to the line and all Billy Coxon, having by far his best game since coming out of retirement, had to do was drop down to score. Unfortunately as the conversion headed towards the posts, the wind caught it and it drifted out. 14v19 with twenty five minutes to go – could a major upset be on the cards ?

We certainly seemed to think so, but once Macclesfield were back to fifteen men they returned to the forward driving game of the first half, and someone was driven over.

We were still not giving up and several breaks, broke down due to lack of speed. Someone commented, we could have done with the flying wing Lewis Boyd (missing – but unclear due injury, work commitments or had left the club), who would have strolled in.

Finally with five minutes to go the Macclesfield centre made a break to score, which was followed up by a try on the other wing by the No.4 14v40. Despite being in injury time the referee played on and it was clear, despite the big lead that the Macclesfield players were desperate to stop Kendal scoring again – which they did and finally were able to celebrate their promotion.

I commented “So despite a big loss a really good performance, and a suitable end to the season. The question was why we could not have played this well against Bradford and Hull Ionians. We always seem to raise their game against the top clubs and struggle against the minnows. Only bottom Waterloo had fewer bonus points”

We finished the season with the same number of wins as Rugby Lions and one less loss due to a draw, but they were two places and nine points clear of us.

15 - Chris Park
14 - Jamie Postlethwaite
13 - Ian Voortman
12 - Mark Ireland
11 - Matt Gracie
10 - Mike Scott
9 - James Gough

1 - Billy Coxon
2 - Duncan Green
3 - Allen Martindale
4 - Liam Hayton
5 - Reece Tomlinson
6 - Gary Hodgson
7 - Garry Holmes
8 - Matt Charters

Rep - Richard Harryman
Rep - Joel Howse
Rep - Jack Walker
Rep - Rob Aloe
Rep - Ian Ross

23 April 2005
Darlington (Away)
Slight problem in this season, as the last report of any kind I currently have access to is from 19th March, so this is another put together from notes on the programme, plus the official team sheet. I was there despite it being one of only six away games I watched that season (the others being places almost as easy to get to for me as Mint Bridge). I think I was going to a concert in Newcastle in the evening, so drove to Newcastle, and took the train from there.

We opened the scoring with a Dan Stephens penalty after three minutes and three minutes later added a John Ladell try converted by Stephens to open up a six point lead.

Two minute later Darlington opened their scoring with a penalty, but Dan Stephens restore the lead with his second penalty after a quarter of an hour.

Just before half time Darlington got their opening try but no conversion mean we turned with a 8v13 lead. We had lost Richard Harryman to an injury just before half time but Billy Coxon was on the bench to replace him.

The gap was down to two points three minute into the second half with a second Darlington penalty and two minutes later they were in the lead with a try from their centre which was converted.

Ten minutes later the lead was extended with a try from their outside half, converted by their wing and we were twelve points down.

We made a tactical change taking Paul Dodds off and bringing Chris Park on and two minutes later we were back in the game with John Ladell getting his second try and Dan Stephens adding the conversion.

In hindsight however the change may have backfired as shortly afterwards Dan Stephens was forced off with an injury. Chris had been the only back on the bench, so Liam Hayton came on (no luxury of rolling subs in those days). With no notes I am not sure if Liam went outside half – but doubt it ! I suspect Garry Holmes found himself somewhere in the back division (he claims to have played in every position for the club except outside half and fullback), and Chris or Simon Mulholland would have gone to 10.

With just under a quarter of an hour to go substitute Billy Coxon was forced off with an injury, so Jon Nicholson was forced off his normal position of “unused substitute” to play the rest of the game.

With ten minutes to play Darlington added a penalty to put us two scores behind, but a try from second row Dave Preston with three minutes of normal time to play brought us to within three points.

They had the final score with a penalty at the end of normal time.

Whilst in my time following the team, Jon Nicholson was mainly filling a “front row sub” seat on the bench, he made his debut for the club in the mid-1980s, making around 350 appearances, and scoring 360 points, putting him in the top twenty-five scorers for the club since 1950, and possibly in the top ten appearances.

Garry Holmes has (as far as I can see) only started outside the pack once - on the right wing away at Chester in 2006/07. I also don’t think he has started in the second row, but injuries and sin bins mean the team frequently has had to be re-shuffled, and as a few others have found out to their cost, an ability to be versatile can mean you finding yourself in vry unfamiliar positions.

15 - Simon Mulholland
14 - John Ladell
13 - Martin Armstrong
12 - Paul Dodds
11 - Dennis Bibby
10 - Dan Stephens
9 - James Gough

1 - Allen Martindale
2 - Duncan Green
3 - Richard Harryman
4 - Dave Preston
5 - Mike Capstick
6 - Garry Holmes
7 - Dan Bowman
8 - Adrian Bateson

rep - Billy Coxon
rep - Jon Nicholson
rep - Liam Hayton
rep - Chris Park

The End (I hope !)