First XV Statistics (2018/19)

Appearances

There were 26 league games, plus the 2 Cumbria Cup games. No one played in them all, but Glen Weightman again topped the appearance charts, missing just one (Harrogate at home, when he was unavailable, so he has still to miss a game through injury since his debut in 2014), whilst Robbie Collinson only missed two (Alnwick away and Hull at home), although over half were substitute appearances

Robbie along with Mark Irving (who missed four games all due to suspension) and Kirk Chettleburgh, all passed 20 appearances to qualify for their Club Badge, whilst Myles Harrop and Steven Nelson did the same, if the Cumbria Cup Matches count.

Debuts

Along with Mark, Kirk, Myles and Steven, thirteen others made their First XV debut, although five of these only made the one appearance

Tries

55 tries were scored, 23 by forwards and 32 by backs.

Player or the Season, Nick Carlton topped the try scoring list with 9, six coming in three games over the Christmas period.

He was followed by Myles Harrop, Glen Weightman and Danny Barker (4 of his five coming in three games towards the end of the season). Jack Lashley was top forward.

Points

Glen Weightman topped the points scoring due to his five tries, with Chris Park being the top points scorer from kicks

Jack Blakeney-Edwards , who led the chart for much of the early part of the season, finished fifth top scorer, from his three appearances which including the wins against Kirkby and Vale

Career

No great progress this year, as a number of the senior players had seasons reduced by injury, whilst scoring opportunities were more limited.

Billy Coxon returned to add 11 extra appearances to his record and push it to 472

Four players sit just below the 100 appearance mark, with Alistair Thompson on 97, Danny Barker and Mark Carruthers one behind him, and Zane Butler on 92.

Points wise Chris Park moved to 4th in the post-1950 scoring list with 890, and Glen Weightman overtook three to move to 9th with 615 points.

Whilst Billy extending his total, I now have confirmation of what I had been expected, that the player who holds most of the other records, for penalties, conversions, drop goals and points, often close to double the next nearest, has made over 490 appearances. David Bell made 249 appearances after 1987/88, the first season where appearances are listed in the details I was given. I have now been through Gazette report for seasons as far back as 1977/78, (I will continue from there next season). By co-incidence this appears to be the one before David probably made his debut, and despite details being far from comprehensive, he is listed in a further 241 games in those earlier seasons, so probably significantly more.

There was however a difference then,for example in 1978/79, due to a Printers dispute there were fewer reports available, so I have no details for 17 games. David missed 3 of those I have, but he still played in at least 23 games. Compare that with this season, where I have details of every game played, and only five players reached that figure. So it was it bit easier to increase your appearance total in those days.

Where did it all go Wrong (just in stats)?

Looking at the league as a whole Sandal retained their league status last season with 46 points, and Lymm ended up on the same number this season. Birkenhead Park, the best of the relegated last season finished on 33 points, whilst we ended on 35. In total, including bonus points, 935 points were collected this season, against 934 last.

So nothing much changed overall – but we ended with 18 fewer league points than last season.

At Mintbridge we ended with only 4 fewer. The win against Wirral and turning the draw against Lymm into a win, added 6 points, but losing bonus points were dropped against Blaydon (replacing Hoppers), Harrogate and Rossendale. Last year's win against Sandal was reduced to a double bonus point loss, whilst a win and a try scoring bonus point were dropped against the teams that replaced the relegated teams.

Away from Mintbridge we collected 14 less points, despite the win at Kirkby adding four. We only picked up 2 points against the promoted teams against the 11 against the teams they replaced (despite making a mess of the Birkenhead Park game at the end of the previous season). Wins at Sandal and Rossendale became losses, whilst the losing bonus point at Ilkley was lost

So having failed to stay up by 11 points those 14 points dropped against the promoted teams would have made all the difference.

Despite scoring 31 fewer tries, we only dropped from 6 to 5 try scoring bonus points, but points for narrows loses went down from 5 to 2 (one of which came against also relegated Wilmslow)

We scored 182 points less and conceded 163 more (although 45 of those came against Ilkley when we were already down)

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So another season over, and it all starts again in a new League with a new set of opponents in September.