Post by CJB1 on May 6, 2021 11:23:17 GMT
With the new fixtures list out, perhaps we should look at the new rivals we will be facing. These include the teams relegated and promoted in the truncated season of 2019-20. So here they are ...
Leeds Tykes. Were Leeds Carnegie when we last played them (and they had RL legend Kevin Sinfield at fly half, he gave a lesson in how to run a game), but have reverted to the name they had when we beat them to take the National Trophy back in 2009 (how can it have been so long ago?) Once a full-time Premiership club with sponsorship to match, an academy, and a big stadium in Headingley, though they never got close to filling it in the RL city that is Leeds. They have sunk a long way since then, and are now part time, the academy has gone and they're ground sharing with West Park (Leeds) at The Sycamores, Bramhope, which sounds more like a country house than a rugby ground. This ground would seem to have two match pitches (plus some out-pitches), one with a small stand, a decent size club house, car parking and from the looks of it an artifical pitch marked out for American football! How strong their squad will be is open to question. In their final N1 season they were relying on students, and racked up a series of big losses; one suspects that the new squade will be recruited very differently. They are coached by Phil Davies, owner of 46 Wales caps at lock and with 350 appearances for Llanelli.
Taunton Titans (is this a new nickname for them?). Finished top of N2S, 3 points ahead of their nearest rivals. The M5 corridor continues to produce rivals for us, and Taunton's ground is right next to the M5. If memory serves, this was the site of a firework display a few years ago where the wind picked up and blew smoke over the nearby motorway, with some serious accidents resulting from the loss of visibility. Hopefully lessons have been learned from that, and fireworks will be confined purely to the match action. A quick look suggests that there is a solid-looking clubhouse with 1st team pitch adjacent, and what looks like a small stand attached to the clubhouse, with team dugouts on the opposite side. There are lights, but it's unclear whether these are of match standard. There's a car park, but it's of the "get there early" type. Taunton have been around since 1875, nearly as long as Mose, but have only been at Hyde Park (it's on Hyde Lane) since 2001. Coach is Tony Yapp, whose name seems to ring a bell, but if anyone can tell us more, please do chip in.
Caldy. Have been a yo-yo club between N2N and N1 in the last few years, but came top of N2N in 2019/20, finishing well clear of Fylde. We don't need much introduction to Caldy, They're still playing at the Paton Field in Thurstaston on the western side of the Wirral. I've never made it there, but I'm told that facilities are fairly basic so wrap up warm. Coach is Matt Cairns, does anyone know anything about him?
Tonbridge Juddians, promoted from N2S on the basis of being the better second-placed club. Formed, as the name might suggest, by the 1999 merger of Tonbridge RFC and Old Juddians, they play at The Slade, on the edge of town by the River Medway. I don't see any sign of a stand, but the 1st team pitch appears to have lights, again it's not clear whether they're match standard. The clubhouse seems to be of a decent size, and parking looks adequate. One curiosity is the presence of a baseball diamond in one corner of the site, evidently Tonbridge Baseball Club are also based there. The club blazer seems to be a very striking red-blue-white striped affair, let's hope the alickadoos all turn up in it. Head coach is named as Peter Dankert, a name that means nothing to me - if it means anything to you, please pipe up.
Of course, we also said farewell to Richmond, promoted to the Championship, and Rotherham, Canterbury and Hull Ionians, relegated to N2 north and south. We wish all their members and supporters well.
Leeds Tykes. Were Leeds Carnegie when we last played them (and they had RL legend Kevin Sinfield at fly half, he gave a lesson in how to run a game), but have reverted to the name they had when we beat them to take the National Trophy back in 2009 (how can it have been so long ago?) Once a full-time Premiership club with sponsorship to match, an academy, and a big stadium in Headingley, though they never got close to filling it in the RL city that is Leeds. They have sunk a long way since then, and are now part time, the academy has gone and they're ground sharing with West Park (Leeds) at The Sycamores, Bramhope, which sounds more like a country house than a rugby ground. This ground would seem to have two match pitches (plus some out-pitches), one with a small stand, a decent size club house, car parking and from the looks of it an artifical pitch marked out for American football! How strong their squad will be is open to question. In their final N1 season they were relying on students, and racked up a series of big losses; one suspects that the new squade will be recruited very differently. They are coached by Phil Davies, owner of 46 Wales caps at lock and with 350 appearances for Llanelli.
Taunton Titans (is this a new nickname for them?). Finished top of N2S, 3 points ahead of their nearest rivals. The M5 corridor continues to produce rivals for us, and Taunton's ground is right next to the M5. If memory serves, this was the site of a firework display a few years ago where the wind picked up and blew smoke over the nearby motorway, with some serious accidents resulting from the loss of visibility. Hopefully lessons have been learned from that, and fireworks will be confined purely to the match action. A quick look suggests that there is a solid-looking clubhouse with 1st team pitch adjacent, and what looks like a small stand attached to the clubhouse, with team dugouts on the opposite side. There are lights, but it's unclear whether these are of match standard. There's a car park, but it's of the "get there early" type. Taunton have been around since 1875, nearly as long as Mose, but have only been at Hyde Park (it's on Hyde Lane) since 2001. Coach is Tony Yapp, whose name seems to ring a bell, but if anyone can tell us more, please do chip in.
Caldy. Have been a yo-yo club between N2N and N1 in the last few years, but came top of N2N in 2019/20, finishing well clear of Fylde. We don't need much introduction to Caldy, They're still playing at the Paton Field in Thurstaston on the western side of the Wirral. I've never made it there, but I'm told that facilities are fairly basic so wrap up warm. Coach is Matt Cairns, does anyone know anything about him?
Tonbridge Juddians, promoted from N2S on the basis of being the better second-placed club. Formed, as the name might suggest, by the 1999 merger of Tonbridge RFC and Old Juddians, they play at The Slade, on the edge of town by the River Medway. I don't see any sign of a stand, but the 1st team pitch appears to have lights, again it's not clear whether they're match standard. The clubhouse seems to be of a decent size, and parking looks adequate. One curiosity is the presence of a baseball diamond in one corner of the site, evidently Tonbridge Baseball Club are also based there. The club blazer seems to be a very striking red-blue-white striped affair, let's hope the alickadoos all turn up in it. Head coach is named as Peter Dankert, a name that means nothing to me - if it means anything to you, please pipe up.
Of course, we also said farewell to Richmond, promoted to the Championship, and Rotherham, Canterbury and Hull Ionians, relegated to N2 north and south. We wish all their members and supporters well.
